Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) brought Yedikule Gazhanesi, one of the industrial heritages of the city, to the culture, art and social life of Istanbul. Yedikule Gazhanesi, saying 'Hello' to the people of Istanbul with its New Turku concert, is the President of IMM. Ekrem İmamoğlu opened by Speaking at the opening ceremony, which coincided with his birthday, İmamoğlu said, “Let me express that we have been working diligently to add a new value to Istanbul since we took office. Every day, we work hard to find a solution to a problem of Istanbulites and to be an active municipality. You are in this effort. Because municipal management and functioning is a production mechanism for our 16 million people. You are the owner, we are the trustees. You chose us and we are trying to be worthy of you. And of course we are determined to be worthy.”
“WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE A PROCESS THAT PROVIDES SOLUTIONS TO ITS PROBLEMS WITH ISTANBUL”
Stating that they were working in a process that coincided with the economic crisis and pandemic period, İmamoğlu said, “We continue to manage a process that is active, never stopping, not morning and evening, 7/24, 365 days, with our employees, who worry about Istanbul, who worry about Istanbul, and who finds solutions to their problems. we do. Our request; Let 16 million people benefit from all the opportunities of this city in the maximum way and as they deserve. And these concepts actually change people's lives a lot. Bringing millions of square meters of green space to our city is a source of pride for us during this period. The meaning of our active areas is not being able to see from a distance, not even being able to get close to it, or even being close to it; to go into it, to benefit from it, to feel it, to touch it. We have active historical areas, such as active green areas, as well as places where we can enjoy nature. We are working hard to include them in life," he said.
“WE ARE OBLIGED TO RELEASE TRUSTS AND SERVE THE WORLD”
Saying, "We are obliged to reveal those relics and serve them to the world," İmamoğlu said, "This is a very special place. Bringing the Yedikule Gazhanesi, which was established in 1880, with different functions, to the whole of Istanbul, especially the neighborhood next to us, emerged as a result of careful work. This place starts from 1880, went out of service in 1993. But frankly, he doesn't come here for a long time. Unfortunately, we are preparing this field, which has been turned into a garbage for years, for the whole world to visit. We are transforming this section into a destination that will attract millions of tourists. And this place will reveal a period that will enrich the social lives of Istanbulites, increase their financial gains, differentiate their cultural lives and encourage them to build their dreams in this city.”
“WE HAD A HERITAGE”
Saying, “We actually put an end to the period of inheritance,” said İmamoğlu:
“This period, we have revealed another process of sensitivity towards the indifference to the history, cultural riches, and ancestral heirlooms of this city. I can say that we have put forward this process with an effort to make people feel that they are the real owners of this city, not profit, rent or political interest, but doing things that increase the value of the city and actually give peace. We ended inheritance, but we did something else. Together, we have resolutely embraced the heritage. We will continue to own it. Maintaining safety is very important. In other words, what a noble duty it is to look after this city, this country, this world as a trust, to protect it, to beautify it, without squashing it, to destroy it, on the contrary, by transforming it into a pure state, and to pass it on to our children, their children. Let's all be worthy of this noble mission, please. We will work, I hope you will support me.”
“WE ARE OPENING THIS PLACE FOR THE USE OF THE PUBLIC, NOT TO AN INTEREST COMMITTEE”
“This city belongs to all of us. We value safety. We look at you like the apple of our eye. Although there is a period of use for different purposes, we open this place to the public like you, not to personal interests or a handful of groups or an interest committee. Hasanpaşa Gazhane is breaking records. This place will break records. This place will bring you together. It will bring you together. You will talk. Here we will feel that our separation is not ours. No one will turn us against each other. No bad words will be paid for us. We will get better. We have high confidence in the healing character and good conscience of our nation. And you will see our people with good hearts, namely 86 million people, 16 million Istanbulites, and we promise to make these beautiful days live in the presence of all of you.”
“I LOVE ISTANBUL WITH THE LOVE OF 16 MILLIONS”
“Although there are personal desires and dreams about Istanbul, I don't do it that way. I do not have a personal dream, a personal love for Istanbul. Let me tell you that I love Istanbul with the love of 16 million. It's like loving Turkey with the love of our 86 million people. After all, the main thing is such a love, such a love. It should not be individualized, it should be social. I will continue to do my duty diligently and not shy away from any responsibility, with the respect I have for each and every member of our nation, who look at this city and this country with passion with those concepts. It is a fact that feelings of separation can achieve temporary gains. These happen. But I also know that real, lasting gains are possible with real love and all emotions. True love and integrative feeling keep society upright and together for centuries, even millennia. Discriminating emotions give you a momentary sense of winning. You win a term. Or a few years, a few terms. But the main thing is; never giving up on the main goal, the main range.”
“THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE CASE IN THE HEART”
“Keeping this nation together is a case of presenting good and good governance examples to the people of the world. Let me be very clear: No matter what obstacles they put in front of us in the name of this case, our case is another case, no matter what court cases they put before us, we will walk our way with determination. Because the main issue is the case in the heart. That case is the case in the hearts of the nation. I will win that case. Those other cases have no effect on me. It's not worth it. I will continue to work hard, to be worthy of you, to be worthy of you, and never give up, with my love, respect and genuine sense of responsibility, as well as great enthusiasm for our nation, this beautiful city, our fellow citizens and the whole country, and our 86 million people. Yedikule Gazhanesi will increase your morale. Good luck to our city, with the aim of contributing to the culture, art, education, conversation, meeting, friendliness, being side by side, in which you hold on to life, find morale, strengthen your dreams, and make you feel that you are not different from each other and that you are human.”
OPENED IN 1880, CLOSED IN 1993
Mahir Polat, Deputy Secretary General of IMM, also shared detailed information about the construction process of Yedikule Gazhanesi. Established in 1880, Yedikule Gazhanesi was the first gas factory established in Istanbul for social service. Gazhane has met the lighting needs of the historical region for many years. The gas house, which was decommissioned in 1993, along with other gas station structures in the city; Built on an area of 78.475 square meters, it served as a facility that included units such as coal-air gas production structures, tar separators, cranes, retort boilers, washing facility, warehouse, weighbridge building, administrative buildings, and gas warehouses. Some of the Yedikule Gazhanesi structures, which were also used as an excavation dump area and bus parking area in the following years, lost all their functions and equipment over time, while some of them managed to reach the present day.
STARTED ITS NEW JOURNEY WITH THE “LONG WALK” EXHIBITION
Yedikule Gazhanesi, which was restored and brought to the cultural life of the city after the Museum Gazhane (Hasanpaşa Gazhanesi); It will be a center of attraction for Istanbul with its green spaces, public spaces and versatile activities. The first gift of the comprehensive restoration works initiated by İBB Heritage in the historical area in 2022 was the 'Hangar' structure. With the works carried out in line with the principles and techniques of universal protection; The Hangar structure, which has re-functioned to host current events such as concerts, exhibitions, talks, film screenings and workshops, opened its doors to visitors with the opening event called “Long Walk”. With the ribbon cut after the speeches of İmamoğlu and Polat, Yedikule Gazhanesi said 'Hello' to the people of Istanbul with the New Türkü concert.