Beylikduzu Fatma Ana Cemevi and Cultural Center, Istanbul, Turkey, 2020
The project, which metaphorically mimics the Alevis’ cultural value of togetherness, is located on a 7,800 square meter plot on the Kavakli Dere river basin in the Beylikduzu district (Istanbul). Its architects describe it as a “public corridor” for its communal role. It provides a distinctive presence for Alevis in Istanbul, yet creates a visible but subtle appearance of its religious program that implements its publicity to bring social unity to the neighborhood. While guiding the flow of people, the buildings vertically generate a public space between the park and the housing zone by forming a social platform. Introverted (religious) functions are combined with the extroverted ones (cultural center) harmoniously on both urban and interior scales. Materials are used to differentiate functions; natural stone forms the continuity of the tangible elements surrounding the project area with a link to the park, while timber covers the Cemevi area as a private and sacred space while providing intimacy.
Architect: Mehmet Metin Polat, Bilge AltuğLandscape Architects:Merve İmer, Doğan Onur ArazDesign Team: Bengi Altuğ, Gizem Özer, Ecem Özden, Ata Kurt Client: Beylikdüzü MunicipalityPhotographer: Yercekim Architectural Photography
