An Urban Dream for the Preservation of the Atatürk Forest Farm

Abstract:The Atatürk Forest Farm (AFF), known as Atatürk Orman Çiftliği (AOC) in Turkish, is located in Turkey's capital city, Ankara. This important symbolic space of Turkey's early republican period was a popular recreational area that included a zoo, small agricultural farms, greenhouses, restaurants, a dairy farm, and a brewery. However, as a result of the continuing degradation of vast areas of the AFF, there is a need for new policies for its improvement and ongoing management. This article is based on a project proposal entitled "Urban Dreams 9: Atatürk Forest Farm Areas Reclamation Project," which was prepared for a 2015 international design competition. Based on the analyses and evaluation of the AFF areas, the aim was to develop proposals at different scales with an emphasis on preservation and rehabilitation. The article argues that the preservation of the area in a multilayered state would allow the retention and adaptation of its original functions, providing the necessary integrity to the city and protecting the AFF for future generations.