Northern Cyprus METU Campus Dormitories

This large complex, will become a real 'student village' having more population than many local villages around. The project's scale ranges from urban design to interior design of ind?vidual rooms. The contruction of the first phase representing 14000m2 is completed. The site is divided into two by a longitudinal axis (inner road) parallel to the slope: 'Upper Part' and 'Lower Part'. Multistorey dormitory blocks that accomodate majority of population are situated on Upper Part which is also closer to campus's main facilities. Lower part looks like rather a' mediterranean village' with its small housing units with gardens. Shady pedestrian paths on northern side of houses function as 'corridors' in dorm blocks. Their gentle slope is convenient for biking and walking.

Common facilities such as cafeteria, library, study, laundry, etc. are located on 'garden floor' of dorm blocks; which favorises outdoor use (of gardens). At 'Lower Part', they are located along the 'inner road'. They function as 'urban service nodes', structural elements of spatial structure. At architectural level, spatial configuration of dormitory blocks themselves is based on 'urban structural principles': corridors are like 'streets', entrance hall for every 4 living units are like 'district squares', main circulation module (lift and main stairs) is like Main Plaza, everybody's Meeting Place... ('bunch of grapes structure') Dormitory rooms ('living units' for 3 students) are designed like 3 bedroom apartments; each one having a 'living room', an open kitchen, a bathroom and 3 separate 'individual cells'. The Living Room has large sliding windows, that tranforms inter?or space into a 'covered balcony'. This feature maximizes natural lightening and ventilation. Thick stone walls on façades protect them from direct sun rays and semicourts behind walls provide shadow.

Natural materials such as wood and stone are used to emphasis 'housing character and warmth' of dormitory blocks. Wood and stone have been used 'outside' (façades) as well as 'inside' (rooms) the building. The spatial layout of blocks favorises flow between indoor and outdoor. 'Flexibility', 'adaptability' and 'evolutive character' constitute main design criteria at every scale of design work: urban design, architecture of buildings, landscaping, use of outdoor space, interiors of 'living units' and 'personal cells'.