Söğüt Multipurpose Hall

At Point Zero

Trying to understand Söğüt anew through the historicity of geography within the context of the interplay of nature and history. Söğüt, considered in various sources as the zero point of Ottoman history, thus integrates itself into an 800-year historical continuity. While this unique situation makes Söğüt a part of Ottoman history, the nomadic tradition of the early Ottomans who began to settle in the early 13th century can create a different context for us at this point zero. Let's consider a nomadic community: their summer and winter pasture life, the fact that products specific to nomads are their primary economic resource, the traditions and customs described, especially the social roles of women, and the strong ties they forged with geography. When we begin to consider the rituals this community performed when choosing a settlement area, the knowledge and reflexes gained from doing this repeatedly, it can be said that Söğüt was more than just a choice of settlement; it was a choice of geography, and the power of this defined zero point is clearly derived from this geography. The historical relationship to be established with the past, beyond the Söğüt we know today, has been approached with a geographical understanding. In this context, the strongest bond a person from Söğüt can establish with their ancestors should be to rest in the shade of the same willow trees.

Approach to the Project Area and Spatial Arrangement

Due to its distance from the city and its context, the area is only accessible by vehicle. The parking lot located at the +844 elevation on parcel number 510 serves as the main approach. A linear reception space created between the parking lot and the building area provides access to the entrance of the multi-purpose hall with a 4% slope between +844.00 and +839.00. This linear space also defines a distribution line that provides access to the restaurant, event meadow, and monument space at the same elevation. At the highest elevation, parallel to the distribution line, a semi-open exhibition area has been designed on the Söğüt-Eskişehir road side. The Event Meadow, Restaurant, and Multipurpose Hall, located on lower levels and spread across different elevations, function independently but are connected to each other via open and semi-open spaces, allowing for diverse uses.