REBALANCE / ŞEYMANUR ÖZSELUK

The project site in Sivas is located in a position that is relatively detached from the city’s vibrant and dense public structure. As one approaches the city center, the number of green areas, social spaces, and public and administrative buildings increases; however, within this intensity, deliberately designed and controlled open spaces—where users can consciously pause and breathe—are gradually diminishing. In contrast, although the project site has a stronger potential for green texture and spatial openness, public use and social interaction remain limited. This contradiction forms the basis of the design approach and is addressed through the concept of “imbalance.”By re-evaluating this spatial and functional imbalance, the project aims to re-establish equilibrium in public, social, and ecological terms. Accordingly, at the entrance of the site, the building mass is divided into two parts, creating a public pedestrian void at ground level conceived as an “administrative square.” The diagonal positioning of one of the masses strengthens the spatial perception of the square while enhancing orientation and movement legibility. This square functions as a threshold that softens the formality of administrative uses and prepares the user for an open public space before entering the building.The second major focus of the project, the “socio-cultural square,” is shaped by the site’s topographical characteristics. Terraced open spaces formed by level differences allow users to sit, rest, walk, and participate in public activities at varying scales. Rather than serving solely as a circulation zone, this square is conceived as an active urban stage accommodating open-air performances, concerts, and everyday public encounters. The surrounding building program is organized to continuously support and activate this space. A socio-cultural center, a two-story childcare building, and gardens designed specifically for children are positioned along the edges of the square, bringing together diverse age groups and user profiles around a shared public spine. In addition, an auditorium capable of hosting theater performances and indoor concerts is integrated as a key cultural focal point. The primary objective of the project is to move beyond the perception of users as passive visitors who come only to complete municipal procedures. Instead, the project encourages people to choose this area as a place to spend time, reduce daily urban stress, and reconnect with nature. Through social workshops focusing on handicrafts, carpet weaving, foreign languages, technology, and production, interaction is promoted, strengthening social bonds and transforming the project into a balanced public anchor for Sivas in social, cultural, and spatial terms.