g - bridge / Betül Keles Ekici
After the civil war in Syria, Turkey received many refugees and when we look at the immigration rates, we can see that nearly half of them are children. Gaziantep became a one of the most concentrated places. This project highlights the trauma of war and resettlement through the experiences of children, especially how they find it difficult to fit into a new place facing challenges in educational opportunities. GAME therefore can be used to make a change for good for these children by means of establishing a bridge between refugees and local children in Gaziantep and will also lead to the integration of the two groups.
The universal GAME was used as a binding element, as both street games and digital games took attention in both cultures. The project area is in the centre of urban Gaziantep, on Atatürk Avenue, which serves as a border to the historical texture. With its sloping terrain, narrow streets, houses with courtyards, and the southern façade providing a suitable environment for street games, the playgrounds act as a bridge between the main and historical streets.
One of the fastest growing sectors in Turkey in recent years is digital games and receives a good deal of investments. Considering the limitations of refugee children's access to technology and the potential of the game sector, opportunities for game design and software are created for children in the field. Digital games can also unite children of two nationalities at a common point.
Within this project semi-open playgrounds with rounded edges were created for physical games. The historical building within the project area was also highlighted, and playgrounds were created that merge with the street. The facade facing the main street is designed as a mass in accordance with the street silhouette, while the facade facing the massive historical texture is designed in parts and layers. Metal bars with neon light fixtures were used on the façade as an interpretation of the colorful world in digital games, allowing light shows. The level differences in the typology in the historical texture inspired the building to work at different levels within itself.
