Wooden Nexus is a learning and sharing center inspired by the cultural memory of Üngüt Neighborhood in Kahramanmaraş. This project is more than an educational facility; it is a public space where memory, daily life, and community come together.
The design starts with a route that leads from the neighborhood into the site. Along this path, visitors encounter only exhibition spaces and multi-purpose daily-use areas. These spaces are designed to be open and inviting, allowing people to visit exhibitions or join small community events without needing to fully enter the building. With their semi-open structure and easy accessibility, they create a smooth and natural connection between the street and the architecture. The building gently extends into the neighborhood and becomes part of its everyday rhythm.
At the heart of the project is an educational program designed especially for primary school children. Here, children explore the basics of working with wood in a safe and creative environment. They learn how to use simple tools, build small objects, and bring their ideas to life through making. This hands-on learning process also helps them develop patience, self-confidence, and a strong sense of collaboration.
The building includes classrooms, a library, dining spaces, and courtyards, all brought together by a warm and sustainable wooden structure. Collective gardens and outdoor areas strengthen the connection between people, nature, and place. These spaces support both formal education and informal gathering.
Wooden Nexus is not only built within the neighborhood; it is built for the neighborhood. It invites people of all ages to participate, learn, and create. By blending memory with activity and past traditions with future potential, Wooden Nexus becomes a living story of Üngüt – shaped by the people who use it every day.
