Istanbul municipality's "Meeting Point" taken down
A contemporary amphitheater installed by Istanbul Municipality on the city's central Taksim Square is being taken down following a swift ruling by the regional conservation board. The Istanbul Second District Cultural Heritage Conservation Board ruled within two days of the installation of the structure that it be taken down, while it had allowed the Presidency's Communications Directorate to leave a tent up on the square for months.
Duvar English
The "Meeting Point" public art installation, erected by main opposition Istanbul Municipality in the city's central Taksim Square, has been taken down following a decision two days ago by the regional conservation board. The structure had only been in the square for two days when the decision was issued.
The Istanbul Second District Cultural Heritage Conservation Board's swift decision came as a surprise, as the board had allowed the Presidency's Communications Directorate to leave a tent up on the square for months.
Squads from the municipality began removing wood boards from the seats of the contemporary amphitheater in the afternoon on Sunday Feb. 23, a time in which the square is usually relatively empty.
"#MeetingPoint's Taksim shift ends today. It's beautiful to come together. 'One day we will surely meet.' Very soon," Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) tweeted.
The video accompanying İmamoğlu's tweet shows Istanbul residents of all ages spending time on the bleachers of the contemporary installation. The municipality had placed the structure on the city's busiest square to encourage better use of the metropolis' public spaces.