16.05.2026 21:31
Aerial footage taken in Istanbul's Küçükçekmece district revealed two different lifestyles in the same district. The stark contrast between the modern housing complex rising in Atakent Neighborhood and the narrow streets and cramped construction of Atatürk Neighborhood drew attention. 2nd Hürriyet Street, which separates the two neighborhoods like a line, embodied Istanbul's socio-economic divide.
Aerial footage taken in Istanbul's Küçükçekmece district revealed two different lifestyles in the same district.
SAME DISTRICT, TWO DIFFERENT LIVES
In the aerial footage, wide roads, planned settlement, high-rise complexes, landscaping areas, and social facilities stand out in Atakent Neighborhood; while in Atatürk Neighborhood, adjacent buildings, narrow streets, and dense construction draw attention. In the area with modern complexes, an orderly urban planning is observed, while on the other side, the traces of unplanned growth developed over the years are clearly felt. This reveals that Istanbul hosts two different living standards in the same geography.
THE DIFFERENCE IS NOT JUST ARCHITECTURAL
Experts state that the difference between the two neighborhoods is not only architectural but also significant in terms of quality of life, security, social spaces, and earthquake resilience. While modern complexes offer amenities such as parking, security, green areas, and social facilities, these opportunities are quite limited in old neighborhoods. Especially with earthquake debates, the preference for new buildings further deepens this divide.
THE BORDER DIVIDING THE CITY: 2ND HÜRRİYET AVENUE
2nd Hürriyet Avenue, which separates the two neighborhoods, almost serves as a border. On one side of the avenue, planned and modern living areas are located, while on the other side, older and denser construction stands out. The aerial footage clearly reveals this difference, bringing urban transformation and urbanization debates in Istanbul back to the agenda. According to experts, these two different construction models represent the transition between Istanbul's past and future. While examples of planned urbanization rise on one side, the need for transformation of the old building stock is increasingly felt on the other.
These images recorded in Küçükçekmece reveal not only the geographical but also the socio-economic two different faces of Istanbul.