World Architecture Awards 10+5+X Submissions

“If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it.” - Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Taxila has been renowned for its cultural diversity, and co-existence of multiple traditions but especially for its skilled labor. It has been a central hub of arts and philosophical intellect and marked history with its unique stonework and handicrafts that are now on the verge of extinction. This is due to a lack of preservation and revival of these crafts. Cultural heritage is central to “protecting” our sense of who we are. These cultures and traditions to a huge part are demonstrated through craftsmanship where handicrafts serve not only as a tourist attraction and as an economic advance, but they also preserve a place’s local heritage within them. As time passed by, there has been a minimal attraction towards Taxila’s handicrafts, and the traditional practices are less transmitted from generation to generation, mainly due to a lack of variation and poor quality of products. The number of craftsmen pursuing this work is decreasing, putting the conservation of local patrimony into difficulty, eventually resulting in the extinction of these skills, poverty, and decreased job opportunities for the people of Taxila. To analyse the severity of the problem identified, a qualitative approach was adopted focusing on interviews and surveys from craftsmen. The findings highlighted issues such as no formal display areas to showcase work produced, lack of interactive spaces generating a dialogue between artisans and the locals, and absence of training facilities to revive the interest of youth towards these precious crafts. This thesis aims to solve the above-mentioned problems by proposing a social hub in Taxila. It explores how procession in architecture could be used as a medium to encourage both economic and cultural revitalization in a community.


This project aims to promote social empowerment and sustainable means of earning through local heritage, both tangible and intangible. Therefore, the proposed social hub tends to bring the community together by building on their goals and visions, using design principles such as movement, integrating spaces, connectivity, etc. It features interactive spaces where the craftsmen can congregate to develop skills, as well as exchange knowledge. Creating nodes where members of the community can gather and feel connected to each other while cultivating local crafts, will create a sense of empowerment in the artisans to go out into the community and stimulate positive economic and social change. Lying in close vicinity to the Heritage Museum and a UNESCO site it was necessary to develop a relationship of the building with its immediate context and the locals. To achieve this, the building was cladded with locally available materials i.e., taxila stone and grey taxila marble with a frame structure and isolated footing. In terms of landscaping, locally available trees such as Maple, Sheeshum, Sukh Chain, and Jacaranda were used. All these elements combined to create a sense of familiarity amongst people both through architecture and landscaping.

Final Year Bachelors Thesis - 2023
Student Name: Zainab Farooq
Supervisor Name: Mian Muhammad Naseer

A socially open development must respond to the challenges and needs of the 7 de Agosto neighborhood, the project takes the women and youth of the neighborhood as a focus group, complementing educational and health spaces through the configuration of hexagonal repetitions with a program full use. For this reason, special attention is paid to users who potentially interact in the social and spatial configuration of the city, especially young people, mothers, elderly women, sex workers and children. Through this model of construction of spaces central social networks and the commitment to a better structuring of the neighborhood with the urban complex, the key result is the development of strategies in favor of a compact and integrated city model, which offers education, labor inclusion, health, and art services.

Therefore, to meet the objective of working in favor of a modular and repetitive architectural model in any part of the city, one of the ways in which nature is organized and one of the best ways to group spaces: the hexagon; greater combination of space and adaptability. Adaptability that is achieved through modular architecture, where design and construction come together to search for a system where each module has a specific function and can be developed, tested and independently, allowing for greater flexibility and modularity in the system.

On the one hand, modulation makes it easier and faster to make changes to a system, since modules can be individually modified or replaced without affect others. This facilitates adaptation to new requirements and repetition of the same system in different sectors of the city such as Bogotá.

In turn, it is possible to identify components or common functionalities that can be reused in different contexts of the city. This can save development time and effort since you don't need to create every component from scratch for every project. In addition, the capacity or functionality of the system can be adjusted more easily. This is especially useful in systems that expect changes over time or unexpected milestones that force the architecture to renew itself, such as the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Finally, MODULUS 7 allows multiple teams to work in parallel in different spaces, which speeds up the development and well-being of the community. Where each group of users can focus on their area of responsibility without interfering with the others.

In general, the various benefits that the project manages to obtain architecturally for the community, such as flexibility and scalability, were verified. However, it also requires careful planning and design of the interfaces between modules, as well as effective management of dependencies and communication between them.

The project makes use of porticos to provoke circulation and a space for semi-open activities. In turn, for the design of the envelope, use is made of precast concrete in GRC to generate a sustainable project with the world and the environment. The modules when linked with others are offset from each other to generate patios that define a small landscape at different heights seeking natural light and air currents.
Design: Gabriel Niño Guzmán
Tutors: Marc Jané & Camilo Villate

HERITAGE
Heritage is a concept that is often talked about regarding the necessity of its preservation and that it is importance. Scientists who study heritage, and one of them, David Harvey, reveals how important and powerful the concept of heritage is at its core by not considering heritage so simply.
Heritage is a word that comes first to mind about society or people, individual is mostly kept in the background. However, heritage comes out of the person and turns into that concerns societies. All the thoughts, ideas, and actions of each person are the things that create heritage. People keep their heritage alive with them in their lives. Keeping heritage alive lies in people's thoughts. Therefore, individual heritage is important in terms of heritage.
In the past and now, the influence of people has been seen all over Izmir. People have influenced Izmir with their ideas -their heritage- in the problems of Izmir. This influence of people is easily visible in history and now in the following events: People opposed the construction of the highway, so there is now a Kordon, which is one of the most important places in Izmir. Inciraltı Kent Forest which is very valuable wanted to be cut down, but it continues to exist because people are against it. When the statue of Atatürk in Karsiyaka is requested to be changed, the artist emphasized the importance of people having a say by saying that it should be asked of the people of Izmir and not of him. There are still many reactions to the demolition of the Izmir City Hall.
INFORMATION ABOUT SITE
Izmir is one of the first cities that comes to mind when the ability to express ideas freely and freedom of thought is considered. It is the greatest value for Izmir. Along with the continuation of the heritage of individuals, the heritage of Izmir has continued. Although there are places where this heritage continues all over Izmir, Alsancak, and Konak are among the most vocal places of this heritage, as in the historical process and now.
Kulturpark, located between Alsancak and Konak, was established to connect the state with other states at the time and has been continuing as an area representing the libertarian mindset and independence of the people of Izmir along with the historical process. It attracts attention with its wide greenery in the middle of concrete buildings and is an area that can make its voice heard all over Izmir. Kulturpark is almost a gateway to all parts of Izmir. Kulturpark, which has been able to become a symbol of freedom of thought, has a good potential to host a place where people in Izmir can share their voices and thoughts and talk about problems.
NOTION FORUM
When all of these are considered, Notion Forum is aimed to be a place where people can have a say on Izmir's problems, announce their words, share, discuss them with others, record them for the future, and find old thoughts of other people.
BUILDING DESIGN
In order not to disturb the natural and green texture of Kulturpark and to be a structure that comes from Kulturpark's libertarian mindset, a mass that goes underground instead of rising was targeted. In this way, people can understand that they are the heritage.
Elevation differences were created in the mass to place architectural programs and create semi-open, closed areas. In addition, it is aimed to strengthen the thinking space by placing architectural programs between 2 main platforms where ideas are shared.
The main 2 platforms that enable the sharing of thoughts, which are the main idea of the building, were created thanks to the amps. The purpose of the amps is to both offer people more sharing space and to create vertical circulation inside and outside the building.
By not making the amps completely solid ground, it was ensured that the soil and green outside the area continued to flow into the building thanks to the amps, and this building was transformed into a structure that came out of Kulturpark and showed that it belongs to Kulturpark.
It is aimed to create a space that invites people and where they can share by spreading the amps all over the area.

The thought areas -architectural programs- were placed between the 2 main platforms by taking power from the soil of Kulturpark, which houses the freedom of thought, while circulation between them is provided by the amps that flow the environment into the building.
Area: 5640 square meters
Location: Izmir/Turkey
Designer: Berk Kandemir
Instructors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Yılmaz, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ülkü İnceköse

The architectural project is based on the rehabilitation of a historic monastery belonging to the Mekhitarist Order, which is currently largely unused. The proposed intervention seeks to revitalize the building and preserve its identity, while giving it new uses that allow its conservation and permanence over time.

The facade of the monastery, with its characteristic elements of two slender facades with inclined roofs and a longitudinal wall that joins them, becomes the starting point for the idea of the proposal. It was decided to open the facades to the adjacent park, eliminating the brick factory wall that obstructed the visual connection between the monastery and its surroundings. In this way, a two-way visual relationship is created, in which the monastery is better integrated with the park and vice versa.

The piece attached to the facade of the monastery, which acts as a transitional element, becomes a key protagonist of the project. This new piece physically connects the monastery with the park, at different heights, through inclined planes that facilitate accessibility and the route between the different floors of the building. The design of this piece is designed to immerse the user in a sensitive and symbolic journey, which represents the historical evolution of the order from its dark beginnings to the luminosity of the present.

In the upper floors of the wing to intervene are proposed offices and a coworking, designed to encourage community work and interaction between users. These spaces visually connect with the rest of the monastery and differ from the museum routes, although in some points they are intertwined and shown. To organize and clarify the routes of the different uses, two receptions are established, one for the visitors of the museum and another for the users of the offices and coworking, allowing the entire wing of the monastery to function as a coherent and well organized whole.

The objectives and key points guiding the design of the proposal are:

Conservation of the form:
The design is based on the preservation and enhancement of the existing form of the monastery. It preserves and enhances the iconic image of the two slender facades with sloping roofs and the longitudinal wall that joins them. By opening the facades to the adjacent park, the visual obstacle that prevented their connection is eliminated, allowing a wider and complete appreciation of the monastery. In this way, the essence and architectural identity of the building is preserved.

Accessibility:
An ingenious solution is proposed to resolve the difference between the courtyard of the monastery and the park, guaranteeing a fluid accessibility. The new piece attached to the monastery acts as a transitional element that connects ascending and descending by means of inclined planes. These inclined planes facilitate the journey between the different floors, allowing visitors and users to travel comfortably and accessible, without architectural barriers. In addition, accessibility is considered not only in terms of stairs and elevators, but also in the clarity and ordering of the routes, ensuring a pleasant experience for all.

Visual connection:
The project seeks to establish a visual connection between the monastery and its surroundings, in particular with the park and the adjoining buildings. The opening of the facades towards the park creates a bi-directional relationship, allowing the gaze to be directed both from the park towards the monastery and from the monastery towards the park. This visual connection improves the integration of the monastery with its surroundings, generating a harmonious dialogue between the different structures and spaces. It also encourages the visual connection between the different uses and areas within the monastery, creating a sense of continuity and cohesion in the experience of visitors and users.

The proposal is based on the idea of planning a larger area than the one it deals with, recognizing that the positive experience of a building begins before entering it. With this in mind, the relationship between the different elements of the environment has been considered and a line has been created that leads to the new Mekhitarista Monastery. This line is historically justified by using the old entrance that existed when there was a ''wall', which provides a symbolic and physical connection between past and present.

The project seeks to recover the historical trace of the palace with a semicircle, emphasizing the main road of the apple that connects with the Auesperg Palace. In addition, spaces without specific uses have been created and guidelines have been set to generate greater fluidity and cohesion in urban design.

To preserve privacy and enhance environmental quality, a screen of cypress trees relocated from the monastery has been created, which hides the hotel and enhances the space between the palace and the monastery. The water fountain of the Trautson Palace as a focal point, recalls the historical image as an aesthetic and sensory element of the environment.

The project moves away from the traditional approach to productivity in cities and focuses on creating a more pleasant space for the inhabitants. It seeks to generate warmth and dense presence of recognizable public spaces, such as squares and heritage architectures, that function as milestones and contribute to the identity of the community. These artistic and compositional elements help to build a coherent mental image of the city and facilitate the orientation of the inhabitants in it.

The importance of patterns in the appreciation and understanding of architecture is recognized, so the project seeks to create an environment where inhabitants can perceive and recognize the existing patterns in the built environment. Through experiences and experiences in architectural spaces, we seek to define buildings as memorable and significant elements for people.

Finally, inspired by the defense of free and open play, the project allows play areas and open spaces that will promote social interaction and fun, giving residents the opportunity to enjoy and actively participate in the environment.

Plot area: 2,22 ha
Total Built Area: 2.054 m2
Design: Mercedes González Taboada
Tutor: Juan Ignacio Prieto López & José Antonio Vázquez Rodríguez

Global warming, rapidly increasing population and recent natural disasters have become problems that cannot be ignored in terms of architecture and urban design. With the rapid increase in population, the energy demand of our cities has also increased, which has led to situations where energy needs cannot be met from time to time. One of these critical moments occurs in the aftermath of recent natural disasters. In this process, energy, food, and shelter become basic needs. However, our cities are densely populated and cannot easily meet these energy needs. This situation worsens the situation by causing many people to lose their lives and spreading diseases.
The main objective of this project is to understand the impact of disasters such as the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake in Turkey on our lives and to design resilient cities against such events. Disasters have occurred since humanity has existed. Although it is not possible to predict when the next natural disaster will occur, we need to recognize that we are always at risk. This awareness helps us to appreciate the time available and take precautions against a possible disaster. Pre-disaster risk analysis and technological developments are needed to create resilient cities.
The "Power Core " aims to bring together and develop the experience and technology needed before a disaster. At the same time, it aims to respond to basic needs such as energy, shelter, and food in case of disasters. to promote a sense of common life among people, but also to improve interaction, technological developments, sharing and transfers between city dwellers and ultimately to create socially resilient communities. It teaches the concept of being part of an ecosystem and promises a life of togetherness. It questions the state of being earthquake resilient and builds a self-sufficient system first; then it produces shareable capsules to respond to the needs that may be required during and after the disaster.
The self-sufficient ecosystem meets its energy needs with solar and wind energy, whose inputs and outputs are equal to each other, and aims to build a life by putting it into different forms. In addition, it connects the water and waste cycles, and the ecosystem begins to build itself by reusing waste, separating sewage, and making it available for agriculture. With the excess energy produced, the wastes generated and collected from the environment are reprocessed to produce the space.
The self-sufficient ecosystem has a logic and process when making settlement decisions in accordance with the potentials of the area. This ecosystem, which is expected to be completed in about 20-25 years, will be self-sufficient when the process is completed, have shareable capsules and deliver these capsules to the necessary places in the event of a disaster by train or truck in the necessary combinations.
Capsules are the core part of this system. The area where the shareable capsules are produced is also the Production Warehouse where every part of this settlement is produced. This Warehouse produces parts with different uses such as structures, facades, raw materials, etc. from recycled materials collected from the environment. These capsules allow to consider the existence and resilience of the ecosystem. If the water in the water tankers is running low, the people who live there can notice it and raise awareness. Along with portable capsules, there are also non-portable capsules of different sizes and functions to protect the ecosystem at a basic level.
Power Core Zone
The Power Core fulfills the brain function of this compound. Resembling a neural network, it has an energy system in the form of a cylinder that houses the mechanisms of electrical energy distribution and voltage boosting. Each time a new power core is installed, this area will become a priority for construction. Over time, this area will be integrated with AI, reducing human intervention and providing benefits in efficiency and control. This settlement also has its own dedicated spaces for AI. In this way, the self-shaping ecosystem will use the power core to support its development.
Basmane
Power Core 1.1 will be implemented in the Izmir Basmane area as the first part of this system. The Basmane area is an important location for the history of Izmir, with the Izmir train station located right next to the site, which is an important stop for both metro and intercity trains. The dense settlement typology and human density around the site indicates the need for urban space. Considering the primary school area to the south of the site, pedestrian bridges and the part of the site facing the train station should be an urban park as well as a transit zone, as important paths for pedestrians pass through the site and people leaving the train station need to walk a longer distance to get to the site. The Meles Stream within the site is a flood stream. Improving this flood stream and revitalizing the natural ecosystem will contribute to the social ecosystem. At the same time, treating and reusing the excess water during flooding and recycling the separated waste into energy and raw materials will support a self-sufficient ecosystem.
Urban Interaction
While energy is essential for human existence and tools, communication is vital for the existence of society. A self-sustaining ecosystem intersects with urban spaces by facilitating communication and transfer. The ground is divided into two categories: hard and soft surfaces. Green spaces provide the necessary biological balance, while urban spaces allow people to create semi-open and closed spaces, facilitating interaction between city dwellers. Volumetrically, the space in the center has a predominantly hard-surface structure on the ground. This space provides a space for people to interact and communicate with the surrounding cultures through the power core. This space serves as an interactive platform where individuals can share their experiences, stories, and knowledge.
Production Warehouse
The Production Warehouse is equipped with a system capable of producing a variety of products tailored to the needs of the settlement. This system takes raw materials from recycling, transforms them into specific forms and then processes them to produce capsules and structural components. In this way, the settlement can continuously improve itself without depending on external resources. Extensions to this facility, such as the productivity lab and the raw materials workshop, support productions, aiming to increase efficiency and support resilience. In this way, individuals can create better products through feedback mechanisms and ensure long-term use.
Living Units
Living units are lightweight structures that can be easily transported and made from recycled materials when necessary. It is important to be able to disassemble and assemble them and to do so in a short time in order to respond to a disaster. For this reason, every piece produced has to be transported by truck or train, so they are made in certain dimensions. Likewise, since the capsules are designed according to these dimensions, the materials used in the capsules can also be used in these living units. Made of wood and light metals, these units are interchangeable and can serve different numbers of users..
Structure
The basic structure of the settlement is made of recycled steel. The distances and dimensions between the axes of the building were considered considering the dimensions of the capsules. The expansion or shrinkage of the building over time made the use of a steel structure mandatory. Moving capsules need structural support from time to time and these detached structures are moved to create new layouts.
Steel structures, with both horizontal and vertical capsule carriers, facilitate the transportation of capsules and, at times, raw materials. This allows for rapid transportation operations in disaster scenarios. Open areas are occasionally used as capsule stations, where cranes drop capsules and transfer them to other cranes. Vertical and horizontal capsule carriers also contribute to the structure of the plant. The conveyor systems produced in the production workshop can pass through large openings, which is essential for this ecosystem. Occasionally using truss systems, these spaces connect with the vertical and horizontal conveyors.


The proposed structure aims to create self-sustainable urban ecosystems capable of withstanding natural disasters. It integrates renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, water recycling systems, and waste reuse processes. The design also incorporates portable capsules for emergency response, emphasizing community resilience and interaction. The project envisions the construction of the "Power Core 1.1" in the Basmane area of Izmir as the initial phase, with the ultimate goal of forming self-sufficient, shareable capsules for disaster relief. This innovative approach combines technology, risk analysis, and eco-friendly practices to address the challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and natural disasters.

Location: Izmir/Turkey
Area: 10.000-50.000 m2(The area can change depending on time and conditions)
Construction: 20-25 years (designed process)
Designer: Ebubekir Kaba
Instructor: Ebru Yılmaz, Ülkü İnceköse