Social Centers Architectural Competition

Year2021

LocationIstanbul, Turkey

ClientIstanbul Metropolitan Municipality

StatusCompleted

Area7250 m²

TypologyHealth

TeamAli Önalp, Burak Yardımcı, Melis Üsküner

Located within the dense urban fabric, the competition area can be defined as an idle and fragmented urban void lacking a lower-level city square in its surroundings. Due to the security protocols of the neighboring Police Headquarters, the area could not establish a strong relationship with Atışalanı Street, and the partial pedestrianization of Köyiçi Street has caused it to lose its potential to serve as an urban focus.

This project aims to transform these weaknesses into an architectural opportunity by creating a publicly accessible open space, a qualified urban square, and a social center that responds to the needs of various age groups.

Design Approach and Urban Strategy
The first step of the design was to redefine the relationship between the building and the square. The 4–5-meter elevation difference within the site became a crucial component of this new design strategy. While aiming to preserve existing trees as much as possible, different layout scenarios were developed. Placing the building adjacent to Kırımlı Street and opening it towards Atışalanı Street allowed the creation of a “welcoming square,” providing a solution that connects the two axes and establishes a strong bond with the urban context.

Site Plan
-3.50 Level Plan
±0.00 Level Plan
+3.50 Level Plan
+7.50 Level Plan
-7.00 Level Plan
Project Location

The project consists of three main programs: “Short Break,” “Yuvamız İstanbul,” and the “Neighborhood House.” Although these functions address different user profiles and work together as a whole, they are spatially distinguished in the architectural layout:

Short Break is positioned close to Kırımlı Street, prioritizing accessibility.
Yuvamız İstanbul is placed at the lower ground level of the site in a more protected location, with play and educational areas designed towards the adjacent plot.
Neighborhood House opens to the upper-level welcoming square, containing a library space that visually connects with the square, while classrooms and offices extend towards Köyiçi Street.

By resolving the building on different levels, several urban spaces such as the square, lower entrance, and a connecting urban amphitheater are defined. In this way, the building becomes not only a functional structure but also a living, interactive part of the city.

Architectural Identity and Interaction with the City
The building’s tectonics are approached with a simple yet characterful architectural understanding that reflects its various functions. For a user approaching from Atışalanı Street, the silhouette of the building gradually becomes a symbol, offering a surprising and striking urban experience as it is encountered with the open space in front.