Linear Stratification / In Search For 'The World We Live In': Earth Science Institute Zonguldak

The aim of the project is to design Earth Sciences Institute in Kandilli, Zonguldak. Kandilli is region which was one of the most important coal mining center in Turkey since 1940s. However the demand for coal sharply decreased after 1990s. The decline in the number of pits occurred. As a result, the population of workers decreased in region of housing and social buildings which was constructed by TTK (Turkey Coal Foundation). Some of buildings were damaged and some of them were demolished.

The site of the building is near to varagel tower (varagel is type of tram which provide
transportation of site with sea level), school builiding and cinema building. The aim of the building provide a new potential for vitalization of site. The Earth Science Institute is composed, two institute building, a data tower, a museum (which use the old school building as a extension), a semi open presentation hall (which is formed by old cinema building), a caal mine (which is connected with museum and institute building with the help mining tunnels and bridge) and an accommodation building. The institute buildings are separated according to their researching areas as above earth sciences and below earth sciences. This separated buildings are integrated with the help of bridges. The multipurpose hall is located as meeting hall for both institute building. The data tower is formed on the intersection of bridge with institute building. The data tower’s aim is collecting data from the receptors which is located in different regions of Zonguldak and analyze them to set light to transformation of Zonguldak’s climate, air quality,
earth quality and geological frequencies. The other bridge is connecting institute building to coal mine. The designed trams provide transportation of coals to laboratories.

The symbolization is provided with help of skylight in project. Light is the only factor which directs workers in mine.The linear sky lighting is designed to direct people in building. Besides, designed trams and structural bridge provide parallelism between structure of mine and linearisation of mine.