Project Location: Eyüp İstanbul
Employer: İstanbul Bilgi University
Architectural Design Office: Nevzat Sayın Architectural Services (NSMH)
Architectural Design Team: Nevzat Sayın, Selin Özkan, Gaye Keskin Erol,
Serkan Çakıt, Sibel Özdoğan,
Metehan Kahya
Structural Design: Sigma Engineering
Contractor: Erkay İnşaat
Plot Area: 4660 m2
Total Construction Area: 7800 m2
Located in Istanbul Bilgi University Campus, boiler rooms no. 4 and 6 were built in 1914. Silahtarağa Power Plant which was decommissioned and abondoned in 1983 in under protection order as industrial heritage and special structures along with other similar buildings.
Boiler rooms no.4 and 6 both survived up to date and each has a boiler under protection order inside. These boilers are authentically protected in place with special processes and their contribution to the interior space was accepted as an important data with keeping in mind that these boilers are the actual owners of the structure.
Open space setup on the interior has been a solution supporting the functionality of the spaces used as general areas by Faculty of Architecture such as workshops, exhibition and jury areas. Increasing the annual admission limit to two times the assumption at the beginning caused the spaces which could be more transparent more crowded. However, the initial transparency was tried to be established with interlinked studios at five different levels. While locating the undergraduate and graduate students areas in the spaces, it became evident that the existing library of the university was not sufficient and a library was also integrated into the structure. hence, main entrance hall in the basement floor became a common area in which the library is located and allowed different encounters.
Existing building shell constructed as a thin envelope only to protect the boilers structurally has been revisited to ensure proper structural physics while re-functioning the structure. ın this respect, a new building envelope was designed inside the old structure. A new insulated wall frame system in line with façade spans and new slabs and ensuring comfort conditions was developed behind the existing façade. External envelope of the old structure has been opened with the decision of Council of Monuments in order to allow more daylight inside the structure in line with façade structure and unique façade perspectives.