Istanbuls informal settlements, called „Gecekondu“, established in the 1950s on state-owned land, are facing a modernization showdown. With over 15 million inhabitants, Istanbul's construction boom has reshaped skylines, accommodating a growing population. Fikirtepe, once a symbol of informal settlement, transformed as urban renewal projects replaced it with modern structures, sparking tensions between tradition and progress. On my visit I have met 85-year-old Metin, who used to live in Germany for an extensive time. He told me that he walks for an hour from his new home to meet up with old friends and acquaintances for cay, just before the noon prayer and after. The café on the outskirts of Fikirtepe has been spared from demolition. 

Besides framing built architecture, Joshua uses photography as a research-driven tool, to document people and living surroundings. He sees his photographic work as an artistic take on social, economic, and political themes. Hence his studies of architecture, he is deeply intrigued about the lives and living situations of individuals.