This year in Urban Design course, we are studying simultaneously with our studio project. Therefore we tried to achieve more detailed site surveying with the help of what we have learned from Urban Design, we saw the mapping techniques and apply it for the first time and learned the international color code. Here is the urban mapping of our site. Each color is representing dominant usage of the region.
As 21 Architecture, we conducted a research on some examples that are proposed for university housing all over the world. We analysed those cases and tried to mark some important design decisions of them and the solutions they proposed. Here are the examples which attracted us the most: photos diagrams and plans of those projects:
As a first step, we built up a problem definition regarding the content and the context of the architectural task. We searched for the facts and observe the potentials of the program and the site. So problem definition should be both objective and subjective process.
We focused on several main issues:
-Differentiations between universities,
-Differentiations between users,
-Scale : Public to private (The park-the house; inside the house)
-Commuting directions, locations
-Interaction in the Kurtuluş Park and its usage
-Similar and different spaces needed in/out
Then we prepare a SWOT Analysis for these issues for four main titles. SWOT is stand for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats of these titles.
For users:
For universities:
For Kurtulus Park:
For location of the area:
For the “University Housing” Project, we were going to work with small groups. We choose our partners and divided into the groups of 3. As Ezgi Gani, Eren Yazicioglu and myself established our imaginary firm and named it as “21 Architecture.” Also we were asked to design a logo and a letterhead for our company. Here is our design:
First semester of 3rd year, we were given a university housing project. According to the scenario we were given: The authorities have decided to utilize the fact that Kurtuluş Park area is surrounded by numerous universities to revive and embellish the neighborhood as a cultural hub that prospers from the combination of the university environment and an urban public environment. For that purpose, the area surrounding the Park has been designated as subject to an urban renewal project and as a first step, three plots within the area have been specified for the construction of three large scale “University Housing” projects, one being closer to Medical Schools of Hacettepe U. and Ankara U., one to Cebeci Campus with Faculties of Law and Political Science and the third to our school, TED University. The specific aim of the housing projects is to accommodate a remarkable portion of people who are affiliated with these universities in the area, who would fuel the desired revitalization and keep it sustainable. These buildings will be owned by the universities and not by the habitants, who would dwell there for short periods for a minimal fee.
Melis Kucuktunc 