Bilecik Hamsu Valley

The Hamsu Valley physically divides the Bilecik morphology (hills and deep valleys connecting them) into two along the east-west axis. Urban regeneration and transformation models were considered for the future through a consideration of the project area’s location within the overall urban fabric. Vehicular and pedestrian bridges were designed to connect both sides of the Hamsu Valley at the north-south axis in order to solve the transportation problem of Bilecik. The main approach of the project is to stitch the incisions and to unite the valley into a whole.

Eight sub-areas have been identified, connected with the main pedestrian and cycling circulation systems: 1. project area: access of pedestrians to the valley with the funicular elevator, pedestrian circulation through the valley, river rehabilitation, and special lighting throughout the valley bottom; 2. project area: restaurants and cafes, souvenir kiosks, workshops, children playgrounds, special lighting through the valley, closed parking lots, activity square, pedestrian tracks through the valley, wooden bridges, and vista terraces; 3. project area: cafes and restaurants under the bridge, panoramic elevator, eco-village for children, nature education and workshops for children, nature awareness, hobby gardens, artificial lake, vista platforms, “adrenalin park”, cascade, rock climbing, and special lighting; 4. project area: youth center, “crystal structure” that functions as a library, multi-purpose lawn area, kite hill, festival area, cafes and restaurants, picnic and sports areas, bicycle track, dressing cabins-wc-showers, kiosks, plant exhibit areas, and parking lots; 5. project area: renewable energy production area, wind turbines, and solar panels; 6. project area: city center regeneration, accommodations, commercial areas, sitting, resting and vista platforms, neighborhood park, and children playground; 7. project area: functions through the valley bottom, camping, river, artificial lake, fishing, model boats, picnic areas, professional rock climbing, vista platforms, and wooden bridges; 8. project area: landscape design of the Şeyh Edebali Mausoleum, square design, souvenir kiosks, vista platforms, renewal around the historic bathhouse, landscape design around the Orhangazi Mosque, multi-purpose lawn area, ceremonial area and monument, and parking lots.