Design intentions
GENERAL URBAN CONCEPT FOR THE PLOT The city of Istanbul has been a major population centre with a prominent role in commercial cultural activities for at least two millennia. Istanbul held its role as capital with three different civilizations. The symbiosis and communication between different religions, rich languages and cultures have formed the atmosphere and spirit of the city. Unique in its way, Istanbul has created a civilization, which draws its characteristics from centuries of human development and culture. This aspect of the city – being a unifying and sophisticated core gave us the idea to look for its manifestation in this Disaster prevention and education centre called the Fifth element, combining the four main natural elements and forces. GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR THE ISTANBUL DISASTER PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CENTRE Our proposal for Education centre in Istanbul contains in its essence the four elements, the four natural forces. We combined them to create the vision of the whole - the fifth element. The fifth element is man, the strength, the spirit, which allows a space to exist, to breathe, to move, to burn.Many theories exist concerning the classical elements. It’s said that they reflect the basic parts and principles, acting both as fundament and being a part of everything that surrounds us. According to the Greek, the most renowned theory, the elements are fire, earth, air and water. All of them exist in close relation. Air is thought of as the unifying one, fire represents power, water covers most of the Earth and earth is the fundament of our lives. Solid and stable the earth is the base for all human creations. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONAL AND SPATIAL RELATIONS OF THE ISTANBUL DISASTER PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CENTRE On all four of the walls of the upper facade, the four forces are expressed through stylized and dynamic forms, finished in the same materials. Visitors can learn about the elements and the disasters they represent. All the four planes embody the four elements through the shapes dynamics. They are oriented towards the sphere, which is a central unifying element. Coming in the building, a spacious entry area is revealed before the visitor with the planetarium in the middle, a representation of the four forces, coming in from a separate direction, with its own features and merging into one. The elements themselves are very vivid, intriguing and fascinating in their nature. The architecture of the disaster prevention centre supports the statements above and reflects the content and features, with unique architectural vision and intelligent technological innovations. In the simulation, education and seminar premises, found on the second level, people will learn of natural disasters, their essence, how to prevent them and minimize the damage they inflict in the modern world. The library and exhibition space are on the third and fourth floors. By using the ramp from that point, visitors can reach the top of the building, which serves as a viewing platform with an inspiring and enriching sight of Istanbul’s skyline.