Inhabiting the Interstice explores an alternative approach to urban renewal in Ayvansaray, Istanbul, where informal settlements along the historic Land Walls face displacement under conventional redevelopment practices. Rather than replacing existing communities, the project proposes an incremental framework of temporary housing, shared civic spaces and productive landscapes that enable residents to remain on site during transformation. By activating underutilized voids, preserving traces of the existing urban fabric and strengthening social networks, the proposal reimagines the interstitial spaces between heritage and everyday life. The project advocates for a more inclusive, adaptive and community-centered model of urban regeneration that prioritizes continuity over displacement.

Author: Rıdvan Mert Çeviker
Studio: ARCH 402 Spring 2026
Instructor(s): Melis Sözen, Yiğit Acar