FALL 2021-ARCH401

Nature-Human Hill is a project designed near Karahantepe in Şanlıurfa. The concept of the project is based on three main elements. These elements are; Human, History, and Nature. History and Human are two phenomena that work together. In every breath of these two elements, there is a trace of Nature. Likewise, there is Human, which values Karahantepe, and Nature, which is an inseparable part of History phenomena. Nature cannot be considered apart from any cycle, even if it is thought of, it cannot be completely separated. In this context, Nature was included in every integration point of the Nature-Human Hill project, emphasizing its importance in our lives, and allowing the project to breathe at critical points.

Considering the purpose of the design, it is to design an excavation house and a visitor center for Karahantepe, one of the most important archaeological points of Sanlıurfa. While designing spaces suitable for the needs of researchers and visitors identified as user profiles, attention was paid to the distinction between private and public. This separation was supported by using elevation differences, and L-shaped forms were used as a general principle. After the guests taken from the highest elevation show the exhibition, they are taken to a lower level and transferred to the vehicles that will lead them to the area. The aim here is to remove visitors from the research area before they are forwarded to it. In the area next to this unit, there are chipping, pottery, and wheat workshop areas. The wheat workshop part, it is to refers to Sanlıurfa, the region where wheat was domesticated. In short, as the general purpose of the Design, when the cycle of life is caught and you get away from nature, it is to go out or touch nature again.

It is possible to explain the circulation in two parts, the first is defined for visitors and the other is defined for researchers. In the circulation defined for visitors, visitors coming from the city center are conveyed to the exhibition unit after they encounter a public parking lot. It is transmitted to +1.00m level as a result of the circulation path designed as an exhibition ramp in this unit. Depending on the need, access to the visitor center found by the conference hall can be provided, or you can go directly to the excavation site with mini shuttles. On the way back from the field, the open areas found by the workshop areas are toured and an exit from the parking lot is provided. In the second circulation route defined for the researchers, the entrance is provided from +1.00 m level as a result of the renovation of the existing road. In this part, where there is a private parking area, the entrance is provided next to the depots. On the first floor, the research units are designed to face the courtyard. There is an accommodation unit on the upper floor that creates a private zone. In the accommodation section, areas that can be used as summer and winter are defined. While the corridors are closed in the area that will be used in winter, there are semi-open corridors in the area that will be used in the summer season. The part on the west side, following the topography, has been offered to use the roof as green.

When the construction part is examined, it is planned to shape the project with the use of brick and concrete. In the accommodation part, the use of brick creates a traditional image, while in the research and exhibition part, the use of glass and concrete is seen. In this context, a design has been tried to be made in the western part, which moves together with the topography, which will create the feeling of coming from the soil and returning to the soil. In the formation of the openings, fully opened glass systems were designed. The facade towards the courtyard is designed as green wall to empahsize nature one more time. A façade and construction technique integrated with green and soil are at the forefront for Nature hill.