Within the project period spanning 2 years, Bütüner completed the architectural & engineering projects of the following buildings:
1.1.A Administrative Building & Incubation Center 48.000 m2
1.1.B Prototyping & Innovation Center 30.000 m2
1.1.C Hotel, SPA & Convention Center 60.000 m2
1.2.A RD Offices 38.000 m2
1.2.B RD Offices 42.000 m2
1.2.C RD Offices & Incubation Center 27.000 m2
1.3.A Incubation Center 15.000 m2
1.3.B RD Offices 27.000 m2
1.4 Retail Street & Underground Parking 15.000 m2
Central Valley Sports & Recreation Facilities 5.000 m2
Seafront Marina, Ferry Terminal & Retail Facilities 50.000 m2
Given considerable differences of altitude within the site, which rises from the mean sea level to 130 meters above, initial design sketches were made to make best use of topography. U shaped blocks were lined along the contour lines, with office wings branching out towards the sea and defining courtyards on lower levels. Even though our design decisions were what brought us the commission in the first place, our client required us to revise our scheme with the introduction of a main boulevard running between the first phase buildings and the sea, to serve as a direct and short backbone for the infrastructure lines.
After the boulevard was placed, we had to shift our attention to the wide strip of land left intact to the east, and proposed our buildings in two parallel rows along a pedestrian axis. The relationships developed along the process within that plot determined the urban design principles, architectural outlook and structural modulation of the entire campus. We realized to our pleasure that achieving the correct density of buildings required to catalyze a vibrant campus atmosphere was only viable, after having to focus on a slice of land inside the extensive site.
Parallel roads running at a distance of 200 meters to one another made it possible to confine buildings to roughly square plots of 90 meters, with the help of pedestrian alleys bisecting parcels longitudinally, such as in Phase 1.4. These square plots brought along low rise buildings with gross floor areas of 30.000 – 40.000 square meters, such as those in Phases 1.2 & 1.3. These buildings proved to be much more economic to build than high rise units, considering the necessary seismic precautions for building high in the region. They were also easier to lease than high rise buildings thanks to their relatively larger unit floor areas adapting to demands by future tenants.
There are only two high rise buildings in the campus, which are designed to complement the prestigious nature of their building programs. First one is actually the very first building of the campus, the administrative tower of Phase 1.1.A. The second one is the hotel building of Phase 1.1.C. Both buildings are topped out at modest heights of around 90 meters. The administrative tower serves as a landmark to the entire campus thanks to its prominent location at the northernmost and highest part of the site. It defines the campus, subtly communicates its image and declares its presence to the outside world and offers point of reference to its users and visitors. The hotel on the other hand, visually connects the 1.1.A, 1.1.B and 1.1.C compounds into an urban whole, by accentuating two extremes of the first building plot.
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