The Alley for Innovation, in this case, is a strong proposition as the new equivalent of the spatial memory of METU Allée in the third dimension. It establishes a strong communication and a rich social life both on the ground levels and in the enveloped volume.
ALLÉE: THE BACKBONE OF THE CAMPUS
The spatial backbone of METU Campus is the alley / allée. Faculty buildings open to the alley, pedestrian movement is organised; it is the space for surprises and unexpected events. With these features, it gains a character that is always energetic and excites the user. The spatial analysis of the campus alley are observed, the characteristic features of sub-areas to become re-introduced. Contrary to an open space defined between two walls, the alley is a place that organises life with niches it houses, with places narrowing and expanding with the recessed and protruding masses.
TEKNOKENT ALLÉE: AN INTERMEDIATE SPACE
The building, located on Eskişehir Road across the METU Campus, aims to recreate this strong structure of the Campus Alley outside the campus. The space in-between blocks called the “Innovation Allée”, organises life on the ground level, in accordance with the program of the technopolis building. The idea re-imagined in the third dimension, is a strong proposition as the equivalent of spatial memory outside the Campus. It establishes a strong communication and promises a rich social life both on the ground levels and in the inner spaces of the building. The Alley is now read as an intermediate space. The space designed with non-repetitive masses and facades of the flanks of the building offers rich spatial experience to users.
URBAN CONNECTIONS
The “Innovation Allée” aims to keep connectivity of the urban space and its life around with that of the life in the present building and in the progrmmed new phases of the project. The site has a narrow and long geometry on the north-south axis and the natural topography of the land provides an advantage in relationship with the Eskişehir Road / Dumlupınar Boulevard. Keeping the ground level of the ‘Innovation Allée’ at the same level with the Eskişehir Road and the Metro entrance on it, easy access to public transport is ensured, thus giving smooth connections with the city. Commercial spaces are located opposite each other on the Allée, and underneath are co-working spaces, event spaces, commercial units and incubation offices do open doors to natural ground levels.
VOLUME ABOUND BY FLIGHT LIMITATION SURFACE (FLS)
Under the FLS, which determines height of the building, the masses are designed as 5 floors above the lower ground floor and the ground floor with concerns of efficiencient land use and fit for programme layout. The parapet, which rises freely to hide away technical devices and units on the roof, also emphasises the FLS constraint.
FLEXIBLE LAYOUT
One of the most fundamental concepts in the layout of the building is flexibility. Extending the circulation area around the core, positioning of corridors on different floors has become quite possible; and as example, on two different floors with the same floor plan, if desired, a corridor can either run through in-between small offices, or lean on the perimeter onlooking the Innovation Allée, to create large floor area offices.
