CRAFTED FLOW / Birsen Türk
Project Concept & Context
“Crafted Flow” reinterprets the act of tile-making into an architectural experience situated in and around the historical Kayseri Castle. The project begins with a gesture: a small branch inserted between two castle towers. This symbolic connection grew into a linear system, stretching through both the inner and outer castle walls. Visitors first encounter a semi-dark historical projection room where the story of tilecraft is visualized using large screens and immersive projections. This space introduces the visitor to the craft’s heritage before leading them into the physical and spatial narrative.
The core of the project consists of four hexagonal modules located inside the castle, each corresponding to one key phase of the tile-making process: clay forming, carbon tracing, outlining, and firing. These inner modules are reserved for professional artisans and are interconnected through a specially designed service wall. This service wall functions both manually and automatically, enabling the silent exchange of tools and materials without breaking the production rhythm. Artisans can access adjacent modules through this wall, preserving the linear architectural language while ensuring functional efficiency. The hexagonal form was inspired by a visit to a mosque, where the hexagonal patterns of traditional tiles stood out for their harmony and visual rhythm. This geometry informed the structure of the modules and the overall design logic.
Outside the castle, the project opens up to public experience. Another set of hexagonal modules—though varied in function—are connected through ramps, stairs, and fully enclosed climate-adaptive tubes. These outdoor modules host workshops, exhibitions, and observation platforms. They reflect the phases of the craft in experiential ways and offer spaces for interaction, rest, and learning. Thermal comfort is ensured by the enclosed tubes that remain warm in winter and cool in summer. Through consistent linear organization and elevation rhythm, the project creates a crafted journey from the artisan’s hand to the public eye.
Narrative Paragraph – A User’s Perspective
It’s early morning. As I step into the dimly lit projection room, colors ripple across the curved wall—a tile emerges, centuries-old, glowing with memory. I follow a narrow passage leading into the first module. A ceramic artist kneels before soft clay, shaping, folding, pressing. Tools move silently through a slot in the wall—she doesn’t speak, but she’s not alone. Each module I enter carries a new story: a traced motif, a bold brushstroke, the heat of a kiln. The rhythm of the modules becomes the rhythm of the craft. I exit into daylight. Outside, children paint in an open workshop while an elder explains the patterns etched on the walls. At the final module, a tile warms my hands. It’s fresh from the fire. And for a moment, it holds not only pigment and glaze—but care, precision, and history. 
