ASL / SEVDEGÜL KARADUMAN

Located at a critical urban threshold in Sivas, where the Historical City Center meets the expanding modern city, this project proposes a new Municipal and Urban Center titled “ASL” (The Essence). The design acts as a nexus, bridging the residential zones, the university district, and the train station, thereby synthesizing the city’s past with its future.

The conceptual framework is driven by a “dialogue of opposites,” materialized through the intersection of two powerful urban vectors:

1. The Historical Axis: A line of memory extending toward the historic Eğri Bridge. The primary building masses “root” themselves along this alignment, respecting Sivas’s cultural legacy.
2. The Modern Axis: A dynamic flow connecting the Industrial Area with the Train Station, representing the city’s forward-looking momentum.

The architectural form is derived directly from this act of “rooting.” The lower volumes do not merely sit on the site; they embed themselves into the ground along the historical axis. In contrast, the upper structures and the dynamic folded plate roof respond to the modern axis, creating a physical link between the industrial and educational zones. This synthesis transforms the site into a place where history meets future development.

Programmatically, the building serves as a democratic ideal. It houses municipal executive units, administrative offices, and public amenities such as a conference hall, library, and exhibition spaces. These functions are organized to encourage transparency and public interaction. The façade features a high-performance ventilated double skin, ensuring climatic comfort while reinforcing the building’s contemporary aesthetic.

Ultimately, “ASL” is more than a municipal building; it is an urban catalyst that honors the “essence” of Sivas while providing a modern spatial framework for its growing social fabric.