Ludicity

Today, urban contexts are facing two critical questions. It is that how they are going to treat “guests” and how they are going to adapt themselves within the quickly changing and demanding global environment considering their cultural heritage. These two questions are becoming even more meaningful in the chosen location; Antioch, Hatay, Turkey. Indicated location is selected as a project base due to its diverse social structure, and its huge architectural heritage. Throughout the history, the city had seen many civilizations and different ethnic groups inhabited in it. Nowadays, this mosaic of differences is continuing in Antakya, but limits of it are in question. Another key problem that the city is confronted with is the quick and unplanned development causing an urban sprawl and the loss of contained urban values which is unfortunately very widespread for Turkey. A supposedly simple but very complex basic instinct of human beings is proposed as a solution generator for mentioned issues. By its essence, the notion “PLAY” creates a common ground for people from disparate cultural groups. While conceiving encounter between people, it also leads them to explore and experience the urban context. These people who are establishing stronger bounds with their city, will act accordingly for the future of their cities. As the word brings a misunderstanding by its simplistic everyday usage, the name “ludicity” is given to the proposal with regard to the combination of the word “ludic” (showing spontaneous and undirected playfulness.) and “city”. As the design of what is going to be so called ludic should be formed in a bottom-up relationship, it is aimed to generate a participatory system for the people who will be thought as citizen players within their urban environment. So, an interchangeable system is created to be shaped by players. A table for programming of the space is established for the future and present spatial conception on different sites. In addition to this, some exemplary play seeds are formed for the specific programs which are selected to be present at the estimable location. The play seeds are regarded to be play catalyzers which will lead people to action and they are open to future additions of citizens. Genesis of time and place bounding events and their memory will create a society who would preserve their city while answering questions of forthcoming together and accordingly.