Social Centers Esenler 

 

Architectural Competition Proposal
for Konkur Istanbul 

Location: Esenler, Güngören, Istanbul 

Teammates : Ant Güngör 
 

Within the scope of this competition, the sub-function under the "social center" headline diversified  as an education center,   sometimes a library, and sometimes as a support and interaction area for children, the needy or the  elderly, and the common  denominators in the design decisions for each of them are as follows can be summarized: 

To provide programs and spaces suitable for social, economic, technological and cultural  development that will ensure equal access to social resources and social services to the disadvantaged and deprived  population segments.  To establish holistic scenarios regarding the functional areas under the title of social center  and spatial relationships that increase the quality of life for its users. 

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Concept and Design 

When we started to research the project area, especially circulation and space problems for the user  caught our eye. Considering the desired program, we started to look for solutions that would relieve  both the user and the circulation. While we were making our first sketches, we realized that the  section following the Crimea street, one of the streets surrounding the project area, was a serious  circulation area. 
 

We decided to address this gap. We chose to create a new square that can help the public garden  and park that already exists near the project area, and to be positioned to act as a turnstile for the  crowds of people in the area. 

We tried to propose a permeable and inviting solution rather than constructing the land from a  single entry and exit point by using the difference in elevation between the starting and ending point  of our land. 
 

In particular, we wanted to include the neighborhood house and the library working with it as much  as possible. 
 

We thought that the workshops and cafe in the neighborhood house should work both within each  other and together with the square. 
 

We paid attention to the existing tree density within the borders of our land, located at the  intersection of Köyiçi and Kırım Street.
 

We saw that area as an approach to the complex and took care to protect the trees. We gave direct  access to the neighborhood house and the library from the area with high tree density. Thus, we  divided the complex into 2 separate quotas. 

We aimed to gradually ease the access to the square by steps to the road coming from the Crimea  street. 
 

We wanted to bring this area, which is far from public due to the existing car park function, to the  region. 
 

Before settling in the project area, we closed and opened the area from time to time, taking into  account the vehicle circulation and the human circulation according to the regions.