Interlock Housing – Housing+
Interlock Housing is a residential project deeply rooted in the reinterpretation of imece—a traditional Turkish ethos of collective work and collaboration—translated into a contemporary architectural form. Situated on the strategic edge of the Talas Nation’s Garden (Millet Bahçesi) and directly neighboring an existing Children’s Park in Kayseri, the design aims to harmonize the tranquility of these green spaces with the vibrant energy of the surrounding urban fabric. Drawing inspiration from the need to break the monolithic scale of traditional housing blocks, the proposal is defined by a “shifted-mass strategy.” This volumetric approach carefully carves out a central void, effectively creating the building’s “lungs” to significantly enhance environmental performance and daylight access, ensuring the structure “breathes” with its site.
The form of the building emerges from a “Noise Gradient” that responds to the specific urban context of Atatürk Boulevard. The ground floor is strategically zoned to buffer the street with active functions like the Childcare Center and Workshop, while the residential units on this level are oriented towards quieter, protected areas. This privacy increases vertically, with upper levels reserved as private residential units. The building’s organization relies on two distinct vertical systems: a dedicated circulation core (stairs and elevator) for efficient circulation, and a separate central atrium that works as a ventilation shaft.
This Passive Vertical Ventilation Shaft harnesses the Stack Effect, acting as a thermal chimney where warm air naturally rises and escapes through the roof, creating a suction that draws fresh air in through exterior windows. Enhanced by water fountains placed in North and South orientations, this system cools the building naturally, reducing reliance on mechanical air conditioning and ensuring a comfortable indoor environment even during Kayseri’s warm summers.
Reflecting Talas’s diverse demographic, the project prioritizes social inclusivity through a curated mix of unit types. Efficient 1+1 units cater to students from nearby Erciyes and Kayseri Universities, while 2+1 and 3+1 layouts accommodate families and elderly couples. This 1450 m² program fosters an intergenerational micro-community where diverse groups coexist, preventing social isolation. Accordingly, the ground floor functions establish a direct synergy with the adjacent Children’s Park, extending internal play areas to the public realm. Supported by a 900 m² underground level with parking and a shelter, Interlock Housing operates as a vital neighborhood asset, strengthening social integration in Kayseri.
