MOMENT OF STILLNESS / Zehiye Ünal
This project, rooted in the cultural, historical, and spatial context of Nevşehir’s Sinasos, is built upon the concept of “moment of stillness within motion.” The design process began with the guidance of my advisor and was informed by an in-depth research phase aimed at understanding the essence of dwelling in Sinasos.
Through my analyses, I identified the sense of transition as the most profound expression of dwelling in Sinasos. This realization was inspired by the town’s unique characteristics: the winding streets and staircases shaped by its topography, religious and cultural depictions of transitions between earth and sky or life and death, and the historical movement of populations due to the population exchange. These elements collectively directed me toward the concept of transition.
My research revolved around four fundamental questions:
- Subject: How can a transitional space evoke a sense of dwelling?
- Site: Where and how can a transitional space be identified within Sinasos?
- Building: How can a structure create a sense of transition—both physically and conceptually—without becoming a mere corridor?
- Concept: What kinds of activities could evoke the feeling of transition in this project?
Building on these inquiries, I developed a grounds scraper design that aligns with Sinasos’s local context. The structure, long and linear, follows the natural slopes of the terrain, offering users both physical and mental experiences of transition. The project consists of four primary buildings:
Dwelling units: Designed for short-term micro-dwelling, offering visitors a place to pause and reflect.
Cafe and restaurant: Spaces that foster social interaction and allow users to savor local flavors.
Contemplation center: Aimed at slowing down the pace of life and creating a deeper connection with the surroundings.
Cultural experience hub: Providing interactive spaces to engage with local art and history.
The use of red glass volumes within the project serves not only to mark entrances but also to convey a deeper philosophical meaning. The choice of red is inspired by the physical concept of “redshift,” which describes the stretching of light waves as they move through an expanding universe, shifting toward red. These red glass elements symbolize the traces carried from the past into the present, representing the flow of time and its moments of stillness. They act as bridges between history and the now, inviting users to experience both the movement of time and its suspension in a single moment.
This project redefines the idea of transition—not merely as movement from one point to another but as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and dwell. It aligns with the Genius Loci of Sinasos, offering spaces that connect motion with stillness and invite users to find meaning within the flow of time.
