Beyoğlu Climate Game is the Beyoğlu adaptation of Climate Game developed by Play the City, in cooperation with the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) and the City Planning Directorate affiliated to the IMM Department of Reconstruction and Urbanization, and with the support of the Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul.

The game provides an opportunity for technical and local experts to have interactive discussions with each other in order to become a climate sensitive district. During the game, water, energy, transportation, waste and public space experts and non-governmental organizations from the public and private sectors came together and focused on Beyoğlu climate strategies. The game board is a map of 2 meters by 4 meters at a scale of 1:1500, containing the GIS and visualized climate adapation data for the Beyoğlu district.

Climate action cards cover the themes of water, public space, energy, urban mobility, waste, food, heritage and housing, and include data on carbon reduction practices, social enterprises, financing models. Role cards represent individuals, groups and institutions that enter the game to form partnerships. Using climate strategy cards and role cards, players suggested different ideas, spatially visualized actions and formed partnerships.

The play took place in four sessions focusing on different geographical regions: Beyoğlu coastal area, Beyoğlu urban site, Beyoğlu residential area and Beyoğlu as a whole. Each session lasted approximately two and a half hours and averaged 20 people per session.

Summary of Findings

Below you can find the suggestions that stood out, discussed and received the most attention during the four sessions of the game, listed below under the headings of water and food, energy and waste, public space, mobility and housing and heritage.

Water and Food

Throughout the game, the participants talked about water storage systems such as water cisterns and underground water collection in buildings. He suggested using the stored water as irrigation water in parks, gardens and orchards. In addition, the proposals integrated waterproof flooring, drought-friendly plants and water-friendly landscaping in public spaces such as green corridors. While protecting orchards within the scope of food drew attention, he proposed solutions such as community-supported agriculture and producer markets for neighborhoods where vulnerable groups live.

Energy and Waste

Participants emphasized thermal insulation and energy efficiency in this region, which is more economically fragile than alternative energy production. He said that parsing at the source is important and

proposed regulation for solid waste collectors. He discussed the importance of awareness raising activities and the importance of public structures in concrete steps to be taken.

Public Space

During the game, the participants proposed a green corridor along Bahriye and Kurtuluş Deresi Street. It added vertical connections for access to the shore and the continuity of public space along the shoreline. He discussed the role of controversial projects such as Haliçport and Galataport located on the coastline. Participants evaluated the potential of common areas of cemeteries in the region where there is not enough green space.

Mobility

Within the scope of mobility, the participants mostly talked about pedestrian and bicycle mobility. One of the top rated suggestions is cycling along the coast

And it was a walking path. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that there are safe pedestrian paths in the urban site and with practices such as park and go.

He suggested reducing vehicle density. Participants especially highlighted digital systems such as coastal smart parking, which has parking and valet problems.

Housing and Heritage

In the heritage theme, the participants suggested that there should be no new construction in the urban site and that the buildings should be renewed by considering energy efficiency. Also in the gardens and courtyards of historical buildings

They created a micro-scale corridor by proposing green spaces. In urban transformation areas such as Okmeydanı, he supported the state-supported participation model and suggested that newly constructed buildings should be compatible with the climate through material selection and design.