B. Fatma A. Cemevi Cultural Centre

Description

Fatma Ana Cemevi and Cultural Center, per 9016's proposal, was designed as a 2857 m² built space in an area of 7805 m². The subject site is located in the Kavakli Dere river basin (next to the Yasam Valley park area) in the Beylikduzu district. The project area follows a rectangular shape, and the three building blocks are placed coherently within a rectangular landscape organization. The architects considered the site a 'public corridor' for its communal role, developing a significant association with Yasam Valley. This connection establishes publicity for the project, forming a social unity in the neighborhood. While creating a relationship with the park and guiding the flow of people, the blocks metaphorically mimic the Alevis' cultural value of togetherness. The Cemevi space combines three separate-looking but interconnected prisms, which act as the primary zone for religious events. Thus, each function has a continuous stream while providing a public space for the neighborhood.The cemevi evokes the concept of 'free space,’ which refers to the Alevis’ values and civic virtue, a deeper identity of the Alevi community. Free spaces act as an in-between space, between private and public, hosting social interactions and religious performances where ordinary citizens can act with dignity, independence, and vision. Within this perspective, cemevis are where Alevis could find their group solidarity, interact, and perform religious activities. The Alevis' understanding of nature has provided an inspirational ground for the project. The building was carefully laid out to create a visible but subtle appearance for its religious program. The project considers the Alevi culture's values of togetherness by offering a cultural center not only for Alevis but for all the neighborhood’s inhabitants. The site plan has been a search to form a connection with Beylikduzu while 'making the invisible more visible, both physically and metaphorically.Vertically, the project forms a public space as a social platform between the park and the housing areas. The fragmented layout of the project site is also evident in the organization of the building. The Cemevi Square, proposed as the central open area as the project's entrance, constitutes the horizontal link as a response to the topography. It functions as a welcoming area with its 7.5 meters height wooden structure, guiding the flow of people. Introverted programs (religious spaces such as cemevi) are combined with extroverted ones (such as the conference room), working harmoniously on an urban and interior scale. Through this harmony, The Fatma Ana Cemevi and Cultural Center has formed a distinctive presence for Alevis in Beylikduzu, Istanbul.(Description provided by the architects)