Following the approval by the Conservation Board, the government hastily starts the installation of the construction site for the Taksim mosque project.
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) quickly started preparations to build a mosque in the Taksim Square in Istanbul, which it has long been targeting. Following the approval of the project by the Cultural Heritage Conservation Board, a construction site has been formed on the project area.
Yesterday morning, containers to be used as workers’ dormitory were brought to the area which has been occupied by the riot police for some time as holding point. As the construction area has been fenced with construction hoarding, the workers were seen to set up the worksite cabins.
ARCHITECTS OF ERDOĞAN’S PALACE
The mosque will be built behind the historical Taksim Water Chambers built in 1731, located near the notable Taksim Republic Monument. Therefore, a masjid and some flower-selling counters in the area will be demolished. The mosque will be built on a 1,482-square-metre area belonging to non-profit foundations.
The architects of the project are Şefik Birkiye, who designed the controversial Presidential Complex of 1,150 rooms, known colloquially as “Ak Saray” (“White Palace”), and Selim Dalaman, who co-designed the Millet Mosque within Erdoğan’s personal palace.
The Taksim Square mosque will have a capacity of 960 people and three underground floors which are allegedly designed to be used as a carpark, conference hall, and shopping mall. The mosque will have a minaret height of 30.3 metres and a floor area of 875 square metres.
