ENVIRONMENT + TRADITION + ACCESSIBILITY
The competition area is close to the city center and also has a tangential relationship with it. On the south of the land, there is a dense and powerful road axis of Kocasinan Boulevard and on its north; there is a new development area with low density, extending to Kayseri Airport. It may be envisioned that in the future, Kocasinan Boulevard, coming from Malatya and Sivas direction, going to Ankara, which mitigates the passenger relationship of the land with the city, will preserve its existence; with development towards the airport on the north of the land increasing. Taking this into account, considering the traffic density of Kocasinan Boulevard, design was started with an introverted construction setup.
Land layout of the building is addressed in the “building with yard” scheme frequently observed in Kayseri’s architectural tradition. The building comprises two adjoining yards; one open, the other one enclosed. This feature is also observed in buildings with a typical Seljuki madrasah layout like Kayseri Gevher Nesibe Healing House. Out of the two adjoining buildings, at Gevher Nesibe Healing House, the healing house is on the west and the madrasah of medicine lies on the east; and this functional distinction similarly was interpreted as service areas being separated by yards in the plan. The basic objective was reinterpretation of values of architectural heritage coming from the history of Kayseri which has to be owned up to, and its modernization and formation of the function scheme through the design language of the project.
Especially, the contribution to the space perception of the open and semi-open areas observed in the traditional architecture of the region, yard and space hierarchy were reinterpreted. The structure comprises two basic yards: Eastern yard, Western yard and the courtyard on ground floor connecting those two together. These yards connect the open, semi-open and enclosed areas and service areas in the structure. Hence, spatial organization is intertwined, ending up in a scheme fortifying transparence and public characteristics. The relationship of the structure with the environment was reinforced, as the Western yard opens to south and green terraces are formed on floors. Green terraces divide the mass, extending to the building settlement boundaries of the land into large segments.
As it is an introverted building, the shell is as deaf as possible and natural stone covering is applied as in traditional architecture. Kayseri is a province which may be classified as rich in terms of its mines and other underground resources; therefore, types of stone like basalt, marble or andesite which reflect the characteristics of this region may be used on the façade.
The noise and pollution problem to be created by Kocasinan Boulevard which lies south of the contest area, was resolved by detaching the ground floor to be used most often by public from this road, with the aid of a green ramp. Hence, the semi-open recreation areas to be utilized by the public and employees are formed on the ground floor. This space is accessed through a slot on the green ramp expanding towards the main road. Access to the service section of the building and entrance to the ground floor restaurant are also achieved through this main courtyard.
The green ramp reaches the first floor allowing a secondary entrance to the foyers of the assembly and conference halls. The ramp, situated south of the building, at the same time setting up a visual link with the green strip south of Kocasinan Boulevard, reinforces the integration of the building with its environment.
The created yards also allow structural functions to be formed. In that line, the main service units are gathered around Western yard and halls and chairman’s office surround the Northern yard. The relationship of Eastern and Western yards with public space is reinforced through floor terraces and green ramps.
Access by the public-the handicapped is made possible to the courtyard on the ground floor with the slot inside the created green ramp and to all important locations of the building as the green ramp reaches the first floor.
The load bearing system of the building is set up as multi-colonnade R&C system with 6,3 m x 6,3 m axis spacing. The three important reasons for this are as follows: The first one; ensuring flexibility and functionality of working spaces depending on the desired spatial magnitudes, the second one is its being an economical construction system and the third is to carry the poetic sentiment brought about by this system, aspiring to the multi-pedestal building scheme which is part of Kayseri’s tradition.
Thanks to the yards and terraces created in the structure, all venues may make use of daylight – natural air circulation becomes possible inside. Also, as it is an introverted building, the shell is as deaf as possible and natural stone covering is applied as in traditional architecture. Kayseri is a province which may be classified as rich in terms of its mines and other underground resources; therefore, types of stone like basalt, marble or andesite which reflect the characteristics of this region may be used on the façade. This covering will allow the building to be protected from the heat of summer and the cold of winter. By these natural acclimatization and natural lighting techniques created in the structure itself, it is sought to ensure that the building is sustainable without being turned into a technological garbage bin.
This designed structural mission will reinforce the relationship with its members and the public, of an entity which provides consultancy to the business world and its members, equipping them with new knowledge and values. With its functionality, flexibility, applicability, tradition, modernization, permanency, environmental harmony, openness, transparency and handicapped accessibility and sustainability principles, it is set as a model for others, adding value to the environment…
Project Team: Hakan Deniz Özdemir, İbrahim Eyüp ve Hale Keskinalemdar
Selin Biçer / Architect
