CATENA URBIS / ŞEBNEM BAHÇECİ

The municipal building project is shaped by the reading of the layered social structure of the city and the interactions between its diverse user groups. The city is defined by three primary social circles: local residents, university students, and daily commuters. These groups play a critical role in sustaining the city’s economic, cultural, and social vitality. The project positions itself as an architectural mediator that brings these groups together within a transparent and accessible civic framework.

The concept of “Chain” (Catena Urbis) forms the backbone of the design approach. This concept interprets the city as a sequence of interconnected urban layers and translates this continuity into architectural form. The municipal building is composed of six distinct yet interconnected units, linked together like a chain, allowing both functional continuity and spatial permeability. This chained organization strengthens the relationship between different municipal functions while enabling flexible use and clear circulation.

Public, semi-public, and administrative functions are carefully layered to blur the rigid boundaries of formal governance. Cultural units, municipal departments, and public service spaces are arranged to encourage interaction, visibility, and inclusivity. A shared intersection unit serves as the core where municipal staff and the public come together, reinforcing civic engagement and social transparency.

The building integrates a unit housing the conference hall, public assembly hall, and indoor sports hall, emphasizing collective use and community participation. A continuous, dynamic steel roof unifies the fragmented programmatic units under a single architectural gesture, reinforcing the idea of continuity and movement across the site.

By separating public spaces from conventional bureaucratic formality and redefining the municipal building as an open civic platform, the project proposes a contemporary interpretation of governance one that is accessible, interconnected, and deeply embedded in the daily life of the city.