Ormankoy Community Centre: A Harmonious Intersection of Architecture and Nature

DAP Yapı's Award-Winning Design Merges Built Environment with Natural Surroundings

The design of the Ormankoy Community Centre is inspired by its natural surroundings. The building is strategically located at the peak of the land, providing an opportunity for visitors to appreciate the beauty of the natural park and for the structure itself to be seen and comprehended. The project includes a 4000 sqm biological pond, further enhancing the intersection between the community centre and the natural park.

What sets this design apart is its unique wooden shell, which forms the building's characteristics. The wide glazed façades expand the indoor spaces to nature, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. The project area houses two ponds at different levels, with the water quality of both intended to be potable. The use of hard chemicals has been avoided to ensure the safety of the guests' pets and the surrounding wildlife.

The building's unique shape is achieved through a steel frame structure that sits on concrete beams spanning over 18 meters above the pool space. This structure extends from the ground to the third basement levels. Wooden claddings, expected to change colour and texture over time - much like the seasonal changes of the forest - are used in both indoor and outdoor façades, further integrating the building with its natural surroundings.

The design team, including Mustafa Kemal Kayış, Seray Öztürk, Murat Saçlıoğlu, and Fatih Aşçı, worked diligently to ensure the successful realization of this project. The design phase started in December 2019, and construction was completed by June 2020.

The Ormankoy Community Centre is not just a building; it's a public, non-profit space that serves as a testament to the harmonious blend of architecture and nature. This design has been recognized for its exceptional innovation and contribution to societal wellbeing, earning the prestigious Platinum A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021.