Esenler Social Center

The competition area is located in the middle of four large neighborhoods (Kemer Mah., Birlik Mah., Havaalanı Mah., and Kazım Karabekir) in Esenler, one of Istanbul's densely populated districts. Its most significant urban approach is from its facade on Atışalanı Street, while it connects to the neighborhood fabric via Kırım Street and Köyiçi Street. Additionally, Güler Street, located to the north/east of the area and running perpendicularly, is expected to gain significant accessibility after the completion of ongoing urban transformation projects to the north of the area and the pedestrianization of the area adjacent to the police headquarters. The competition area traverses a 7-meter elevation difference between Atışalanı Street and Kırgız Street on a 7% natural slope.

In this context, considering the definition of a social center and the functions it encompasses, the main question becomes how to integrate functions heavily used by people (Neighborhood House) with those entirely inward-looking (Short Break Center and Yuvamız İstanbul). The relationships these program components establish with each other, as well as their relationships with public or private, open and semi-open spaces, have been treated as a problematic issue.