The main objective of the project for the Ödemis New City Center by Onat Öktem is to integrate urban functions to ensure the continuity of the pedestrian and green axis while creating a new structure. In this context, defined and undefined urban spaces have been reorganized to increase the physical, social and cultural wealth of the citizens. Green axis, squares and spaces in the city have been evaluated as an advantage for the social, cultural and physical development. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The most characteristic feature of the city is its physical structure. For this reason, the vertical and horizontal axes of the city’s open spaces and the spatial potentials are planned as a whole. The design of the new city structure is based on four different functional axes and a combining icon. These functional axes meet at the center of the city and create two physical axes – two traces following the city’s physical structure. These traces generate the main backbone of the city macro form.
Activity Axis
Activity axis is defined as an area in-between the city center and Tayyare park. All the urban elements which were separated from each with borders created by walls and small gardens are combined on the new axis. All the lost spaces between the old buildings are removed so the new public square is designed to serve different functions and different needs for different groups. The removal of physical and visual barriers also provides the fluid circulation through the area. The existing park is redesigned to define the new public space.
Cultural Axis
The new cultural axis is composed of the old railway station, the new municipality building and its square, historical buildings and the new cultural center. The new cultural center, designed as raising platforms represents the end of the cultural axis. The road passing through the old rail station is taken to the underground so the continuity of the pedestrian circulation is achieved between the old rail station, the new municipality building and the new cultural center.
Recreational Axis
The city’s largest open space is divided with the railway line and such a field couldn’t be used efficiently for this reason. The new design is based on three main decisions to insure the continuity of the green zone. First decision is to construct a new railway line shifted towards the edge of the street. Second one is to insure the continuity of the green landscape area through the south of the city over the railway. The third and the last decision is to connect the city center with the green texture coming through the south. This part of the city will meet the city’s recreational needs and will serve as a natural park. Rural landscape elements will form this natural park.
The area in-between the historical site and the activity axis will be left to the pedestrians. The connection between the Gürcüzade Mosque and the activity axis will be restored. It is located at the meeting point of the urban axes. The twisted form of the landmark represents the crash of the axes. The new landmark will give the city a new identity.
Architect: Onat Öktem Location: Ödemis, Turkey Architectural Consultant: Zeynep Öktem Landscape Designer: Özge Gokmen City Planner: Okan Can Supporters: Esat Can Meker, Gökçeçiçek Savaşır Competition Status: 3rd prize
