Balıkesir City Hall

Overview and Objectives 
Architectural projects significantly impact urban development and user quality of life. This project aims not only to construct a building but also to create a sustainable and user-friendly urban space harmoniously integrated with its surroundings. The goal is to shape Balıkesir’s social and physical fabric, addressing current and future needs.

Neighborhood Identity and Urban Integration 
The project’s objective is to endow the area surrounding the municipality building with a distinct neighborhood identity, creating intimate and user-friendly spaces. The building is oriented along the east-west axis, facing a planned city park to the south. This park functions as a city square, adopting a rural square approach to complement the building. Access to the park is facilitated by a vehicle road and public transportation stop to the west, while the northern road accommodates vehicle access. The south façade offers an excellent perception of Balıkesir, maximizing benefits from the view and sunlight, whereas the north façade maintains a more reserved attitude due to potential new construction uncertainties.

Sustainability and Climate Control 
Solar control is a key feature of the south façade, while the north façade remains more closed to enhance thermal efficiency. The atrium supports climate control and natural ventilation, contributing to the building’s sustainability. Additional sustainability measures include rainwater harvesting and a vegetated roof cover.

Open Space and Landscape Design 
The open space arrangements and landscape decisions aim to seamlessly integrate the building with the city and meet user needs. Green areas are enriched with varied elevations and vegetative elements, designed for diverse activities throughout the year. The landscape character is enhanced with local plant species, creating user-friendly spaces. This overall landscape design provides a natural transition between the urban park and the building.