CATENA

Located at the historic core of Kayseri, adjacent to the Ulu Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and the archaeological remains of a former madrasa, the Kayseri Civic Core reinterprets civic life through the concept of Catena—the Latin word for chain. Rather than conceiving the city as a collection of isolated functions, the project proposes an interconnected urban system where memory, production, governance, and social interaction are continuously linked through space.

The site occupies a unique position within the historical development of Kayseri. For centuries, this area has functioned as one of the city’s primary commercial and social centers. Today, while it remains active through trade, tourism, and daily urban life, it lacks meaningful engagement with younger generations. The project responds to this condition by introducing a contemporary civic infrastructure that reconnects different age groups, social communities, and urban activities.

At the center of the proposal lies the archaeological madrasa remains, preserved as the project’s collective memory core. Rather than building over this heritage layer, a lightweight steel structure spans above it, creating a new civic canopy. This elevated framework establishes visual and physical connections between surrounding program blocks while allowing the archaeological remains to remain visible and accessible. The structure acts as an intermediary layer between past and present, transforming the archaeological void into an active public forum.

The architectural language is defined by a modular steel grid system that extends across the site as a spatial chain. Semi-open platforms, bridges, and terraces connect educational facilities, craft workshops, civic gathering spaces, exhibition areas, and social commons. These connections embody the Catena concept physically, creating a sequence of encounters and exchanges rather than isolated destinations.

The facade strategy further reinforces this idea of connectivity and openness. Projecting bay windows extend from the building masses toward the public realm, functioning as urban observatories, informal gathering niches, and exhibition points. These elements blur the threshold between interior and exterior, allowing activities within the building to become visible from the city while simultaneously drawing urban life inward.

As a Craft Hub, the project supports local artisanship, knowledge sharing, and creative production through workshops, maker spaces, exhibition venues, and market areas. Through this network of spaces, the Civic Core becomes not a singular building, but a civic ecosystem one that links heritage with innovation, governance with participation, and memory with future urban development. In this way, Catena transforms the site into a living chain of urban relationships, where every space contributes to the continuous production of civic life.