Course Explanation:
Municipal And Urban Center Project
Since the Republican era, municipal buildings in Türkiye have served not only as administrative centers but also as important places for daily and cultural life. Over time, however, many of these buildings have become inadequate for today’s growing population and diverse service needs. The existing Sivas Municipality building, dating back to the 1960s–70s, is one such example. Rather than replacing this building, the project aims to design a new complementary municipal and urban center that will extend municipal services and create spaces for participatory local governance. Within this context, the project aims to create an “municipal and urban center”: a multi-functional city center that integrates municipal services with cultural, social, and economic activities. The design should promote accessibility, inclusiveness, and contemporary approaches while encouraging citizen participation and respecting the historical and architectural character of the site.
This studio course challenges students to design an municipal and urban center as an architectural project that integrates municipal, social, commercial and public spaces and transportation into a cohesive and sustainable environment. Through a combination of site research, conceptual exploration, and iterative design development, students will translate urban planning ideas into tangible architectural solutions. The course emphasizes hands-on studio practice, including site analysis, massing studies, circulation design, and integration of smart and green infrastructure. Students will develop drawings, models, and visualizations that address functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and social inclusion. Weekly critiques, pin-up, mid-juries and a final jury presentation provide opportunities for reflection and professional-level feedback.
By the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to design and communicate a comprehensive architectural proposal for an municipal and urban center that responds to real-world challenges and envisions the future of urban living.
Course Instructors:
Assoc. Prof. Nisa Semiz
Dr. Ayşegül Kıdık
Dr. Ahmet Türel
Ress. Assist. Nurefşan Batmaz
Click here to see Student Projects.
Jury Photo:
