Avanos is a town near Kayseri that is loved by its residents for its quiet, peaceful and charming
environment, rich history and what constitutes as the pride of Avanos - the mastery of Pottery
& other handicrafts. Therefore, in accordance with opinions of residents of Avanos, a High school that
specializes in Handicrafts and nurtures creativity & handcrafting skills, as well as teaches the value of handicraft is the best fit for a new High School project in Avanos.
The students attending this school are Generation Z and Alpha students, therefore I attempted to
respond to their needs through providing ever-engaging, stimulating environment with the
concept of Journey, where they discover more as they walk and can avoid intimidating situations
that trigger anxiety, such as unorganized, confusing crowded places. In my design the key focus
is the journey from one destination to another throughout the site, the landscape that provides
diverse activities and greenery, that can sooth a troubled mind.
I hope to create an engaging, fun environment that a student wouldn’t get bored of, where they can socialize with ease and comfort and feel encouraged to spend time in the fresh air, as it is proven to improve mental health and ability to focus.
The key feature of this concept in my design is that one cannot know what’s on the other side of a trail/path, until they walk it. That is how I aim to achieve an engaging environment.
The project contains 4 different buildings with active usage and 3 smaller security buildings next to the entrances for the site. The first building, the auxiliary one, contains classes, a dance studio/gym, a library and an observatory, scattered across 4 floors. A tunnel passes through the first floor of this building that leads to a back part where a playground is located. They are all accessible and have large curtain walls surrounding them. The auditorium contains a foyer, changing rooms and a control room. Just outside of it a cafeteria is seen where people can drink and chat. Close to it the administrative building contains a first-floor canteen which can be turned into a meeting room when needed, as al of the tables are puzzle pieced to each other. The upper floors contain meeting rooms, teacher’s lounges and directors’ offices and a secretary. Last building takes up a much smaller space and contains just a nursery and a counselling room for children to go through therapy sessions or talk. This building is surrounded by trees and is facing mountain Erciyes so that a more therapeutic feel can be achieved. The building has a visible contrast between the curtain glass walls and bare concrete walls. Trough the changing of the upper plans many empty roofs are created where greenery is integrated. The main paths lead to the classes and connect the two big entrances on the sides. The path is rocky and made out of natural cobblestone that blend in with the grass, resembling the traditional old streets of Kayseri.
The campus is open to the public and can be used all year long. Through having picnics under shades, gathering to watch children’s theatre shows or taking a look at the stars through Kayseri’s only observatory, this building aims to become an attraction for locals, as well as a weekend landmark for families. Children that will enjoy their fieldtrips to this mini-university will face a diverse and colorful environment, while understanding the meaning of a community.
