Karahantepe Excavation House and Research Center / Berat Demir
The context of the site is a usual Mesopotamia environment with smooth topography. However, when we get closer to the area, we are starting to see sharp linear forms of stones in the environment and the Karahantepe Site. So basically the earth of the area is not something sharp, solid or a separator but something permeable, something floating. The design concept continues this idea in the designed area. While some of the functions are put under the ground some that are made of stone will appear on the ground and the smooth topography lines will continue to cover the area with a network at the top. To reflect the idea, this network should be permeable. When we think about the material accessibility of the area, cotton is one of the raw materials that is produced so much in the city, even there were too many cotton fields around the road we used to go to the field from city center. Therefore, the design is going to use cotton ropes to create a permeable network system at the top which also turns into space itself or a separator between the areas sometimes. Different thicknesses, colours and the appearance of lighting especially after the sunset make it flexible and enjoyable.
The design has mainly 3 building type, workshop building and ateliers made of rammed earth and wooden joists used as roof material which also creates a semi-open space between the building and shear wall(earth). Labs are made of concrete structure and plastered with white plaster to reflect the sunlight and create a distinction between the buildings. Integration building and accommodation made of masonry stone, flooring and roof system made of wooden joists and deck. At some parts these joists continues between the buildings to create semi-open spaces. Visitor center ramp is made of concrete however the walls made of corten plaques.
Visitors enter the site from carpark after visited the Karahantepe site they reach the visitor center( exhibiton area). 0 levels for the entrance of visitor center, they enter the visitor center from 0m and ramp take down them to the -5m where gift shop, café, library and conference hall gather. At the -2m workshop spaces, lab and lecture room placed which turns into a more specialized area. There are two different levels for excavation personnel, -2m for labs and ateliers basically, and -5m for accommodation and integration space.
