Step 07 | Phases 4, 5 & 6
Step 07 covers Phases 4, 5, and 6. These phases represent the "Zenith"—the moment where the planning reached its most balanced and successful state before the extreme density of the later years took over.
Pillar I: The Maturation of the Social Infrastructure
By the time the project reached Phases 4, 5, and 6, the architects had moved beyond the "residential block" to create a complete urban organism. This period saw the integration of high-level social infrastructure, including the Ataköy Hospital, primary schools, and dedicated cultural centers that were woven into the residential fabric. Unlike modern "compounds" that feel like isolated islands, these phases were designed to be porous yet self-sufficient. The architecture here stabilized into a confident, mature version of Turkish Modernism—balancing the experimental stilts of Phase 1 with more practical, sturdy ground-floor designs that housed community services. This was the moment Ataköy proved it could function as a true "Satellite City," providing a cradle-to-grave environment where a resident could learn, work, play, and receive care without ever leaving the modernist grid.
Pillar II: The Pedestrian-First Paradigm
The true soul of Phases 5 and 6 lies in the radical prioritization of the pedestrian over the automobile. While the rest of Istanbul was beginning to suffer from traffic congestion, these phases implemented a sophisticated network of interconnected walkways and central squares that remained entirely separate from the car roads. This "pedestrian-first" logic created a unique social atmosphere—the "Ataköy Spirit"—where children could walk to school and seniors could gather in squares without crossing a single major intersection. These central plazas became the stage for a new kind of Turkish middle-class life: secular, outdoor-oriented, and deeply communal. The architecture served this lifestyle by creating "eyes on the street" through wide, overlooking balconies, ensuring that the public spaces were naturally surveyed and safe, a hallmark of successful modernist urban design that still functions perfectly in 2026.