Karatay University is an important initiative that was established under the leadership of Konya Chamber of Commerce and symbolizes the potential of the city. This symbolism is directly related to the educational quality, sphere of influence, production and institutional identity of the university. One of the most important parts of this identity is the places owned by the institution and their quality. With this awareness, Konya Karatay University wanted to acquire campus buildings consisting of faculties, administrative buildings and complementary buildings with a competition attended by different designer architects. In this context, the projects of Ser Architecture, which won the first prize in the competition held in 2007, were deemed worthy of implementation. This competition and the first place won actually marked the beginning of a dynamic design process that was staged on a higher scale but did not have a definite program, that would be shaped according to the requirements of the age and spread over a long period of time. In this process, different buildings were included in the design program, but the foundations of the first block were laid in 2008 and completed in 2009.
The basic approach of the prepared projects is the priority consideration of Symbolism and Representation. It is aimed to present a design language that will highlight the values of the institution, support its vision with architectural products, and increase the sense of ownership in a wide profile from the management staff to the newly registered student.
It can be said that the main fiction of the design is under the influence of the historical meaning originating from the name of the institution. A simple, qualified design that reflects the needs of the period, reflects the function inside to the outside, considers the integration of interior and exterior space has been revealed. With the historical madrasa named after him, historical contexts were also established with a design setup. In this context, the most effective architectural element is the "courtyard". In the main idea of the project, landscaping was enriched and "green courtyard"; was created and the main fiction of the design developed around this idea.
The designed university area is located on a region that is expected to carry central functions. However, it has not completed its construction yet and the presence of unqualified housing developments in its immediate vicinity necessitated an introverted design approach.
The following design principles in the madrasas, which we can call the past equivalent of today's modern universities, convey the architectural philosophy of the Seljuk and Ottoman Madrasahs and shed light on our day;
The project, which was handled with the spirit created by this architectural philosophy, was designed to meet all these criteria. At the same time, in today's information age, contemporary universities need to offer a comprehensive cultural and social environment, as well as emphasizing a pluralistic and participatory structure. Modern University designs should be handled with a more horizontal and environmentalist approach, and they should foresee inward-looking rehabilitative outdoor spaces with bright and transparent interiors. It should express itself within the unity of architectural style of different functions within the university, but with a pluralistic understanding by differentiation.
Qualified squares, where various recreational areas can be organized and social shows, have been included in the design as a requirement of socialization. In the project, the green inner courtyard, designed as an area that gives life to the university, brings its dynamism and vitality, differing from the first design, the green areas were canceled and during the application, these areas express themselves with a character that differs in architectural style, but in the unity of architectural style. The whole university has been staged with a hierarchical division and has been designed to reach integrity at the end of a planned time period.
The general entrance of the university was considered in this direction, assuming that the road in the north direction would provide the connection with the city center best. All pedestrian and vehicle entrances and security controls are provided from this point. The ring-road line circling around the land connects all the structures. Open car parks are connected in this way. In this way, the inner green courtyard surrounded by buildings is protected from vehicle traffic and is completely separated from the pedestrian area.
The green inner courtyard is envisaged as an area that gives life to the university, giving it its dynamism and vitality. It creates a qualified outdoor space with both its proportions and its connections and elements. In the entrance section of the university, there is the rectorate structure, which can be defined as the head of the university. The conference hall, library and dining hall, which are articulated to the head section, together with the rectorate building, form an administrative inner courtyard.
Meeting the needs of different users necessitates a flexible design approach. Over time, some functions have changed according to user needs. The building, which was designed as the rectorate building in the first concept stage, was revised as a law faculty in line with the university's needs. For the same reasons, the conference hall building was reconfigured as a central classroom.
The faculty buildings located on both sides of the land and extending in a linear way also isolate the "green alle" from the outside world. The understanding of form of the faculty buildings is built on a design axis where continuity and unity are dominant, but each faculty can express themselves strongly. Simple and serene facades were obtained from the tension of opposite concepts in facade design. Wide solid surfaces and glass facades, horizontal elements and vertical elements are designed in balance. Large galleries and transparent glass surfaces have designed the classrooms to integrate with the green inner courtyard. Gallery spaces have expressed themselves in the form of large glass surfaces on the facades. Horizontal effect on transparent surfaces is supported with sun shaders applied for solar control.
Qualified squares where various recreational areas can be organized and social demonstrations are envisaged.
The university campus, designed on a land of 90,265 m², has a total construction area of 85,000 m². It is predicted that the total number of students at the university will vary between 5000 and 7000 people. According to the 2005 YÖK data (2005 YÖK data, 2005;129), the average indoor area per student is 10.5 m² for Turkey, while a minimum of 15 m² is foreseen in the European Union standards. The closed area applied for the university, on the other hand, exceeded European standards with 18 m² per person. 2.8 m² social area and 7 m² green area per person.
In the evaluations made, Konya Karatay University Settlement building complex, design language, design approach, integrating historical ties with modernity, use of materials, and qualified spaces have made a significant contribution to the Konya architectural environment.
The project also offers a comprehensive cultural and social environment, emphasizing a pluralistic and participatory structure in today's information age. Different functions within the university express themselves within the unity of architectural style, but with a character whose architectural character differs according to the difference of the function. The whole university has been staged with a hierarchical division and has been designed to reach integrity at the end of a planned time period.
In the evaluations made, Konya Karatay University Settlement building complex, design language, design approach, integrating historical ties with modernity, use of materials, and qualified spaces make a significant contribution to the Konya architectural environment.
FACULTIES
All faculty buildings are planned as introverted and closed to the outside as a spatial setup. The large transparent gallery in the center of the building; increased students' orientation and connection to the green courtyard in the middle. Panoramic elevators were used to further strengthen this orientation, so that students were able to reach their classrooms by watching the green courtyard. At the same time, the inner gardens in front of each section increased the unity of the green with the green courtyard by drawing it into the interior of the building. It was thought that the inner gardens could be closed in winter and used as a winter garden. It can be used as resting and recess areas during short breaks, as well as various club activities and exhibition space. In addition, these spaces are foreseen as potential areas that can be used in the future.
The faculties were designed with a horizontal architectural approach and designed as three floors. Classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories were thought of in the center of the faculty, and the lecturers and department heads were resolved in the side branches. The dean's office, which is the upper administrative unit, is also considered in a representative part of the fourth floor. Stone veneer, composite materials, glass and panel surfaces were used in harmony with the building form. Considering that new faculties and departments will be opened in the coming years, the necessity of handling the education blocks plan scheme with a very flexible design approach emerges. Classrooms are designed to be flexible enough to shrink and grow.
DINING HALL
The cafeteria and social facility have been emptied to increase visual unity between the conference hall and the library. At the same time, a multi-purpose semi-open terrace space was obtained. Social facility and cafeteria structure has been placed at the location with the best view of the green courtyard. On the ground floor, there are shops, cafeterias, indoor playgrounds, multi-purpose event space. There is a student cafeteria and dining hall on the 1st floor, and a dining hall for the lecturers, administrative staff and protocol on the 2nd floor.
CENTRAL CLASSROOM
The building, which was designed as a conference hall in the first concept stage, was revised as a central classroom building in line with the university's needs. The building, which is planned as 4 floors, has a cafeteria and lecture halls on the ground floor, and classrooms on the upper floors. In order to spread the education to all places, the corridors were kept wide, and they were transformed into halls that receive sunlight with skylights. Thus, flexibility and transparency are provided in the interior.
