Herbio Environmental Research & Visitor Center/Omama Zayat
Herbio Center is a tranquil retreat where visitors can learn about a variety of medicinal plants that are being studied and researched in the research center. Its spacious location is a great place to be in nature experiencing the natural scenery of the site.
"Herbio Environmental Research & Visitor Center" is located in Eski Doganbey Village which conserves both cultural and natural heritage aspects because of its spacious location in Buyuk Menderes National Park region. Moreover, the natural beauty of the site is being threatened by pollution due to a lack of awareness and misuse of natural resources. According to the research made at Adnan Menderes University: "The most deaths in Aydın were from the residential places close to the Menderes River. There were deaths above Turkey's average, i.e. fish, birds, and humans are dying. If you use polluted water for irrigation, that will be the result," - "According to a study by the Adnan Menderes University, the Menderes River is damaging the structure of bulbous plants and causing cancer,"
- Dr. Metin Aydın
Design Proposal
The design proposal takes the theme of researching the natural herbal resources of the region by implementing research labs on sustainable management of resources and production of medicinal herbs, their benefits, uses, and way of planting. Furthermore, sustainable and healthy workshops and raising-awareness lectures are given to visitors by providing hands-on learning about the healing properties of different medical herbs planted in the research center. The building is also used as a visitor center and an introduction to the Nature Protection Area of Buyuk Menedres National park. While providing experiences to the participants, it also increases the socio-economical welfare of the residents and provides financial gains for the preservation of natural and cultural areas. Thus, the building acts as a gate to the village that introduces the visitors to the importance of the site and the risks facing it.
Design Approach
The site is approached by respecting the existing visitor center's aesthetic and cultural appearance by establishing a consistent architectural language that can exist without competing with the historical visitor center and the settlement remains. A design that grows from the side of the existing slope and nestles on the topography until it lies on the ground level. Thus, it is partially located underground to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the existing visitor center. Moreover, the spatial organization is aligned with the cliff side to maximize the sea view for all users. The core is developed through a longitudinal axis to maximize the view and the passive solar need, where all spatial organization is hierarchies from private to public use. This was achieved by creating separate entrances for public users and private researchers. Two courtyards were integrated to achieve sunlight and ventilation satisfaction and to create an open-air gallery experience for the visitors. The herbal research lab was designed as one space. where you face two axes as you enter with dry lab and wet lab. Moreover, at the core of Herbio Center, a "plant growth chamber" with a height of 5.8M is located glazed with glass to create visual interaction from the public courtyard. Moreover, a dark area is also specified for smaller units of plant chambers where more delicate herbs are being planted and controlled. The wet lab and plant chamber are having direct axes where researchers are rolling out the packs of plants to the wet lab back and forth. To establish a more interesting and indirect connection with the visitors, the upper level of the dark research lab is connected with the workshop exit, where visitors are exiting from the workshop to a terrace that has a spacious view of the plant chamber, the wet lab, and the natural scenery of the site.
Circulation
The circulation is organized according to the private use of the spaces. Moreover, the circulation was designed in a loop journey which encourages the visitors to have a full experience of the site by following this scenario:
After parking your car, you are following the landscape route leading you to the main public courtyard, from the courtyard, you are having your first glimpse of natural traces from the plant chamber view and the researchers working there. Then you are entering to the foyer where you have awareness classes about pollution risks and diseases. Then you continue the journey by entering the workshop and getting Introduced to a variety of medicinal herbs that were prepared by the researchers and then you get to learn how to plant different types of herbs by hand. Additionally, you make your herbal tea\coffee mortar, taste your herbal tea\coffee, and finally take your herbal drink as you enjoy the next experience of the herbarium gallery with a glorious view and fresh air, while having a look at the researcher wet lab. Yet you exit with the ramp leading to the exhibitions you to the existing visitor center. In the Visitor Center, you are introduced to the history of the site by following a route of exhibitions, VR experience, informational lectures, flora and fauna exhibitions, and a souvenir and medicinal herbs shop. The exit will bring you to the starting route of Doganeby Village where you can have a walk around the village.
The researchers are having their path of circulation where the administration is located on the first floor of the existing building and is approached by a private courtyard where the accommodation, common zone, and research labs are organized.
Use of Materials
The materials used in the facade design are stone cladding, glass, and wood. Thus the choice of the material is inspired by following the natural approach and appearance of the building. The Concept of herbal medicine is reflected on the facade by abstracting a herb design for the entrance to emphasize it and attract visitors to enter. The solid void openings of the facade are organized ranging from private spaces (smaller windows) to public spaces (wider windows). Moreover, reinforced concrete is used for the structural system, and the challenge of stabilizing the long mass is solved by using expansion joints and separating the mass into 3 different structural axes.
Interior Area:
Foyer: 45m.sq.
Workshop: 139.6
Lecture Room: 61m.sq.
Herbarium Gallery: 127.7m.sq
Plant growth chamber: 29.5m.sq
Wet lab: 97.5
Dry lab: 63.7m.sq
Plant growth dark zone: 127.7m.sq
Common Zone: 47m.sq
Accommodation: 105.7m.sq
Bathrooms: 58m.sq
