MORPHIA: THE LIVING URBAN / FURKAN YAZICI

This project proposes a new Urban Hub for Sivas that complements the existing municipal building rather than replacing it. Positioned between historical layers, natural landscapes and contemporary infrastructure, the design acts as a connective civic ground that links people, collective memory and governance. The Urban Hub responds to changing social dynamics, ecological boundaries and the increasing need for participatory civic life by transforming administrative functions into an open and accessible urban landscape.

At the core of the project lies Morphia, a transformable spatial system designed as the most dynamic component of the Urban Hub. Inspired by the nature of a river that remains alive while flowing and transforms when it slows down, Morphia introduces change as a fundamental architectural condition. It is formed by modular volumes with steel structural systems, imagined as cubic units placed side by side. The spaces between and within these units are defined by movable partitions, allowing continuous spatial reconfiguration.

Morphia is not assigned a single fixed function. At different moments it can operate as an exhibition space, a concert venue, a public forum or a collective gathering area. This flexibility allows the space to adapt to cultural events, civic discussions and social activities without losing its architectural identity. Rather than relying on permanence, Morphia is shaped by adaptability and temporal use.

The concept of the river functions both as a metaphor and a design strategy. Movement generates life, interaction and social flow, while moments of stillness create opportunities for reflection and transformation. In this way the Urban Hub becomes a living system that evolves with the city rather than remaining static.

Through Morphia, the project envisions an Urban Hub that is not only a service area but also a place of belonging, dialogue and shared urban experience. It offers Sivas a civic space that responds to time, use and participation while continuously reshaping itself through change.