The winning project of the competition for the new education, conference, and administration unit of the Microsurgery and Reconstruction Foundation to be built in Oran addresses to provide social and cultural benefits to the city.
URBAN LANDSCAPE
One of the fundamental principles rests on the fact that the site is accessible from all four sides. These are offering not only entry and exit points, but also special places where users can engage with green spaces or interact directly with the outdoor environment. The main lobby, conference hall and circulation areas are common spaces for congergation. Arrangements in these areas facilitate the movement of people when administrative and educational units are closed. This aims to create an urban landscape that can be used as part of the daily life of the city dweller.
CALLING FOR SPACES OF CULTURAL AND SOCIAL LIFE
The building aims to support local cultural and social life in Ankara by opening the conference hall, restaurant and the dining hall to the outside use, in addition to its institutional education and administration functions. On the other hand, it aims to produce an urban opportunity by presenting the cross slope of the trapezoidal plot surrounded by streets on four sides to immediate environment in the form of natural woodland and as public space. In this respect, the design is based on the word ‘Copula’, which means connecting two different situations. With the use of different openings, the ground floor is treated as a social space with multi-directional entrances. In addition to the conference hall on this floor, a training area is moved to the first floor. The administrative parts of the building and restaurant are located on the upper floors. Thus, the integration of the building with its immediate surroundings is ensured.
RETHINKING ABOUT EDUCATION UNITS
Although the Education Department as one of the most fundamental components of the building, appears to be have a centralised function at first glance, its special service needs and internal functioning mechanisms differ from conventional work-education environments. It is designed as a controlled area, as a restricted public space. The common areas within the unit are associated with main spaces, while interiors are designed as units that require privacy and confidentiality.
SOLAR-SENSITIVE GLASS TUBES
The outer skin takes its character from repeating glass tubes that can rotate with a simple mechanical system according to the direction of the sun. The system is a double skin facade installation. When two intertwined semicircular glass panels overlap, they overlap the patterns obtained by silk-screening, allowing the effect of daylight to be controlled. The second semicirclar tube series is not used on the north facade only. Inside, it is aimed to read the character with minimum materials to avoid usage of material inflation. Exposed concrete and natural wood are the main elements of this character. The interior space filled with natural light that continues on all floors strengthens the bond between the spaces.
While all design decisions made shape it as a prestige building, the building also stands out as a pioneering example in terms of sustainability, supported by mechanical systems that support the design choices. It excels environmentally, socially, and economically.
DOUBLE SKIN AND PASSIVE ENERGY USE
The relationship with the sun is prioritised in the design of the building. With optimised orientation, intensively used areas are positioned on north-south facades. Passive energy use is supported by movable glass tubes used as a second layer in front of the facades and by active solar control. When this mechanism connected to the building automation system is realised, it is calculated that tubes on the facade will regulate different solar transmittances by standing in different positions throughout the day, according to the heat and light intensities in the interior spaces.
It is aimed to maximise indoor heat and light comfort with use of highly insulating glass on the inner wall. The greenhouse effect on facades will be prevented by means of the space formed by glass tubes between themselves and the wall. Foreseeing a heating-cooling-ventilation system that will respond to different needs in summer-winter scenarios, a labyrinth wall system that provides increased building envelope insulation in the basement floor has been created; a passive pre-heating / pre-cooling system has been established. Cross ventilation is provided by positioning office spaces around the gallery space.
