The site is located in Soma/Manisa which is famous for its mining industry. I observed that, there is a shortage of green public spaces in Soma, and designed concepts to serve the city’s needs. The design idea was to create a relation between the complex and the important symbols of the city such as coal and mining helmet.

On the first level, there is a huge green area with soft ground. While going down, there is a yellow ground and then, a black ground with hardcourt. There is 4 meters difference between level one and level three. The whole experience symbolizes going down to the mines.

Concept of‘Life Lines’ is also seen on the project as a sign of respect. Life lines are placed in the mines for miners to use for reaching to the ground in case of emergency. It is signified on the main axis which ends at the main tree of the complex.

Students were asked to develop some sections to have an understanding of volumes. After deciding on the section, we started working on the plans and modellings. Here are my five initial sections along with the final works.

The main goal of this project was to preserve and recreate the life line concept that miners use, with a passage that connects different levels. Miners follow those ropes and climb up to the breathing area and clean air, in case of danger. In the project, by using this path, one can climb up three meters and reach to foyer which has a gate to exit. Foyer also contains a tree that is a very important for the complex. Because it represents clean air, while the passage representing life lines.

Program of the building is Social and Cultural Center. It has designed to serve the needs of citizens of Soma. It is designed as a nine-story structure which has a unique floor plan in each story.

It is a center that is located in the middle of an ongoing building. That’s why two sides of it shares boundries with another structure. Getting the natural light was one of the priorities for this project.

Color palette is very important for the project. Lower facade on south part has darker tones, in memory of the 301 miners who passed away in 2014. However, after passing the passage, white and lighter colors stand out, especially on the foyer area. In addition, upper levels, where workshops are located, have various colors in order to improve creativity, and to boost imagination.

The form was designed in order to get the sunlight more efficiently and to create a natural air circulation. Curved mass -which has cinema and auditorium- is located on the core to have more space. Also, it creates a contrast with rest of the building. There is a hierarchy while going top.