Breaking from Plato’s cave: Towards a holistic approach in urban housing in ?stanbul

Abstract

This paper aims to address the effects of speed as an urban fragment in the city and suggests finding ways to change perceptions toward the negative effects of speed in ?stanbul. It is supposed that changing our perception or ways of approaching the built environment can raise awareness or reactions that are steps to criticizing urban transformation from different perspectives. Thus, it is proposed that Plato’s cave allegory be taken as an example for the dwellers of Istanbul. This allegory can be represented in the urban realm through intertwined layers of construction. Against these layers of boundaries, Breaking from Plato’s cave is suggested as a metaphor for constructing an alternative strategy to change our way of perception of rapid construction in urban space. For the demolishment of the boundaries between the ideal and real worlds, which speed has aggrandized, there can be an escape by playing with the displayed reality through developing a holistic approach and a non-schismogenic artistic intervention. A dweller today needs to act in order to escape the invisible frontiers through unfolding reality. In breaking from Plato’s cave, there is a search for a way to break down this “reality” as it is perceived by many dwellers through play and active participation.

Key words: speed, breaking from Plato’s cave, ?stanbul, urban housing, metaphorical thinking, holistic approach.