Maltepe, a seaside district of Istanbul, is shaped by urbanisation that turns away from the sea, resulting in ecological disruption, spatial disconnection and rising climatic stress. Dense urbanisation and coastal infrastructure have hardened the land–sea threshold into an impermeable boundary. What was once shaped by natural coastal flows has been transformed by infrastructure-led expansion that buries water streams, increases building density and leaves open spaces trapped and isolated. The hard reclaimed surface restricts water movement and alters sea hydrodynamics, deepening eutrophication and mucilage formation in the Sea of Marmara, while the growing urban density and impermeable reclaimed edge intensify land temperatures across the city, placing further environmental stress on the urban fabric. In addition, highways and rail lines disrupt direct access to the coastline, further distancing the city from the sea. The project rebuilds the urban–coastal gradient by softening the rigid reclaimed edge and introducing permeability across the urban–reclamation boundary, forming a coherent system of environmental and civic transitions. Building on earlier ecological design strategies, in which marine flow channels were used to restore circulation and water quality, the proposal extends this logic inland to mitigate growing heat temperature, uncover buried interfaces and reactivate a continuous spine that reconnects water, public spaces, pathways, green areas and the coastal edge.

From this, an integrated network emerges where water, pedestrian and mobility systems are collectively designed to restore permeability, soften infrastructural barriers and enable people to reconnect with the coast while re-establishing ecological flows within the city. These networks do not function merely as connectors but actively respond to their surrounding environment and engage with existing functions within the urban fabric. As water re-enters the city and people move towards the coast, their converging movements weave through urban voids and heat-affected areas, forming a unified system where environmental processes and public life shape a continuous sequence of spatial spaces. The proposal ultimately reframes Maltepe's coastal edge as a porous and climate-responsive system. It strengthens the interface between city and sea, eases environmental pressures on both land and water, and revitalises public life. By restoring natural flow and improving civic access, the project supports the long-term ecological recovery of the Sea of Marmara and contributes to a more resilient, accessible and connected urban environment.