URBAN STITCH

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The project reinterprets the city square as a layered public transportation hub where movement, waiting, encounter, and urban memory come together. Located within the historical center of Kayseri, the design responds to the strong urban presence of the existing mosque, bazaar structure, pedestrian flows, and tram line. Instead of treating the tram stop only as an infrastructural element, the proposal transforms it into an elevated public threshold that connects different levels of the city and creates a new civic experience. 

The main design gesture is a continuous red steel path that rises from the ground, moves around the circular central void, and extends toward the tram station. This path works both as circulation and as an architectural identity. It guides pedestrians, frames views, and creates a recognizable urban ribbon within the dense city fabric. At approximately four meters above ground level, the red structure becomes an upper cover and elevated walkway while the tram passes underneath. In this way, the station is not hidden or separated from public life; it becomes part of the spatial performance of the square. 

The circular form at the center strengthens the idea of gathering and orientation. It produces visual continuity between interior and exterior spaces while allowing light, movement, and people to be perceived across levels. Around this central void, the building accommodates public functions such as waiting areas, commercial units, exhibition spaces, workshops, and circulation zones. These programs support Kayseri’s commercial and productive identity by combining transportation with learning, production, display, and exchange. 

Materiality is used to clarify the architectural language. Precast exposed concrete panels define the main building volume with a calm and solid character. Red steel elements emphasize movement, structural expression, and the dynamic identity of the transportation hub. Glass surfaces create transparency, allowing the activities inside the building and the movement of people to be visible from the square. This combination of concrete, steel, and glass creates a balance between permanence and motion. 

The project aims to turn a transit space into a meaningful urban place. By integrating the tram stop, elevated pedestrian paths, public programs, and the surrounding urban context, the design creates a hub that connects the city physically, visually, and socially. It offers a new public layer for Kayseri, where infrastructure becomes architecture and movement becomes a shared civic experience. 

Keywords: public hub · tram station · elevated path · precast exposed concrete · red steel · urban connection