7 Iklim 7 Bolge Architectural Competition – Eastern Anatolia Region
Year2017
LocationMus, Turkey
ClientMinistry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change
StatusCompleted
TypologyResidential, Urban Design
TeamAli Önalp, Burak Yardımcı, Erhan Arslan, Güney Gültekin
Throughout history, Muş has served as one of the first settlement points upon entering Anatolia from the east. Founded on the foothills of Mount Çavuş, the city gradually expanded from the fortress area toward the plain and, with the influence of the train station during the Republican period, shifted northward — continuing its development today over agricultural lands.
Although this urban expansion has been geographically inevitable, it has largely lacked a sustainable planning framework.
Planning Approach and Strategy
The project envisions a controlled urban development that remains in harmony with the Muş Plain and integrates with its natural surroundings. Key planning principles include:
- Proposing residential zones enclosed by green buffer belts
- Integrating landscape and native vegetation into the neighborhood fabric
- Establishing a pedestrian-focused promenade to strengthen internal access, shaped around three social hubs: sports, community life, and education
Living Scenarios
- Rural Edge: Low-density housing units embedded in a productive landscape
- Middle Belt: A mix of housing and recreational areas promoting neighborhood interaction
- Central Promenade: A higher-density zone defined by commercial uses and social amenities
The architectural language responds to both climatic conditions and local building traditions.
- Low-density housing units reference traditional stone house typologies
- Along the promenade, colonnaded commercial units are paired with housing blocks above podium levels
- Roof forms are interpreted as sloped and functionally enriched, providing usable semi-open spaces
Square and Promenade
A, B, C Block Types
D Block and Single Housing Types
Parking Lot Plan
