ABOUT SÖĞÜT MEETING - ENCOUNTER AREA WITH HISTORY AND NATURE

Earth Mother

The source of birth and life in Turkish Mythology. The earth, which is the point where the structure merges with nature, has been a symbol of birth and life for all societies throughout history. For Turks, the earth is the source of the cycle of life beginning and ending. This continuity of beginning and ending has led to the earth being considered as a living being. The idea that the cycle of starting and ending in the earth provides evidence of vitality has been taken as the main starting point for design.

Söğüt

“A town on Şahran (Great Roads)” - Katip Çelebi Söğüt, being the birthplace of the Ottoman state, hosts a great historical heritage. In addition, the pilgrimage and silk roads passing through the settlement contributed to the development of Söğüt. Today, Söğüt hosts various events on transferring this historical heritage to the future and is an effective settlement in terms of history and cultural tourism. İstiklal Street, which is fed by historical, cultural and public buildings, forms the city’s backbone. This road extends from the design area to the pond. The design area located between two touristic focal points will contribute to strengthening this axis by being integrated into this route.

Approach to Design Area

When designing the building, a cultural axis that starts from Ertuğrul Gazi Tomb, passes through İstiklal Street and extends towards the pond and is fed by many historical buildings passes through the parcel. The designed building will invite this cultural axis pedestrian extension into its body with an inviting attitude and will serve as a road for the road. The design areas are connected to each other with a forested area but the highway in the zoning plan weakens the connection between Focus A and Focus B areas. For this reason, it was suggested that the road be taken to a lower level and an uninterrupted green strip from Focus A to Focus B. Taking the road to a lower level contributed to meeting the height of the car park entrance at parcel boundaries, increasing green space usage. Modular urban furniture supporting holistic design language has been designed for treeless gaps in green strip between Focus A and Focus B. The safety and protection of forested areas have been ensured through open-air activities assigned to gaps.

Mass Approach Focus A

The structure is connected to the Earth with a passive structure and tries to fit into the contours of the topography. The structure has been designed as a whole as the Söğüt terrace. The fact that the structure takes on a terrace function as a whole has enabled more green space usage by meeting the need for hard ground activity area at lower levels on the building surface. While the cultural Söğüt axis passing through the middle of the building is carried to the upper level, it has flexibly defined the boundaries of the main functions. This cultural axis, which passes through the building by piercing it, has contributed to the concept of vitality of the Earth by uniting the lower and upper soils. The west facade of the building was withdrawn on the first floor, defining an entrance and creating a semi-open space that can establish a relationship with the foyer and restaurant. The gaps opened inside the building provided visual connection between floors while allowing sunlight to enter spaces. While defining the boundaries of functions with open spaces, it also created meeting courtyards between functions. The courtyard surroundings were surrounded by arches that were effectively used in Turkish architecture and found in many examples in Söğüt. Arches were used in different proportions to prevent monotony while maintaining rhythmic effect. Service functions were defined on deaf walls remaining on the east facade while designing mass. Service spaces at the back can serve both as a whole and separately. It was aimed to offer a more capacity hall option by combining multi-purpose hall with garden at lower level and balcony at upper level. The ground part of the restaurant section establishes visual and physical relationship with semi-open area created on west facade. The upper part of restaurant was designed to serve more flexible working areas. Natural stone material produced in region was considered as cladding material in structure. Red cut stone found in historical buildings in region was used both as historical reference and as carrier duty. In area where walls are surrounded by historical walls, wall has been functioned as exhibition surface. A space where digital art can be made has been created here.

Mass Approach Focus B

The observation terrace cafeteria thought on upper level was designed with minimum intervention to nature. This structure, which has a view on all four sides, has been planned in a panoramic way suitable for watching scenery.

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