Istanbul-based architecture practices Yerce Architecture and ZAAS have completed the headquarter building for Empera, one of the biggest companies that manufactures machine-woven carpets in the southeast of Turkey has been designed in the organized industrial zone (oiz*) in Gaziantep where the company also has its manufacturing factory.

Named Empera Headquarters, the 2,500-square-metre building is located in a natural setting in Gaziantep, the building was planned to become a reference building in a setting with rather restricted architectural references and was to represent the strong brand identity. 

Inspired by the red soil found in the region, the architects used brick as the major material as a living, organic material, which creates a strong contrast with its natural environment. Designed as a strong gridal layout, large openings become the spaces itself, creating a balance between floor-to-ceiling glazing and brick material. 

The environmental sources, like the geographical climate, its surrounding natural landscape were effective the use of daylight and multiple functions that this building was to host.

The ground floor, with the entry to the building emphasized via a wide and inviting canopy, accommodates the reception, design and operation units, and the first floor the administrative offices. The second floor hosts the showroom area, and the third floor the common social areas consisting of cafeteria, meeting rooms, lounge and play space. 

With a withdrawn facade on the third floor, a semi open terrace with a panaromic view is created. It was aimed that each designed space in the building would benefit form natural light and the view in the most effective way possible. 

While the separation between different units in the building was actualized in a permeable manner, a sense of inner flow and continuity was achieved through the use of custom made furniture, creating  a spacious inner area.

"Different types of plants in outdoor pots were integrated in the design of the facade. Hence, the building rising up as a reinterpreted expression of the surrounding red soil – moor landscape, was made to stand out against its serene, natural setting," said the architects describing the project.

"The green interface in front of the windows contributed to increasing the feeling of comfort created in the inner space which opened up to a tough geography in a continental climate and also gave the users of the building the opportunity to relate to nature," they added.

The building was designed to become a contemporary architectural interpretation of the references taken from the site it resides in and aims at introducing a novel look to the region.

Project facts

Client: Empera

Location: Gaziantep / Turkey

Design: Yerce Architecture & ZAAS 

Program: Office building design and landscape design 

Year: 2017 - 2018

Size: 2500 m2

Status: Built

Team: Nail Egemen Yerce, Ayça Taylan, Zeynep Şankaynağı, Barış Çağlar, Melike Kavalalı, Gökçe Demiral

Lighting Consultant: Lighting Lab.1 – Faruk Uyan

Construction: Yaşar Yapı

All images © Yerce Art Photography-Emin Emrah Yerce, Ayça Taylan 

> via Yerce Architecture & ZAAS