Air, Earth and Sky
Cairo, Istanbul, 2011
In 2011, Thyssen Krupp Elevator launched an international architecture competition to design a Disaster Prevention and Education Centre in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district. The site, near Atatürk International Airport, covers approximately 27,000 square meters and is currently used as a car park. Our proposal embraces the contrasts between harsh and tender, rough and soft, noisy and quiet, threatening and protective. The building seeks to embellish and exaggerate the surreal contrasts in the external world, illuminating the integral yet opposing relationship between humans and their environment. The program invites an understanding of the climate's most severe and fearful sides, while also providing a serene experience. The building is organized into three hierarchical levels—"earth,” “air,” and “sky”—each offering a unique perspective on disaster prevention and education. It aims to highlight the opposing yet interconnected relationship between humans and the environment, creating a serene yet informative experience that balances beauty with the severe realities of climate.
The "earth level" mimics the dense residential grid surrounding the site, with disaster education programs housed in separate units connected by serene glass corridors and green spaces. On the "air level," a rooftop garden offers themed spaces, like a Judas tree garden and a tulip garden, encouraging visitors to explore Istanbul's natural flora. The "sky level" reverses the earth level's dense urbanity, with open light wells providing natural illumination for the spaces below. The design incorporates a natural cooling system, enabling cross-ventilation and energy efficiency through strategically placed openings. The building's austere elevation invites visitors to experience natural elements—rain, fog, and mist—seeping through various levels, celebrating the beauty and contradictions of nature while promoting sustainable living.
Study diagramsBasic plan diagram