Learning from the ‘Re-PUBLIC ’: Remaking the public space as a medium of knowledge transfer in design education

This paper presents the learning outcomes of the international project, ‘RE-PUBLIC: Remaking the Public Space’, funded by European Union Life Long Learning - Erasmus Intensive Programme. It focused on complex and diversified layers of public space within the context of the place-making logic. Istanbul’s Taksim region including the Taksim Square, Gezi Park and Istiklal Street acted as the core problem area with its disintegrated and segregated physical and cultural territorial borders. The participants were invited to develop their own understanding of public space and jointly produce their own place-making strategies on possible alternatives for the process of planning, designing and implementing change in public spaces in accordance to their scope, use and meaning. As a result, the Re-PUBLIC Programme tested a number of innovative research and planning methods to improve teaching in planning and design studies. A major impact was expected from the cross-country approach and joint-learning. It is hoped that the experience of Re-PUBLIC will provide a critical medium of knowledge transfer in design education.