Yedikule bostans

Istanbul Yedikule ‘Bostan’s – Edible Landscape Agricultural Space

The tradition of urban “bostan”s, or vegetable gardens, along the ancient land walls, is an continuing practice of edible landscape and a significant historical artefact in the collective memory of İstanbul. Our major strategy and design objective are to replace grass surfaces along the land walls with agricultural areas for sustainable production. Planting or lawn areas around the fortifications, towers, gateways, and sunken ditches can be united with the areas for archaeological exhibits, park grounds and viewpoints. The ditches along land walls are preserved as they are, after the necessary soft landscape interventions. The exiting activities of local communities and the ‘Bostan’s (e.g. Harvest Festival for the Yedikule Lettuce, festivals for cherries and strawberries, Bostan Platform) are proposed to be carried out in an organized way for not only cultural sustainability but also for local economy.