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PROJECT, ARCHITECTURE 25.04.2016

Multiplying by Repetition

#university #turkey #metu #xxi april 16 #guesthouse #uygur architects

The building of Graduate Students’ Guesthouse at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) is constructed as an installation of side-by-side accommodation units. The project, which shares a similar language with the rest of the campus wherein it’s located, integrates plain materials into the design and creates common spaces to boost social interaction.

The project’s core unit is designed as a singular cell for one person that includes a sleeping and studying space. This core cell is repeated in the five-story building with angular articulations reminiscent of different streets. The organization of different cells for single, twin or quadruple use and their articulation creates the linear planning of the building. The living units are not placed in a hierarchical or consecutive order. Therefore different living practices and layers can be experienced within the building.

The blocks of the building that include the living units are placed in an angular order, with regard to the size of the lot, direction of the sun path and the prevailing wind. Those linear blocks meet up in the center as a knot, creating the common shared spaces that people can encounter with each other. The linear blocks housing the living units divert from this knot creating angular distances between each other in an increasing level of privacy.

METU GRADUATE STUDENTS’ GUESTHOUSE, UYGUR ARCHITECTS, Ankara, Turkey, yerçekim, ömer kanıpak, orhan kolukısa
photographs: yerçekim / ömer kanıpak & orhan kolukısa

One enters the building through this knot that is placed almost in the middle of the lot allowing the residents to examine the building while approaching it. The ground floor includes a reception counter, a main circulation core, an elevator with its visible mechanical components and a panoramic view and a welcoming central stairs in red color. The linear blocks have alternative staircases in various colors on both ends.

A shallow pool next to the long promenade heading from the parking lot accompanies the residents’ approach to the building, which is a subtle reference to the METU Architecture Faculty entrance hall designed almost 50 years ago. The linear building blocks create dynamic angles and sudden perspectives for the users during access. On the other hand, bridges binding the two blocks on different levels and the red colored fire escape staircase in the main courtyard enrich those perspectives with their powerful plastic forms.

The intention was to create a low-cost construction with minimum maintenance requirements. Therefore, simple and strong materials such as raw concrete and undulated metal panels are used with their own colors, while some of the doors and the windows on the corridors of living spaces and vertical circulation units are painted in vivid colors or have semi-transparent colored sheet applications.

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METU GRADUATE STUDENTS’ GUESTHOUSE
UYGUR ARCHITECTS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Yerçekim
CREDITS

SEMRA UYGUR

She graduated from Department of Architecture at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in 1980 and received her master’s degree in 1984 at the same university. She worked as a part-time lecturer in the architectural studios at Eskişehir Osmangazi University and ODTÜ. She co-founded Uygur Architects in 1986 together with Özcan Uygur. She is continuing her architectural productions at Uygur Architects with many award winning projects.

OZCAN UYGUR

He graduated from Department of Architecture at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in 1980 and completed his MA in 1983 at the same university. He was awarded for numerous projects and also took role as a jury member in different architectural competitions. He is continuing his professional life at Uygur Architects which he co-founded together with Semra Uygur.

Project Title: METU Graduate Students’ Guesthouse
Location: Ankara, Turkey
Architects: Semra Uygur, Özcan Uygur, Eser Köken İşleyici, Zümral Aygüler Kartal, Sevda Özkan İmamoğlu
Design Team: Necati Seren, Güliz Erkan, Dicle Uzunyayla, Emine Kirman, İrem Erdinç
Client: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Geliştirme Vakfı
Competition: 2011 - 1st Prize
Realization: 2012 - 2015

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