The concept for the BIO Campus—a huge site just outside Istanbul that is becoming one of the world’s leading scientific research centers—had a holistic approach from the very start.
The Austrian architects, AllesWirdGut, who recently received the “European Green Building Award 2012″, worked together with the German climate engineering experts Transsolar and the Dutch-born urban planning avant-gardist Ton Matton to develop an outstanding architectural and environmental project.
The main idea is to create a self-sufficient and self-supporting accumulation of living spaces for work, scientific research, everyday life and recreational activities.
The Perfect Shape
The hill-like undulating buildings are ideally shaped to use natural energiessuch as sunlight and wind for cooling and lighting. Additionally, various other methods are employed to reduce the need for artificial air conditioning, such as vegetation, light-reflecting surface colors and a larger-than-usual number of water elements.
Climatic Comfort
Enjoying nature as a workspace despite the heat of Istanbul summers is possible only if the human body is allowed to adjust to the extreme climate conditions. Employees will be able to wander smoothly from zone to zone and to adapt to slowly changing temperatures.
The versatile range of working environments, from private to informal to public, also reflects the shift in working habits that we see today. Exceptional climatic comfort all over the premises promotes social interaction as well as indoor and outdoor activities.
Walkable Urbanism
Humans are social creatures and thrive in urban spaces that facilitate social relations. Because of this, a shift to more densified urban living advances social interaction and conditions under which humans can prosper.
On the BIO Campus, distances will be short and, wherever possible, walkable. Sustainable public transportation will be easily available for everyone. Walkable urbanism is a developmental counter-strategy to suburban sprawl.
It advocates housing for a diverse population, a full mix of uses, walkable streets, positive public space, integrated civic and commercial centers, transit orientation and accessible open space.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Architects: AllesWirdGut
Project Team: Christian Zotz, Ondrej Stehlik, Jakub Klima, David Kovarik
GBA: 44.000 m2
Competition: 2012