Tarsus Waterfall Tourism Center,
Mersin 2022 | Selim Atak, Rahmi Hızarcıoğlu, Talip Doğu Ayan, Yusuf Çetin
We consider Tarsus as one of the standardized built areas throughout Turkey with the widespread adoption of reinforced concrete construction techniques. The design approach we took for Tarsus does not seek to romanticize the city's historical aesthetics. Instead, it embraces a realistic perspective that acknowledges the impact of erroneous decisions made in modern times and the repetitive practices adopted by the city's residents. These factors have contributed to the formation of a language that shapes the city's identity and is difficult to alter. Rather than resisting the passage of time, the proposal questions the potential for development within the existing context. In line with this perspective, the proposal draws inspiration from recently developed residential areas that have experienced significant growth and are now home to the majority of the city's population, rather than solely relying on the rich historical center.
Upon analyzing the urban plan of Tarsus, the city stands out for its assembly of small, uniform segments that, when brought together, create an overall irregular entity. These fragments consist of parallel and perpendicular streets, giving a semblance of regularity. Delving deeper into the different fragments of the city, it becomes evident that Tarsus's present-day identity is shaped by a mixture of buildings that are remarkably similar to confuse individuals about their exact location within the city. The design approach aims to explain the structural and urban elements that contribute to Tarsus's identity. By analyzing the filled and vacant spaces in various parts of the city center, it becomes apparent that there is a multi-layered fabric on the street plane, deviating from the linear streets planned on paper. The pattern created by the presence of garden houses and undeveloped plots extends from the city center to the edge of the built-up areas. This observation leads to the understanding that the continuity defined by personal gardens and undeveloped spaces is integral to the identity of present-day Tarsus.
The proposal approaches the project area as one of the unplanned vacant spaces within the city, envisioning it as an opportunity for imaginative use. The initial step involves creating a large public space at the center of the project area, delineated by two masses and the Berdan River. The design approach takes on an architectural perspective, with service units acting as seperative walls that shape the public spaces. These volumes created by the service units define spaces that cater to various scales and functions, conceived with the aim of accommodating different public areas.
Regarding the settlement, the program's functions are divided into two groups. In the eastern volume of the project area, a multipurpose hall, administrative units, and shops are designed. The volume is in a T-shape configuration to visually separate it from the surrounding roads and the planned open parking area. Along Mimar Sinan Boulevard, a cluster of blocks is designed, accommodating shops, administrative units, and the primary entrance to the multipurpose hall. The central volume, with its multipurpose hall at the core, acts as a divider in the layout. Additionally, it provides public spaces of varying scales.
The platform designed inside the "void" area takes on the role of the stage when events are not taking place. The stage becomes a space for accommodating spectators, while the platform acts as the ground where daily activities unfold.