Located between major highways of Istanbul, D-100 and TEM, in the proximity of Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Pendik, Istanbul, the project transforms an old industrial chemical factory land into a technology company campus.
Inspired by the natural topography around the site and the desire of creating a clear contrast to the surroundings unorganized urban fabric; a crystal volume as the main working environment is lying gently over several artificial hills sheltering various functions such as two 600 and 200 seats auditoriums, educational meeting spaces, cafeterias, lounges on bridges, data center and many other functions. This horizontal floating volume connects the two plots of the site by the introduction of hanged bridges and glazed screen walls over 30 meters spans.
Flexibility and maximizing the daylight being one of the major criteria for the working spaces, the accessibility to the office spaces has been organized through a set of elevated open courtyards where the users circulate and also have the ability to rest and socialize at lounges placed on bridges allowing many surprising views. The transparency is used to integrate the working spaces with the city, allowing the users to interact and to create different experiences throughout the year. A strong contrast awaits the user as the elevated horizontal crystal has a sharp and decisive cantilevered appearance from outside reflecting the sky, the landscape and the city yet the inner main axis structured with rather by voids. The user circulates through the outdoor ground levels following a path which undulates like a creek between the artificial hills.
The building implements the sustainability principles overall the building from single and double skin facade systems with dynamic sun shading integrated with lighting, to special heating & cooling systems providing the inner spaces with hundred percent fresh air. The building has received Leed Gold certificate.
Additional Credits: Cemal Emden Cemal Emden Studio, Tim Macfarlane Glass Limited, Werner Sobek Werner Sobek, Melih Bulgur MPI, Keith Bradshaw Speirs + Major, Hasan Mingu Midek Mingu, Korhan Sisman Planlux, Türker Talayman Talayman