HILTON REDINOVA

Hello, my name is Cansel Yüksel. I will be presenting my graduation project: Hilton Redinova.

The starting point of my project is the transformation of the Hilton Hotel, one of the iconic structures in İzmir. Although this building holds an important place in the city's memory, it has largely lost its function today. I approached the project with the idea of repurposing and reactivating this valuable urban asset.

Concept: REDUX
The term Redux means "to bring back" or "to revive." In my project, I embraced this concept as a tool for both architectural and social transformation. The former Hilton building has been reimagined as a complex that integrates municipal services, an innovation center, and spaces for public life.

Vision: RED INNOVATION NOVA = REDINOVA

Red stands for courage, energy, and dynamism.

Innovation represents a forward-thinking vision and creative solutions.

Nova symbolizes a new star, a new beginning.

Together, these ideas form Hilton Redinova: a participatory urban structure that aims to give İzmir a new architectural and social identity.

Functions and Program
The total construction area is approximately 73,000 square meters. The building includes municipal units, workshop spaces, co-working offices, meeting rooms, exhibition areas, and public terraces. These functions are designed to be interconnected, transparent, and collaborative, supporting collective use and social interaction.

Urban Relationship
This project is not just a building — it is a living urban organism. Existing structural voids have been preserved, public spaces have been strengthened, and new connections to the city fabric have been established. The result is a structure that not only reaches toward the sky but also touches the ground and interacts with people.

Design Approach
Transparency, openness, and participation were the guiding principles of the design. The façade was developed with semi-permeable layers, playful sectional transitions, and green terraces that connect the building to its surroundings. A second skin envelops the structure, giving it a new architectural identity while enhancing environmental performance.

Conclusion
Hilton Redinova is a transitional space between past and future. It is both a project of architectural reuse and a spatial interpretation of social innovation. Through this design, I aim to emphasize that an architect’s role goes beyond designing buildings — it involves making statements about the city, society, and the future.

Transformability and Adaptation = The Technological Reflection of Redux
Smart glass, with its ability to change light permeability depending on conditions, gives material form to the concept of “Redux.”
This building no longer responds only to the past — it transforms according to the time of day, the needs of the user, and the climatic conditions, becoming a living, responsive organism.

Light Control Energy Efficiency
With the use of smart glass:

Its level of opacity can change throughout the day depending on sunlight.

Indoor cooling and lighting demands are significantly reduced.

The need for external sunshades is minimized, resulting in a simpler and more modern facade.

Aesthetic Value Urban Interaction
A smart glass facade:

Becomes transparent at night and opaque during the day.

Allows for a visual connection to the interior activities.

Establishes a selective yet transparent relationship with the city.

“This building has not only been reprogrammed, but also reproduced using the material technologies of the future.”