SOS-ARCH Research Center
İstanbul has major problems which are listed by population and urbanization. These are transportation, infrastructure, traffic urban transformation earthquake and green area. These problems are affected by migration.
This research center will help us to understand and discuss ‘migration’. At the same time, it will provide a new breath for users and a new platform for scientifical-educational research on Population & Urbanization by increasing social awareness.
The city's habitus, belonging, memory, identity concepts will be discussed with an architectural eye. As a part of daily life, it will turn into an accessible and prestigious space with collective memory, and harmonious with the historical texture.
First of all, the concept and its subtitles were clearly defined and after that building program was created. At the same time, the site analysis was completed and data was collected.
Secondly, the main pedestrian axes were defined. Basically, the project land is located in an area surrounded by historical buildings. Gazanfer Ağa Madrasa and Valens Aqueduct played a major role in shaping the project and its circulation. As an architect, I tried to use in every parts of the site by defining intersectional functions.
In this part, as an architect, I will talk about the surrounding circulations of the project. The main circulation, which is located in courtyard, connects Kovacılar street and İtfaiye street. Also, this circulation is fed by secondary circulations. Users can reach to the courtyard from Kovacılar street, İtfaiye street, from the park by using arches of the aquaduct and from Kadınlar Bazaar. In addition, I publicized Serdap street here and rearranged it with soft and hard floors. This street has a strong relationship with the aqueduct and the park behind it. The green pattern of the park at the back continues on this street. Thus, SOS-ARCH Research Center is turned into a landmark for human usage.
In this part, as a creator of this project, I will talk about the functions and program of the buildings. Mainly, I divided the site into three parts. The left of the site is private, the right of the site is public and these sides are connected with semi-private areas in the middle.
Research center is located at the left of the site. It has three floors. Simulation and computer rooms, archieve, studying area, tea-corner and technical rooms are located in basement floor. Sharing, discussing rooms, studying area, office pods and cinevision are located in ground floor. Management area is located in the first floor. Also, every floors are connected with inside garden and get sunlight from roof openings.
Public center is located at the right of the site. It has two floors. Conference hall and its foyer is located in the basement floor. The library, workshops and co-working area are located in ground floor.
These two buildings are separated by courtyard in the middle and also connected with digital bridge in the ground floor and sense maze in the basement level. These are interactive semi-private areas. Inside and outside of digital bridge is covered LED screens. It increases and enriches the users' experience. Sense Maze is also based on your feelings rather than seeing.
SOS-ARCH Research Center connects the site area and its environment, also connects the different functions inside the masses with successful circulation axes.
