Synthesis Hub – Bridging Contrasts, Building Connections / Hüsne Şevval Kıymaz
Synthesis Hub – Bridging Contrasts, Building Connections
Situated near the culturally vibrant NFK Center in Maraş, Synthesis Hub is an architectural manifestation of harmony through contrast. By integrating past and future, craft and technology, permanence and fluidity, the project creates a rich spatial dialogue that reflects the evolving identity of the city.
The project reclaims a partially preserved historic structure—its stone foundations and select walls have been restored and repurposed—embedding the memory of place into a new architectural narrative. Around this core, contemporary volumes rise, forming a layered spatial sequence where old and new elements are not in competition, but in collaboration. This synthesis extends beyond form and structure to materiality and cultural meaning.
Synthesis Hub incorporates traditional crafts such as simsırma and bakırcılık—two of Maraş’s most enduring artisan practices—into both the architectural detailing and interior design. Ornamented copper panels, engraved metalwork, and textile-inspired patterns are reinterpreted in modern ways, celebrating local heritage within a contemporary framework.
The building is constructed using a combination of exposed reinforced concrete and steel, providing both structural clarity and long-term adaptability. These durable materials contrast with and highlight the texture of the original masonry, while allowing for expansive, open-plan interiors. A modular structural grid supports diverse functions: co-working spaces, exhibition halls, workshops, and communal zones.
The Hub’s stepped form responds to the site’s natural topography, creating multi-level terraces that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor. Large glazed openings draw in natural light and open views toward the surrounding landscape, enhancing the connection between users and place.
Synthesis Hub is more than a building—it is a cultural platform. By bridging the material and intangible heritage of Maraş with forward-looking design strategies, it becomes a living space where tradition informs innovation. It stands as a testament to continuity through transformation, celebrating contrasts as creative potential.
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