Silver Blocks are located within the Technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU), known as “Technopark”; on a significant plot to the northern border of Technopark and the northeastern corner of the university campus. Positioning and context are instrumental in determining the image of the building. Instead of portraying emphasis related to structure and technology that the idea of Technopark represents, it was opted to create a more urban program regarding the use of external space in line with the planning characteristics of METU. Means were sought to bring about a project that would critically reinterpret the Technopark program within the context of open spaces, natural lighting and natural ventilation.
The building’s main function is offices of various sizes to house firms engaged in Research and Development activities. Bearing in mind the demand for spaces of different size and quality, a more flexible understanding of space, both horizontal and vertical, has been developed. This setting goes beyond the understanding of arranging interior spaces and becomes instrumental in determining the formation of the exterior of the building mass with an integral understanding.
The long and widespread building mass, that inevitably came about by reason of the dimension of the land, of the requirement program and of the height limits of the Technopark master plan, has been divided into sub-blocks in length, in order to attain a flexible use. On the other hand, the integrity of the building has been emphasized with a vault roof with metal covering that continues throughout the structure. Individual entrances were given to the building blocks that expand towards the ground and extend with terraces towards the South. Apart from providing open air zones for employees, the terraces also give defined flexibility in creating office spaces for various purposes. Within this context, an original office building scheme was developed within the entirety of the exterior and interior setting.
The entrance axis to the Blocks between the Campus road and Technopark campus was emphasized with large yellow aluminum coated canopy in both directions. The section which the canopy asymmetrically cuts the building on its narrow end has been rendered different under the vault. While providing external connection to the second floor of the offices, the ramps setting out from both sides of the entrance canopy, also emphasize the continuity of exterior and interior circulation. Following the entrance, there is a central hall extending throughout the interior space creating the building’s main common circulation area. The services section which extends perpendicularly through the central hall of the blocks was positioned in such a way as to support the flexibility of office use and to distribute the mechanical electrical installation to the units as economically as possible.
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