The Büyükada Songlines project is a floating garden created by Studio Ossidiana for the 2021 Istanbul Design Biennial. In partnership with Princes Islands World Heritage and a diverse group of local collaborators, this mobile garden sailed across the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus, linking Istanbul’s Princes Islands with the city’s shores in Asia and Europe. During June and July 2021, the garden served as a traveling pavilion that welcomed a diverse mix of visitors including Princes Islands residents and visitors, academics, conservationists, fishermen, dancers, and even feral cats, along with birds and insects. It hosted a variety of events and discussions that brought together different community members and explored the intersection of natural and human environments.
