Modern and Quality Social Housing is Possible
KİPTAŞ İzmit Çınar Housing, in collaboration with the Municipality of İzmit, is being constructed in the Arızlı Neighborhood. This is the second project implemented in the new term of KİPTAŞ (Istanbul Residence Development Plan Industry and Trade Co.) which works in partnership with the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul to build environment-friendly, durable, and quality residential units catered for all income groups in various districts of Istanbul. The public institutions of KİPTAŞ and Municipality of İzmit, which came together to create a model for earthquake-resistant, quality, and affordable social housing that can be constructed in short time and add value to the region, completed the land acquisition, design, financial arrangements, and promotional activities pertaining to the project in a short period of three months.
The construction of the social housing project, which is located 10 km away from the İzmit city center on an area of 13,878.89 m², started on December 22, 2020. The project consists of four residential buildings and one commercial block and is scheduled to be completed on June 15, 2022.
An Approach that Changes the Perception of Social Housing
Although KİPTAŞ Çınar Housing Project has been designed under procedural and financial constraints which posit limits on all social housing projects, it differs from the well-known examples by its approach that advocates the right to habitation in quality housing and focuses on the human and the environment.
This project sets an example for earthquake zones not only in terms of its architectural decisions suitable for the topography, earthquake resistant materials and quality construction, but also for being a project where land acquisition processes and preliminary preparations can be completed in a short time with the cooperation of institutions.
The project, in scope of adopting a participatory and transparent perspective, conducted a digital survey open to the participation of citizens. Almost 10,000 people filled the survey which was available online for a duration of one month. The responses given to the survey played a guiding role in the financial and architectural decisions taken during the process.
Quality Architectural Design
This project attracts attention to its architectural design concept by offering simple functional solutions that do not compromise quality, safety, and health in the decisions taken on architectural, interior, and landscape design and can be implemented in a short time with an affordable budget.
The architectural design of KİPTAŞ İzmit Çınar Housing, located on a slope approximately 10km away from İzmit city center, with a view of Kocaeli City Forest in the north and İzmit Bey in the south, has been undertaken by Şerbetçi Mimarlık. The zoning plans of this developing region indicate that there are residential buildings in the southern and southeastern areas and reinforcement yards in the eastern areas.
Physical and environmental factors such as the slope of the land, earthquake risk, and zoning status were taken into account in preparation of the layout and floor plans. The blocks are positioned on the land in line with the topography; and the pedestrian circulation, which forms the backbone of the landscape, has been designed to flow along a linear axis in the east-west direction. Recreation areas were placed on this main axis.
The four residential blocks, designed in three different functional and simple floor plans with average gross areas of 87 m2, 93 m2 and 124 m2, houses 143 flats in total. There are five shops in the commercial block spreading over an area of 100m2. This project also includes recreational areas such as open/semi open areas, playgrounds, exercise areas, a mini basketball court, and an open-air chess zone. With the ramps located in semi-open areas in the pedestrian circulation route and stairs that can also be utilized as seats, this project offers an accessible design for the children, the disabled, and the elderly.
A Concept Project for Social Housing
The concept shaping this project is based on the nature of the region and the relationship between the bay and the forest. From the design of the façades and the landscape to the choice of materials and colors, the design language of this project refers to the forests and the mountain houses. The sycamore tree (in Turkish: Çınar) from which the name of the project comes, stands out as an important element in the landscape design.
The four main blocks, located on the plot in line with the topography of the region, are divided into single or double blocks referencing the trees standing alone or in rows in a forest. While the retracted façades of the blocks isolate the entrance, the sycamore and cypress trees located at these points and the wooden materials preferred for the curtain walls highlight the relationship with the nature.
This project attaches importance to flora diversity in its design. Furthermore, in addition to a variety of sycamore trees, evergreen plants were preferred to ensure seasonal continuity, to prevent wind corridors that may occur in pedestrian circulation routes, and to create shaded areas. The continuous green areas were ensured by planting in the recreation areas and block entrances as well as in the circulation areas and between the blocks. One of the aims is to prompt various sensual experiences in the landscape with the visual richness of the changes in color and the scents obtained from aromatic plants.
Quality Housing for Everyone
This project, which set off with the idea that everyone has the right to quality living spaces, is not only an economically accessible social housing project with its financial model, but also offers an accessible design for children, the elderly and the citizens with disabilities.
The pedestrian routes connect to each with the least inclination possible while all functional units and recreational areas are easily accessible. Additionally, the project encourages pedestrian access by continuous pedestrian routes and quality landscape design.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
KİPTAŞ İzmit Çınar Housing Project pays regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) with its layout and floor plans, landscape design, and environment-friendly approach.
The financial model of the project renders quality residences affordable and thus contributes to the Article 10 of Sustainable Development Goals which aims at “Decreasing Inequalities”.
Article 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, “Partnership for Goals” seeks to encourage and promote public, public-private and civil society partnerships building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. Accordingly, the collaboration between KİPTAŞ and the Municipality of İzmit makes it possible for the project to be completed in a short time and reach more people.
KİPTAŞ İzmit Çınar Housing, just like other projects undertaken by KİPTAŞ in its new term, takes important steps in line with the Article 11 of Sustainable Development Goals, namely “Sustainable Cities and Communities”. Article 11 seeks to provide everyone with adequate, safe, affordable housing and basic services as well improving slum areas by 2030. Accordingly, this project, which is located in an earthquake zone, aims at increasing the number of durable, safe, and quality residences in the area.
Another goal is to improve road safety for everyone by way of paying special attention and care to the needs of vulnerable people, women, children, the disabled and the elderly and to provide everyone's access to safe, economically affordable, accessible, and sustainable transportation by improving primarily the public transportation system by 2030. In this sense, this project creates accessible spaces for everyone; and with the pedestrian routes designed in harmony with the land and integrated into the recreational areas, this project aims to cut down the use of motor vehicles.
This project pursues the goal of "developing capacities for inclusive and sustainable urbanization as well as participatory, integrated and sustainable settlement planning and management in all countries" with the user surveys and the professional teams involved in the process.
This project, which is located in an expanding area of the city, is also an important step taken towards the realization of the goal of "supporting the positive economic, social and environmental relations between the city, its outskirts and the rural areas by way of strengthening the national and local development planning".