New venue for joint productions: Post Office Istanbul

Photos: Ayçe İdil Ağca

The Post Office project, which was brought to life with the restoration of the Historical British Post Office in Galata, Istanbul, opened today (October 9). With the pandemic measures, the entrances to the Post Office, which the participants can visit by making reservations for different hours in advance, were made with the HES code control.

Social, environmental and urban impact-oriented works and joint ventures. Designed as a place to host cultural productions, the Post Office was re-functioned as an open, sharing, productive and restorative space that fosters the well-being of the environment it is located and the living things it comes into contact with.

In the Post Office, a terrace garden where natural food is grown by collecting and using rain water, a solidarity-based kitchen and cafeteria, a fair trade unit that brings together consumers with local producers, social enterprises and cooperatives, working and meeting areas that encourage joint production, a specialist library, storytellers There is a podcast and video studio for public events and a multi-purpose hall for public events.

Justice in the venue

One of the stakeholders of the Post Office Project, which was established in 2016; The Justice in Space Association brings together city planners, architects, social scientists and journalists to develop participatory urban planning processes and practices that take into account society, environment and human rights.

The big wall at the historical entrance of the building is reserved for solidarity with the artists. Currently, artist Ekin Kano’s work “The Price of Growth” is on display with an open call in May 2021. The Post Office also has a goal of opening such calls in certain years, developing solidarity with artists and displaying their works on its walls.

Postane’ de agriculture

There is a 20 square meter cultivation area on the terrace of the Post Office implemented by the “Good October” social initiative. Burcu Arıkan from Good October explains her goals as follows: “As Good October, we have been dealing with urban agriculture for 4 years. One of our works is the Post Office Terrace. It was planned as an area where everyone can come and learn to grow their own food on a city scale. We want such places to spread around Istanbul. We will have open tours every Tuesday. Participants can work with us or just join the tour we narrate. Apart from that, the Post Office will be open from Monday, October 11th. There is a greengrocer used by our chef at the entrance, he uses fair production products. The food is tried to be made both with those products and with the harvest here as much as possible.”

There will also be a seed bank

Evren Yıldırım from Good October says: “All plants are edible, only flowers are sister plants. More planting areas could be created, but it is also aimed to be a social area. Side bearings fixed, middle bearings movable; so that it can also turn into a place for watching movies and chatting. The covering outside the plant beds is the old parquet of the building. Everything that came out of the building was intended to be reused. We approached holistically; we collect rain water, we apply a compost system in the wastes. We started with a lot of varieties, choosing strong seeds because of the important climate crisis. We will have a small seed bank downstairs.”

Forest fruits, gooseberries, lemons, as well as greens such as lettuce, cabbage, cress, arugula, mint, coriander, parsley Efficiency and usability of the products in the kitchen are at the forefront on the terrace where it grows in. There are also teas and aromatic herbs such as palace mint, Istanbul thyme, geranium.

One of the symbols of Galata, which was destroyed with the restoration of Narmanlı Han. The wisteria is found both on the terrace and at the entrance of the Post Office. Arıkan and Yıldırım also state that it is very important for them that the wisteria wraps around the building.

What’s in the cafeteria?

The chief of the Post Office, Ömer Faruk Aksoylar, explains: “In my previous experiences, I preferred the products I used from the local producer, without intermediaries, without toxic and ecologically. I hope that when our cafe opens in 1 month, we will use products in this way to produce vegan, vegetarian and Mediterranean style nutrition products.”

Post office shop

Starting with the motto “things with a story”, Merve Kavas from the Post Office Shop continues: We designed a shop with fair trade products, aiming to change our daily shopping habits. The design of the shop is also compatible with the Post Office; It was created to support social, environmental and cultural actors. There are several different focuses; We are planning to include the publications of the publishing group, the Justice in Space Association, independent publishers and cultural and art actors. The Post Office also has its own products such as bags and t-shirts. There are products of about 20 cooperatives and social enterprises.”

There is also a library

The atmosphere of historical Istanbul was tried to be revived with postcards and Beyoğlu Map. At the same time, it is possible to see the photos of the workers working in the restoration of the Post Office.

The Post Office Library, which provides resources on the themes of environmental justice, also plans to develop an archive on social movements. The library, which has approximately 3000 books and magazines and special digital archives, awaits its visitors with an appointment system…

For more information; https://www.instagram.com/postaneistanbul/

(AIA/ NÖ)