ABOUT GRID PERFORMANCE ART CENTER

Eskişehir is a rapidly developing city with a growing population. The increasing number of young people in the city has led to changing needs over time. Therefore, it is necessary to design spaces that can serve all scales and user profiles in the city. In this context, any work to be done in the Factory Zone will be able to meet the needs of the city.

Defining the Subject

When analyzing the population and social structure of Eskişehir province, it can be seen that there is an interest in cultural and artistic activities and that there is a need for these areas. In the city, designs should be made considering the identity of the city where these functions can be realized. In this context, the Factory Zone will be refunctioned as an experimental performance arts campus. Performance art has an interdisciplinary approach and appears as an area that expands the definition of art by being open to many user profiles and subjects. According to Germaner (1997:59), art performance means “the completion of that artwork by the audience without requiring any special skill or being assigned a special function and expression.” In this respect, performance art has a structure that does not include a rule-based, precise definition that can bring together many disciplines if desired and can benefit from any material and opportunity, which is indeed the form of existence of performance art. “In fact, there is no artistic form of expression; it is like an endless manifesto and every performer defines what he does himself”. According to Akay (2005:116-117), it would be more accurate to say experimental for contemporary art today. In addition, contemporary art is a reflection made with materials and the artist now thinks with materials rather than concepts. Therefore, in the Factory Zone area, an experimental performance arts function with this interdisciplinary approach will be designed.

Determining the Content of the Study

The area known as Eskişehir Factory Zone is an important industrial heritage area with industrial heritage buildings. The Factory Zone is an area located in the northwest of the city and north of the railway. There are brick and tile factories with industrial heritage qualities in the area. It is necessary to functionalize this heritage quality of the area for its preservation and reintroduction to the city. A design has been aimed to be carried out considering the historical memory of the city without damaging the buildings. The continuity of the design area with the city has been tried to be ensured. While doing this, a strong connection was envisaged in order to ensure the integrity of Cer Workshop, which is foreseen to undergo urban transformation in the future, and design area. It was thought that the method to be used in preserving qualified historical buildings was their effective use and effective functions were given to these buildings within the context of Experimental Performance Campus program. It was aimed that new buildings would reflect their time and show a minimalist attitude without overshadowing factory buildings. The concept project was rethought with small-scale decisions and evolved into a final project.

User Requirements

Although the study area, Eskişehir Factory Zone, is close to the main transportation hubs and city center, it currently exists in a non-functional state. Considering the location of the design area, which has a theme that can respond to national needs, is located at a point where intercity transportation plays an effective role and considering Eskişehir’s culture export potential and population distribution, user requirements have been determined. These requirements can be listed as follows;

-Experimental Performance Art Education Areas

-Administrative and Management Areas

-Experimental Performance Art Main Hall

-Digital Performance Art Main Hall

-Experimental Performance Art and Digital Arts Academy

-Workshops serving the campus

-Outdoor Event Areas

These needs have been evaluated within the scope of the project and necessary arrangements have been adapted to the spaces in detail.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of the studies, it was predicted that the project subject has a strong connection with the place and has a potential. This potential will be refunctionalized in order to turn it into an opportunity for the city. It has been planned that the project area will keep up with the developing dynamics of Eskişehir. Considering the project area and analyses, design makes its reason for existence strong due to Eskişehir society and local governments’ cultural efforts, historicality of Eskişehir and design area, location of transportation axes, strong relationships with existing buildings and presence of industrial heritage within the site. The design to be made should contain an answer to this strong reason.

STAGES OF FORMATION OF THE DESIGNED EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER

Decisions Taken Related to Place and Developed Solutions

The design to be made in the project area was carried out considering the hinterland of the area and analyses. Eskişehir Factory Zone and its surroundings appear as an important city image due to its historical memory. The old workshops around the area and Odunpazarı Region, which affects its location, formed the starting point of the design.

Master Plan Decisions

While designing for the study area, it was tried to be done without ignoring the hinterland of the area. The basis of design was formed by two axes coming from Cer workshops and Odunpazarı Region in addition to transportation connections and focal points of city while drawing attention to historical memory. While doing this, it was aimed to ensure the continuity of city.

In order to ensure the integrity of Cer Workshop, which is foreseen to undergo urban transformation in the future, with design area, a strong connection was envisaged. This connection was provided by pedestrian paths and public spaces between buildings. The other axis was determined as a dense axis coming from Odunpazarı Region.

The aim of design was to ensure that hinterland’s texture, continuity and harmony were aimed at. In line with this goal, it was examined under certain headings and design was carried out.

Transportation Decisions

The richness of region in terms of transportation and even being adjacent to Berlin-Baghdad international train line resulted in shaping project design within framework of transportation decisions. By taking railway under lower quota on south side of design area which borders Tülomsaş Workshop which is an industrial heritage area with historical accumulation again and foreseen for transformation, connection was provided with bridge. Similarly, solution was brought with bridge connecting to design area in same way for cutting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Street where axis coming from Odunpazarı came on train road. In this way, urban continuity was ensured and harmony between textures was kept at forefront.

Texture Decision

When looking at the upper scale of Eskişehir, the textures read show us that the old settlements are organic and the new settlements have a gridal structure. Since harmony with the environment was kept at the forefront, the design area was designed and placed on a grid system along with the previously specified axes. This gridal texture has ensured the integration between industrial buildings and new buildings in the design area.

Open Event Area Decisions

Open event areas were created by integrating them with axes and transportation connections created by considering historical memory. Along with the created axes, open event areas have created unique areas in different regions within the design area. Similarly, an open event area was also considered around Kartal Tile and Brick Factory and its harmony with grid system was ensured.

Spatial Decisions and Solutions

Spatial decisions were given in a way to ensure the continuity of city with axes created as a result of analysis studies. Minimal decisions were given that would ensure compatibility with surrounding buildings and not lose historical memory in area. Pedestrian transportation was also integrated with these decisions and its fiction was created.

Spatial fiction

When creating spatial fiction in upper scale decisions, it was aimed to realize them without damaging industrial heritage buildings that require experimental performance arts. The concept of industrial heritage mentioned earlier and in addition to this, grid system, historical memory, urban continuity concepts were kept at forefront. Connections between old and new buildings were established with concepts.

Organization of Functions

A need program required by experimental performance arts function has been prepared in study area where industrial heritage buildings are located. These functions were realized by establishing a connection between factories and newly designed buildings. Factory areas have been refunctionalized as spaces where digital performance arts are exhibited and different studios are located. Newly designed buildings consist of educational structures and main hall functions. In addition to new and old buildings, pedestrian-focused open event areas designed to feel spirit of area have also been designed to show a different dimension of art.

Kılıçoğlu Tile and Brick Factory No. 1

The furnace area in building No. 1 has been flexibly designed as an exhibition and museum area in order to preserve historical memory. Publicity and flexibility were kept at forefront in building. Building is 2-storey and upper floor consists only of circulation areas that experience space. The building includes physical and digital workshops serving inside, free workspaces and exhibition halls. The upper floor of building has been structurally redesigned and its structure has been considered separately. It was aimed to have a permeable structure due to its central location in field and intersection point of axes.

Kılıçoğlu Tile and Brick Factory No. 2

In building No. 2, function organization such as Mocap Studio, museum and stock office has been made. A flexible and large volume has been created for Mocap studio. Stock office has been solved in additional building, its structure has been designed separately from historical building.

Kılıçoğlu Tile and Brick Factory No. 3

Factory building No. 3 has been designed as a transformable area according to needs of digital performance as it is left flexible due to its function. In addition, its relationship with axis coming from railway and Tülomsaş is important in terms of being attraction point here.

New Building-Main Hall

The main hall building was designed in this area due to its railway connection and close function with Factory 3. The Main Hall was kept in relation with the Digital Hall. The axis coming from Tülomsaş continues by establishing a relationship with the main hall location. Therefore, it is connected to the area with a strong urban axis. In addition, the railway connection gives the main hall an intercity identity.

New Building-Education Building

The building was designed in this area due to its proximity to the education axis. At the same time, it establishes a mutual relationship with digital workshops in building No. 2. The education building is divided into two as a building where education halls and classrooms are located. These two buildings are connected with relatively weak connections. The square brought by form was designed for educational activities. A minimalist form was considered in common for education building and new buildings. The reason for this is that new buildings are thought to be simple without overshadowing historical buildings and that factory concept that forms memory of here is focused on space production based on pure function. Plan solutions were made on rational basis and in modernist line and change and difference desired by space were thought within building shell. Education building is 3-storey and middle part of classroom sections is allocated to social study areas. This clearance takes form of a structure that passes through and refers to Factory 1 building. Bridges connecting to hall provide transition to this area. Education hall serves school and also provides service outside. There are flexible performance workspaces under hall. Classroom building is connected to Mocap studio with a transparent bridge.

Structural and Structural Decisions and Detail Solutions

Newly designed buildings such as education building, main hall and workshops were designed mainly with transparent facades with a minimalist approach that will be compatible with industrial heritage buildings in area. Carrier system was solved as reinforced concrete.

CONCLUSION

In many countries from past to present, people’s perspectives on spaces, events, cultural activities are changing and their interest is increasing. The inadequacy of these spaces and areas is becoming a problem day by day. It is seen that spaces where people can experience their experiences in spaces and perform artistic activities should be designed. In study, it was aimed to meet these needs and design areas compatible with city. Designs aim to establish a relationship with area, ensure old-new coexistence, protect and preserve industrial heritage.