Bahat Makhfia Excavation Center / Asim Jabbarli
Karahantepe is a Neolithic archaeologicala site in Haliliye/Şanlıurfa which has important meaning for the investigation of the primal human life. After researchers at Göbeklitepe sites, people are focused on this kind of historical area. It has huge economic income related to cultural tourism. However, it has several challenges in using the area's maximum efficiency. From an architectural point of view, the security of the area, using the geographic futures of the site, creates different life spaces for visitors and researchers in Karahantepe.
First, about the concept, I want to mention my main impression of this project which is the courtyard mentality of the native architecture. This architectural style is developed for many years and was experienced by people. It means, besides detailed research about courtyard usage and its benefits of it, real-life experience provides us with answers. My main objective in this project was to create several courtyards by using buildings and level differences. Firstly, I decided to divide buildings according to their functions and user groups. After that, the demands and wants of the user groups have pushed me to separate public areas from private buildings. Because of scientists' and other workers' attention to their jobs, privacy was one of my main aims in this project. Placing buildings according to their functions had allowed me to create several courtyards. By creating courtyards in this project, I aimed to create open, semi-open spaces by caring for and protecting everyone's privacy and demands.
Secondly, for visitors’ needs, the cafe is located at the entrance of the site which is also working as the guest center. The counter is in front of the cafe and connected to the gift shop part. Visitors can get tickets from the counter and continue to the virtual museum. For the security of the area, I divided entrances by using buildings and green zone. After visiting the virtual museum, visitors can go to the area by using a ramp which is located between the cafe and public service part. Small shuttles are taking and dropping visitors from that side.
As I mentioned above, buildings are separated in public and private by using level differences. There is no direct connection between private inner gardens and public part but indirectly, people can pass throw the conference hall and meeting room. The private part of the building is placed on the east side of the area. There are three (for 1, 2, and 4 person) types of rooms that are designed and placed at the accommodation part. Open and semi-open corridors and parts are used to connect rooms and other facilities of the building. Private parking is designed north side of this part and changing rooms are in front of it accordingly. There is an entrance for people after parking the cars. Research is is located on the south of the area and directly connected to the private part. However, these buildings are separated from the public part by using 2 meters level difference. Research part consists of a depot, studios, labs, working areas, an archive, and a library.
Finally, about the building, I want to mention the purpose of use of material and construction system in the building. I am planning to use natural stone on the facades and have green parts on triangular protrusion which has direct relations with the roof. There are eaves on several parts of the building to emphasize entrances and corridors. Also, by having some porches, I created a courtyard feel.
