My initial thesis proposal will be based on a continuation of my M1 year looking as changes in micro-pressures and vibrations depicting the subtle fluxes, ebbs and flows of exchange through the structural application of inflatables and pneumatics.
Looking for a site that contains a lot of density and complexity in terms of history, current changes, current activities and uses. The site will be located in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Turkey. In itself known for its historical significance including establishing the city of Istanbul as the new capitol of the Roman Empire to Ottoman takeovers and several crusade invasions, as well as multiple layers of complexity encompassing language, religion, commerce and trade as a result.
The initial investigation will look into the notion of scent and its permeation in, through, around a space. A smell is “a trace or suggestion” of something that has a tangible origin. This origin has a material source, which can then be linked back to how did the item come to be there, was it brought by someone thereby having a human implication, was it of a mechanical nature, such as diesel or exhaust implying an economic significance.
Smell is also closely linked with memory. So it is not only available as a current trace of ones surroundings, but also a historical link to the past. The definition of a scent is “a pervading appearance, character, quality, or influence” or “to perceive, detect, or discover.”
Recent scientific studies have proposed that we are able to smell because different particles have different vibrations. How we smell and the vibration theory of smell is that scent molecules vibrate “quiver and shake.” Luca Turin, a biophysicist describes it as “a molecule is made up of tiny balls connected by springs, twang the balls and the molecule vibrates with a set of frequencies which can be recorded as a vibrational spectrum.” (www.sciencebase.com/elemsmell.html) “More scientifically, he believes that the vibrational spectrum of a molecule is the real property that is detected by the nose and interpreted by the brain. The idea sounds bizarre but two of our other senses vision and sound – are based on the brain’s interpretation of vibrations and spectra so why not smell?”
The major themes throughout the year will encompass scent, memory and language.
The site proposal is located in Taksim Square, perfectly presenting Istanbul’s insistent ‘joie-de-vivre.’ In Arabic ‘taksim’ means ‘distribution,’ originally the point where the main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to the other parts of the city. Established by Sultan Mahmud 1 and named after the stone reservoir which is located in this area. Also refers to a Turkish style of improvisational music.
Two other sites which were considered were in Beskitas on the main road leading straight into the Bosporus or a missing tooth in the Old Centre. Although both have a tremendous amount of historical significance and poetics, they seem to be lacking the connection to flux (the hustle and bustle of activity) and pneumatics.
Currently core of business, such as the Congress Valley has been host to the world’s most important meetings and summits just a few minutes away. In addition to being a major tourist destination at the top of Istiklal Caddesi, this square has been a hot spot for political riots and demonstrations as well as a point of religious confluence with its mosques, synagogues and churches, foreign consulates, suicide bombing les than a year a ago, and football stabbings between England and Turkey.
Specifically the site is located on Tarlabasi Blvd on the bus route passing through the aqueduct. On the Google map it’s the block of buildings labeled Butterfly Apart Flat (but I don’t think that exists any longer). The entire stretch of the block is one condemned building next to another. I propose to use the entire block for my site.
This site is rich in history, current activity ranging from tourist to political, and local folklore. I feel it is the right choice for my site. 
Taksim Square for Google Earth. Look for Butterfly Apartment Flat on Tarlabasi Blvd.
Image of site. Quick montage of the derelict block.
Taksim at 5am. This city never sleelps!
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