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Vegetable Garden

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Soba, or Stove

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Imece

The construction process of the gecekondu is complex and varies across neighbourhoods. However, a key characteristic is building collectively, known as Imece. There is a great sense of solidarity between neighbours, as they survived through the same difficulties in both construction of their homes and thereafter settling themselves within the city.
The story of Imece starts even before the construction of the gecekondu, where fellow countrymen looking to move into the neighbourhood, would stay in the houses of existing Umraniye inhabitants while they organised a plot of land to start their own gecekondu construction. Whether relatives, friends or strangers from their village hometown, gecekondu inhabitants were willing to aid those going through the same difficult process they experienced.
The collective construction process begins at night, where a truck arrives loaded with material. According to interviewees, up to 10 people work throughout the night to finish plastering the stacked brick walls. The workers then sleep through the day in preparation for the next night’s construction, for other families moving in to the newly, and rapidly forming gecekondu. More settled inhabitants who were employed during the day, however informally, would ‘arrive home form work, and help newcomers build their gecekondu in the garden!’.t

Duvet Storage

Collection of duvets owned by the wife was proudly presented. They represent the hospitality and welcome nature of the family when recieving guests.

Lace Curtains

Knitted by the wife at home. She still spends most of her day here crochet- ing to sell for pocket money.

Collective Work

In the past, women would gather to wash pots or clean carpets in the threshold garden spaces. Today, this space is very underused in a collective manner in terms of work. However, the family still make social use of their garden, meeting with neighbours once a week in summer.

Collective Dining

Dinner is often eaten on small trays, or outside due to the lack of space indoors. Foldable tables are stored in the corridor for special occasions e.g. the Altin Gunu.