Istanbul Social Integrity & Urban Rehabilitation RC
The project area is located in İstanbul, Fatih or simply the Historical Peninsula of İstanbul/Golden Horn. The history is significant at this point since the area is surrounded and in close relationship with several distinguished historical structures and buildings which later on has affected the concept of the project immensely, such as Gazanferağa Madrasa Complex, Valens Aqueduct, and Hüsambey Mosque & Tomb. The area is, in addition, in the intersect of Zeyrek & Süleymaniye as well, two most important places in historic peninsula that were also listed in UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. However, because of political changes, fires, earthquakes, and migration, these two historically unique areas are changing towards an extinction both physically and spiritually.
The project has put the apprehension of losing the grip in between the historical heritage of Zeyrek & Süleymaniye as the main concern due to the incompatibility regarding the firsthand relation and the conservative care as a connection to social structure and the historical context of Zeyrek & Süleymaniye.
As to a solution to the defined concern of sustaining that social bond, this research center aims to target the public as its main audience and research subject, including the historical urban structure of Zeyrek & Süleymaniye.
The site is a leveled site that changes in between 5m. For the project to be fit to the site, the circulation areas are put into the project as corridors with levelling differences that can be reached by ramps and staircases. There are totally three different flooring plans in this project, and the usage is divided into semi-public and private usage.
The ground floor is located on four different revelings and includes lecture rooms, a seminar hall, courtyard, research labs, offices, co-working areas, and accommodation. The privatization for this floor is done by controlled doors, corridors and the key card system that is used only by the researchers.
On the first floor, the privatization still continues in addition with library & archive, cafe, and administration, plus offices and co-working areas.
The last floor only contains accommodation with a terrace that overlooks to Valens Aqueduct.
