LAYERED BELONGING / MELİKE AYDIN

The Sivas Municipality Building project aims to transform the municipality from a purely administrative structure into a public focal point that integrates into the city’s daily life and directly engages with the public. The project’s starting point is Sivas’s strong bazaar culture and the sense of belonging it generates. As in the traditional bazaar fabric, two main pedestrian axes are defined within the building: one representing rapid passage, and the other allowing for slower pace and socialization. These axes intersect within the building, transforming the municipality building from a closed block into an urban passageway and meeting place.

The ground floor is entirely dedicated to public use. The information desk, exhibition hall, multi-purpose hall, public service units, and library, freely accessible to the public, are located on this floor, transforming the municipality into a vibrant space at all hours. The upper floors house the mayor’s office, directorates, and administrative offices in a more controlled, semi-public layer. The open-air amphitheater brings public life outdoors for ceremonies, concerts, and city events.

The building’s form is inspired by courtyard usage from madrasahs. Interconnected courtyards ensure spatial continuity, allowing users to navigate without getting lost and experience a sense of belonging to the city at every point. These courtyards are supported by a roof system, transforming them into semi-open spaces that can be actively used at different times of the year.

In conclusion, the project redefines the municipality not merely as an administrative center, but as a contemporary urban space integrated into the daily lives of the people of Sivas, with its inclusive, permeable, and human-scale design.