Step 04 | Phase 2 & 3
Scaling the Utopia: From Experiment to Urban Satellite
Pillar I: The Intensification of the Grid
As the project transitioned into its second and third phases, the "Garden City" model had to reckon with the reality of Istanbul’s rapid population growth. While Phase 1 felt like a suburban retreat, Phases 2 and 3 introduced a more "metropolitan" density. The buildings grew taller, and the spacing between them became more rhythmic and disciplined. This era marked the maturation of the Ataköy Typology, where the "T-block" and "L-block" were perfected for mass production. The architects shifted their focus from individual "floating" villas to a collective "Satellite City" model. This meant that the greenery was no longer just a park, but a structured urban buffer that separated the rising residential towers. This intensification of the grid proved that the modernist dream could be scaled up without losing its core principles of air, light, and orientation toward the sea.
Pillar II: The Architecture of the "Center"
Phase 2 and 3 were the first to move beyond pure housing and integrate the Social Infrastructure necessary for a self-sufficient city. This period saw the construction of the iconic "Çarşı" (Market) and community centers, which acted as the gravitational heart of the neighborhood. The architecture of these commercial spaces mirrored the residential blocks, utilizing the same raw concrete and geometric patterns to create a unified visual language. By placing these services within walking distance of every apartment and connecting them through pedestrian-only pathways, the designers successfully created a "neighborhood" in the truest sense. This was a direct architectural response to the socioeconomic context of the time—creating a space where the new middle class could shop, socialize, and play within a curated, modern environment that was entirely separate from the historical chaos of old Istanbul.