ABOUT LYBER

The subject of the project is the design of an architecture faculty in Fatih Mercan District under the title of Collective Memory’s Urban Trace: Golden Horn. The Golden Horn and Mercan regions were analyzed and inferences were made for the design. The area chosen for the Architecture Faculty is two building islands in the Mercan Region, one with an open and one with a closed parking structure. During the design process, physical and sociological analyses of these regions were carried out and inputs were created for the design. The concept of freedom and future was emphasized in the design.

Determination of Study Content

The study content was shaped by the concepts of freedom and future. In this context, the accelerating increase in the speed observed in the change of social structures and its going beyond human scale and perception, some changes that cannot be predicted with human mind alone, the historicity of cultural heritage concept and its relativity depending on this historicity, and research on digital technologies that will support us about social changes and future of architectural education constitute theoretical parts of study content. Physical and historical analyses carried out for the design area and its surroundings were used for the current design proposal and used in forming the current design form. Modular system designs that allow freedom and change were examined and content was created for the design.

THEORETICAL RESEARCH RELATED TO THE PROJECT

The Effect of Accelerating Change in Social Structures on Architecture

Technological developments and social changes have been two mutually reinforcing phenomena. For example, while the invention of printing changed social structure, changing social structure also paved the way for different technological developments. Architecture has also influenced social structures as a development element and has been influenced by them. For example, there is a connection between the possibility of building high walls and feudal structure, and a mutual relationship between feudal structure and localization of architecture is observed. We also see this phenomenon in industrial revolution and change in housing architecture. Social structures are changing at an increasingly faster pace every day. The time difference between industrial revolutions is getting shorter as we approach today, even going towards a time below human life span. In short, people have started to see great changes during their lifetime and get used to them. The most recent example is Covid-19 pandemic. Everything changed all at once and new normals emerged much faster than previous pandemics, forcing us to quickly adapt. Architecture also takes its share from this change by rapidly changing, shortening time for buildings to change. This change emerges as a criterion that needs to be considered during design phase.

Historical Development of the Concept of Conservation:

The fact that the design is being carried out in the Historical Peninsula, which is located in the center of all these and was the capital of 3 great empires, necessitated the examination of the concept of conservation. The concept of conservation emerged in historical process with people’s instinct to use something for a long time and to grow it, but its effect on architecture was with the preservation of religious structures. However, when societies changed their religions, these structures became unprotectable. For example, parts of these structures were used in new buildings in the Roman Empire. The concept of conservation was reconsidered during Renaissance period and old buildings started to be preserved. While Violet-le Duc applied the method of reaching style unity during Enlightenment period, romantic movement came to the fore in John Ruskin’s order and it was argued that buildings should not be touched. Later on, these movements gave way to more contemporary approaches. In 1933, Athens treaty was accepted and according to this, these structures could be used but original parts should be preserved. The most important thing about the congress held in Venice in 1964 is that additions should be regulated and reflect their own period. International institutions were established and international decisions were taken and structures gave way to conservation concepts. The necessity for what will be protected to be concrete has disappeared and cultural assets have taken its place. International commissions started to systematically protect them by creating cultural inventories. As can be seen, each period’s approach to conservation is different from each other and has undergone change. The phenomenon of change in conservation concept should be at the forefront when designing.

Architectural Education and Digitization

Architecture and digitization became widespread with digitization of everything in early 1980s and changed architectural production form and shaped sector. Large architectural offices where 100-200 people worked downsized themselves. Today, number of people working in an office has dropped to one person. Digitization has made it possible for someone from Turkey to do a project in Australia thanks to a laser scanner and drone. This has become a sector where architects in countries with cheap labor have started to provide services with low design fees to relatively high-income countries. In other words, architecture profession has eliminated need for face-to-face relationship building. However, things are going more traditional on academic side. Classes and submissions are done face-to-face, even digital projection is not accepted in some cases. However, Covid-19 pandemic has changed many things in terms of architectural education as well. Everything from form of submissions to how classes work has been rethought and approached even closer to digitization. After pandemic, these experiences gained in terms of digitization will contribute as a gain for architectural education. Being able to record everything and being able to serve unlimited number of people beyond classroom boundaries will emerge as a great progress for architectural data bank. Considering all these, spaces designed for architecture and digitization should have an important place in design program.

SITE READING

Environmental Analyses

Topography

The design area slopes from southwest to northeast and creates an elevation difference of approximately 16 meters. In addition, this slope provides orientation towards the Golden Horn and has the potential to create beautiful view elevations for the design.

Climatic Analyses

The climate of the region is similar to Istanbul’s general climate. Northeast wind is effective. The average air temperature, which is 25-30 degrees in summer months, varies between 5-10 degrees in winter months.

Relationship with Existing Buildings

There are many registered buildings around the design area. Istanbul University’s buildings are on the west side and Süleymaniye Mosque is on the northwest. On the right side, Büyük Valide Han is an example of traditional texture of Mercan region. Within the design area, there are qualified commercial buildings and Kilit Han and a Byzantine period cistern remains that has not been studied and covered on the northwest. The cistern should be studied during construction phase and become part of design. The design should include a wholeness with these structures and their use should be encouraged.

User Profile

The student profile is formed around the design area due to Istanbul University’s influence. Since region generally undertakes trade function, night population decreases by 80% and region becomes deserted and insecure. The fact that design is an architecture faculty and also serves at night has potential to bring night dynamism to area.

Program

• Entrance-Entrance Halls

• Classrooms (50-person-30-person-Technological)

• Open-Closed Studios

• Management Units

• Club Rooms

• Auditorium + Foyer

• Library

• Cafeteria-Cafeteria-Cafe

• Printing-Model-Laser cutting workshops

• Exhibition areas (Normal Digital)

• Technical Volumes

Inferences and Interpretations

When looking at analyses made, slope that can contribute to design in environment should become part of design. Permeability should be considered due to functional similarity between 2 islands. When viewed from opposite side of Golden Horn, building island enters silhouette so building should be built in dimensions compatible with existing buildings. Dimensions of existing han buildings around design area should be taken into account. Making cistern elevation part of design will be a mutual gain for Cistern and design. Building should benefit this region in terms of night use and reduce insecurity in this region. Considering lack of green space in region, open spaces created should be evaluated in this sense.

LYBER ARCHITECTURE FACULTY IN MERCAN

Project Concept

LYBER = Liber = Latin (1. free, 2. book) + Cyber = English (Virtual)

The design was designed using flexible modular systems. Cubes of 4.50 x 4.50 were used as modules and all spaces were solved in ratios of 1/4, 1/2 and 2 times this module. This concept will make it easy to make changes in future. The aim of concept is to strengthen both sides by creating contrast between historicity and ancient feeling of area and free and flexible attitude of design. While forming building form, it was aimed to work with existing buildings around area and educational structure within itself. Due to need for common platform and same function of two islands, passage was provided from under road between two islands. Thus, 2 design islands were united on single platform.

Plans

+0.00

Elevation Plan +0.00 Elevation plan is common elevation where all masses unite. This floor generally has entrance and reception areas and free working areas. We also reach Mercan Cistern located in southwest of design from this elevation.

+4.50

Elevation Plan Auditorium and generally classrooms are located on +4.50 elevation. Building was pulled back to emphasize foyer entrance and gallery space was created on top. This elevation also enters digital volumes by making projections to buffer zone that connects with existing building. In addition, console extending to Kilithan is connected to new building by connecting to circulation of Kilithan on this elevation.

+9.00

Elevation Plan +9.00 Plan is elevation where building is entered from Fuat Paşa Street. To make entrance more prominent and due to narrowing of pedestrian axis towards south, lower mass was shifted one module towards east side. When we head south from entrance, there is exhibition hall. This area has been left transparent and it has been aimed to perceive integrity of design from road elevation. Console on Kilithan side also enters this elevation plan. This area is designed as a transition space but also serves as a viewing function due to view it sees.

+13.50

Elevation Plan On +13.50 elevation plan, building on west side generally contains classrooms. In addition, first terrace is reached on this island. On other island, this floor is last floor and cafeteria function is performed on top floor. A terrace with vista is accessed from cafeteria.

+18.00

Elevation Plan On this floor, only mass on west side enters plan. Its main function is classrooms. A rest area for faculty members and a balcony overlooking central courtyard have been designed.

+21.50

Elevation Plan +21.00 Elevation Plan is last floor of design and there is a cafeteria and free working area opening to 2 terraces on east block. Terrace sees other side of Golden Horn and its active use has been aimed.

Structural System Design

112.5 x 112.5m, 4.5 x 4…5m and 9 x 9m modules were used in structural system design. Rigidity of consoles and some floors were provided with diagonals and gave direction to facade. Bearing points that are flexible allow disassembly or additional assembly when desired. With this system, it was aimed to increase freedom of design and make it evolvable.

CONCLUSION

Lyber Architecture Faculty will expand education axis in Mercan region with its massive-looking flexible concept influenced by commercial texture and will shape it a little bit. While principle of freedom considered while designing adds timelessness to building, it compensates for its historicity by taking references from historical buildings. Effective use of Kilit Han and Cistern within area will increase their importance by making them valuable. Bringing greenery around Kilit Han into design will visually help reduce building density by increasing green texture ratio in region a little bit. Technological spaces used in Lyber Architecture Faculty that provide opportunities for studies aimed at catching future will exhibit a flexible attitude between past and future.