Idea Competition for Maltepe Regional Park

The catalyst of the project, for the new life of the Maltepe Regional Park, the Seed, is the Social and Cultural Center, while the proposed lake is the cultivating point of the park. By transforming the vehicular road splitting the park into two via an underpass, continuity is achieved for the wild life and the natural habitat. The project is conceptualized as a part of the surrounding forest landscapes, and is thus conceived as a part of nature.

With urban ecology as its main principle, and holistic design as its major aspiration, the project features three principal areas: the northeast-southwest oriented ‘Eco-corridor’; the north-south oriented ‘Activity Axis’; and the natural preservation and passive recreation area to the south of the Maltepe University.

The Eco-corridor remains until the social and cultural center of the park, the Seed designed for using minimum amount of energy possible, solar energy for self-sufficiency, makes use of innovative technologies, recycles, and that contains rooms for seminars, simulations, cine-vision, child-youth cinema and dining. The Activity Axis is proposed for hosting miscellaneous social, cultural and artistic events such as concerts, festivals, exhibitions and art sales.

This project won the first prize in the Project Competition for Maltepe Regional Park in 2007.