Domatia Bio-Diversity Research & Visitor Center/ Rabia Yigit
Doğanbey Village is an old Greek village located in the Söke district of Aydın and at the back of the Dilek Peninsula National Park. Its geographical location and natural values under SIT board protection, including hosting a great number of significant species of animals and plants in the national park, make Doğanbey also significant considering its natural values. Another essential fact about Doğanbey is its architectural value since the architectural style and construction techniques of the Greeks can be observed in the town due to the protected and restored stone buildings. Considering the existing values of the Doğanbey Village, it has the potential to host a center for research and study on endemic plants and significant animal species in the field. At that point, according to all potentials and restrictions of the Doğanbey, as a contemporary approach to the site, there are several new functions that the site area required with its new face and statue. Rather than focusing on caring about economical issues, especially attracting the tourists' attention to the site, it is more crucial to protect it is natural and architectural value. For that reason, it is proposed that the main design idea is the being partially hiding in the selected slopy topography to create a sense of both minimal touches and reduce the effect of being addictive later. Hence, the project area is selected on the slopy part of the topography that is located near Şarlak Stream to hide the volumes partially.
As another significant approach to the site, the existing chapel ruin near the selected project area is used as a ''landmark'' to indicate the entrance of the site area. Besides, this ruined building is crucial since several references are taken while shaping the volumes morphologically. For the building program, it is aimed to keep the same function of the existing visitor center as the same by removing the small existing cafe, adjusting the entire ground level for the exhibition area, and basement area for office buildings to create a public-private distinction. As a buffer zone between the visitor center and the research area, an open amphi sitting area is designed. Moreover, The existing ruined building is maintained as a link between this sitting area and the research center volumes by integrating ramps, stairs, and walking paths. The research center is divided into three parts to sustain public, semi-public, and private flow. As a public function, it is proposed space for a meeting area, conference area, and cafeteria. Furthermore, for semi-private function, another space is located in between to provide flora & fauna laboratories and working offices. Finally, private accommodation units are proposed to host up to nine people, including researchers, academicians, botanists, and chemists. Concerning existing ruin, the total height of the volumes did not exceed 4 meters. For the structure system, a reinforced concrete frame system is used by hiding the columns on the front façade to not make the structure heavy.
For the façade organization, since the daylight is an important issue due to the fact that the volumes are attached to the soil, most of the openings are located on the façade towards the sea. To be able to adjust the light during the day, kinetic wooden panels for shading & daylighting are preferred, especially in spaces where the public circulation is dense, including conference spaces and meeting areas of the other volumes. Since natural stone is a significant façade/structure element of the Domatia, to refer to it, several façades are covered with stone infill walls. Furthermore, the green roof with shortie vegetation is preferred in order to create a continuation between the rest of the topography since the roof level is attached to the same level.
