Reclaiming the Urban Void explores the hidden spaces embedded within the dense historic fabric of Punta, the former cosmopolitan district that constitutes present-day Alsancak in İzmir. Grounded in David Harvey’s “Right to the City”, the project investigates how enclosed courtyards, neglected heritage buildings, residual plots, and inaccessible green pockets can be reclaimed for collective use. Through tactical urbanism, adaptive reuse, and incremental interventions, a network of community hubs, cultural platforms, educational spaces, and ecological corridors is established. Inspired by Punta’s Levantine row houses and bay-windowed façades, the proposal reactivates cultural heritage while transforming fragmented voids into accessible urban commons for people.
Author: Eda Tuna
Studio: ARCH 402 Spring 2026
Instructor(s): Emine Çiğdem Asrav
