Scope of Work
This mixed-use commercial building was commissioned for a 695 m² site owned by Ahmet Körpen in the city center of Karabük. The irregularly shaped plot, surrounded by three streets and constrained by an adjacent blind façade, required a design approach capable of organizing complex functions within a geometrically challenging mass.
The building was developed as a multi-functional structure consisting of five floors above the upper street level and five basement levels, three of which remain below ground due to the site’s topography. The program included a bank branch at the main entrance and first basement level, retail and office floors, flexible educational spaces convertible into classrooms, and a fitness–spa facility with a swimming pool at the top level. All spatial arrangements were organized to ensure functional clarity and efficient circulation between diverse user groups.
Based on prior professional experience, mechanical and electrical engineering systems were coordinated and reviewed during the design process. In particular, a dedicated intermediate technical floor beneath the pool level was introduced to organize all mechanical installations, improving maintenance access and long-term operational efficiency.
Due to the irregular geometry of the plot and the client’s requirement to maximize buildable area, the resulting mass lacked conventional symmetry. The initial façade proposal addressed this condition by introducing a double-skin façade incorporating planted green zones between layers, aiming to soften the building’s presence within the dense urban fabric, improve thermal performance, and contribute visually to the cityscape through natural elements. Brutal concrete and composite cladding elements were also proposed to preserve the building’s structural character, while a media façade on the main street elevation was designed to introduce a contemporary technological identity.
However, this initial concept was later simplified due to budget considerations and concerns regarding its perceived contrast with the local urban context at the time. The final façade solution adopted a more restrained approach, using composite panels and vertical elements to achieve visual balance while responding to the geometric constraints of the building mass. The completed design reflects a pragmatic balance between conceptual ambition, functional requirements, and economic realities.
♦ Architectural concept and spatial design ♦ Mixed-use program organization and floor planning ♦ Facade concept development and material strategy ♦ Coordination and control of mechanical and electrical systems ♦ Preparation of architectural application drawings
