CRACK IN HARMONY / İlayda Savaş
– Plug-in Design for Kayseri Castle
“Crack in Harmony” is a plug-in project designed for the historic walls of Kayseri Castle. The goal is to introduce a new artistic layer to the ancient structure through dynamic forms and creative spaces. This intervention offers ceramic art studios, painting workshops, and exhibition-sale areas, all placed along the wall in uniquely shaped volumes. These spaces are designed not to dominate the castle, but to live in harmony with it—through contrast.
Instead of regular, classical forms, the design uses fragmented, broken-like geometries. These ‘cracks’ represent modern artistic expression emerging from the historical surface. Each module has its own identity but connects with others through circulation paths like bridges, ramps, and stairs. This movement creates an enjoyable and fluid visitor experience across different levels and perspectives.
The project’s circulation is a vital part of its concept. Visitors are guided from one space to another while engaging with both the architecture and the artworks inside. The irregular forms allow natural light to create interesting shadows and highlights, adding an atmospheric quality to each room. As visitors move along the route, they experience the space not only visually but emotionally.
From a user’s point of view, entering the structure feels like stepping into a creative dimension hidden within the castle walls. You walk up a bridge that leads into a ceramic studio, where artists are shaping clay in the soft light. Next, you pass a painting room, filled with colors and textures. Then comes a quiet gallery, where ceramic pieces are on display for sale. Every turn reveals something new — each space is unexpected, yet fits perfectly into the overall journey.
“Crack in Harmony” is not just a physical addition. It is an invitation to experience history through art. The design respects the past while bringing it into conversation with the present. With this contemporary plug-in, Kayseri Castle becomes not only a place to remember the past but also to create the future.
