Architectural Report

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The solution to the design problem posed by the Ahlat Youth Camp Architectural Project Competition requires revealing the original and innovative structure of the discipline of architecture. The impressive beauties of the project area and the depth of the competition subject bring some difficulties. These challenges can be addressed at two levels. The first difficulty at the practical level is the set of channels that traverse the project area and divide it into three parts. The second, and perhaps more important, difficulty manifests itself on a theoretical level. As stated in the specification, architects must be able to look at their disciplines with a critical eye in order to survive the discussion of "historicity" and "ordinary formality" regarding this geography, which is densely woven with history. In this context, in order to develop a concept, it is necessary to avoid a reductionist understanding of architecture that dresses the cultural and social world of geography in “ideas dress”. This risk can only be eliminated by establishing a genuine relationship with the project area. In order to overcome both challenges, our project first aims to speak a design language that will integrate with the land and evoke its deaf-mute experience.

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In this context, we first acted with two theoretical compasses. The first of these is the “large folding and reopening shell” design, which is in continuity with the natural structure of the land and gives a simultaneity to the parts of the project thanks to its architectural feature. The shell creates the opportunity to create negative and positive spaces. The structural functions of the project are mostly solved within these areas. Negative areas mean the pit areas formed in the lower elevation of the existing topography. The positive area, on the other hand, refers to the areas formed above this elevation. These crusty structures, suitable for the urban skin of the region, create the opportunity to make maximum use of daylight with the vertical surfaces they reveal. In addition, the areas designed considering the prevailing wind direction create a sheltered public space for winter conditions. Therefore, the crust creates a geometry that overlaps with the topographic structure, as opposed to a monolithic structure that will rise in the field. Thus, the shell movement offers an alternative to the formal understanding that sees architectural project areas as parts of a mosaic.

On the other hand, we presented fragmented and singular masses based on the experience of the existing building cover, extending from the foot of the mountains to the coast, on the created crust. The main purpose of this initiative is to create a series of masses that will not be in harmony with the social and cultural world of the region and will find a place among the “fragmented structures” lost in the urban fabric. The fragmented and singular masses in question avoid the regularity and rhythm of the ordinary formality that would dress the land in a certain way. Partial and singular masses are inspired by the villages, mosques, madrasahs and mansions that exist with the stone of the region in order to maintain the historical continuity. These stones, which are the intellectual shelter of the project, are continuous with the "fragmented structure" of the city's form. The use of Ahlat stone establishes a relationship with the urban memory in the context of historicity.

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Moreover, the northern and southern sides of the project area are connected to each other under the road in order to eliminate the current situation of the Bitlis-Van highway to create an obstacle between the city and the coast. This lower transition area is a natural part of the relationship established between the topographical structure and the crust. Thus, with the way the water coming from the mountain reaches the beach in the existing area, it was ensured that the guests of the Ahlat Youth Camp and the residents of the surrounding area meet the lake. In addition, the canal water, which gains functionality with natural resources, becomes a dynamic part of the project. The water stored in the ecological lakes created in the landscape area is used as landscape irrigation and utility water throughout the year. In this direction, it is aimed to create an economic situation for the enterprise in the medium term.

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Finally, the strategy applied in solving the above-mentioned practical and theoretical challenges also manifests itself in the design of the activity areas of the project. The volume created under the shell contains the conference center, the accommodation lobby and secondary areas, the spa area and the technical areas. The three crustal areas created consist of three different branches that act as a single building in the context of horizontal circulation. Depending on the business strategy, these three branches can be independently associated with open and semi-open spaces and used as three different buildings. The accommodation units on the crust consist of six different masses. Each of these masses connects with the lobby area thanks to four different “cores” independent of each other. Apart from this, a Culture House associated with open and semi-open spaces has been proposed by all its guests, especially the residents of the neighborhood and its immediate surroundings.