CONTINUU-M / HASİBE FEYZA ŞAHİN

This project approaches the municipal building not merely as an administrative structure, but as a spatial organism that carries the city’s collective memory, defined through continuity and openness. The main design intent is to merge the concept of timeless space with a contemporary understanding of municipal governance, producing an accessible and legible public building that minimizes hierarchical boundaries between the institution and its users.

The spatial organization is structured around a central inner courtyard encountered at the entrance, which establishes visual connections with all floors of the building. Enclosed by glass, this courtyard allows natural light to penetrate deep into the interior while reinforcing spatial continuity and making the transparency of municipal operations physically perceptible. The steel staircase crossing the gallery transforms vertical circulation from a purely functional element into a central, public component of movement within the building.

The use of exposed concrete on the exterior emphasizes the building’s permanence and institutional character, while the interior balances this heavy mass through glass partitions, steel details, and restrained material choices. Workspaces are organized with two-person desks and separated by transparent partitions, ensuring visual continuity alongside controlled privacy. Meeting rooms and conference halls are conceived as flexible, multi-purpose spaces that remain open to public use.

By redefining the municipality as an interactive civic space rather than a closed administrative entity, the project establishes an architectural framework that supports continuous engagement between the building and the city. In this sense, the proposal responds not only to present-day functional requirements but also offers a timeless architectural approach capable of adapting to the evolving nature of public life.