Serra Gate

Being the site of the Gezi Park protests in May 2013, Taksim Square is considered as one of the most political places in Turkey’s modern history and controversial plans for its pedestrianization are still subject to national debate.

GAD Architecture has developed a highly experimental approach, which has led the practice to embrace the latest technological advancements. Using Stefan Wolfram’s software "Mathematica," 3D-printing technology played a crucial role in the conception and design process of the Serra Gate, where the final geometry was converted into urban furniture. Featuring lightweight steel horizontal bearers and vertical panels, the angular organization of the structural elements amplifies the focal point of the gate.

The structure was inspired by the work of the American minimalist sculptor Richard Serra, known for his groundbreaking sculptures that explore the exchange between artwork, site and viewer. Serra Gate is primarily defined as a piece of construction. GAD Architecture's team looked into the structural pieces that have an artistic value in their nature. The aim of the installation was to create inspiration through construction interfaces.

Gokhan Avcioglu, Principal at GAD Architecture, says:
 

Serra Gate was first exhibited in 2013 in the courtyard outside the Esma Sultan, a historic building located on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul and also renovated by GAD Architecture & Gokhan Avcioglu in 2000. The installation’s next destination will be Halic Port and it is planned to be featured in different neighborhoods in Istanbul throughout 2015.