IMM Cultur and Arts Center

Culture and Art Centers as Spatial Reflection of Public Space

Humans, as active participants in the formation of culture from birth, interact with the outside world through environmental influences, life experiences, and personal accumulations. There exists a reciprocal and complex relationship between culture and space; spaces are not only influenced by culture but also affect culture. The formation of public spaces and user demands for these spaces can vary according to different cultures and social groups. Culture and art centers, as a public building typology, are crucial spaces where the user and the city should be integrated. These centers define the building-city relationship in the urban fabric, contribute to the urban appearance, and give identity to their locations based on their functions. The more effectively they engage the public through their functions, the more dynamic and integrated they become with the social and cultural fabric of the city.

Individuals from different cultures have different perceptions and expectations of spaces. People’s perception of space and behavior within it may vary depending on age, gender, ethnicity, education level, income, and lifestyle. Therefore, culture and art centers should appeal to a wide range of user groups through their diverse functions. These centers stand out as places that increase social and cultural interaction by bringing together various user groups. Thus, cultural centers serve as collective public spaces where people gather to create and shape both the cultural and social environment as well as the physical environment.

IBB Culture and Art Campus Design Approach in the Context of Public Space Interpretation

Conceptual Approach

Public space is a realm that individuals experience within the context of freedom and social relations. The campus, as a tangible representation of this experience, forms the physical framework and shapes the common denominator of society. Flexibility refers to the potential of space to evolve constantly, adapting to the changing needs and dynamic nature of society. Openness relates to the transparency and accessibility of public space, pushing the boundaries between inside and outside, thereby strengthening the interaction of experiences within and outside the space. Interaction is the ability of individuals to communicate with each other and their environment. Public space functions as a platform that supports this interaction.

When these concepts come together, public spaces are not only a physical framework but also a reflection of the collective consciousness of society. The campus is shaped according to the traces of place as a concrete expression of this consciousness, with flexibility marking an evolution toward the future. Openness ensures that this evolution is observable by all, and interaction represents the process by which society experiences and understands this evolution together. Public space acts as a catalyst for individuals’ process of relating to others and integrating with society. The campus serves as the theater where this process is staged, with flexibility as the stage setting. Openness is an invitation for the audience to fully embrace the experience, and interaction symbolizes the deep connection between the actors on stage.

In the spatial design of cultural centers, concentrating functions within a single structure often results in a singular, isolated object disconnected from its external environment. This design approach creates an introverted space, detached from the outside world. However, a space or building does not exist in isolation; its meaning arises from dynamic and complex interactions with its surroundings.

In this context, the design of the campus is based on a scaled and functional unitization approach. This design perspective aims to make the building more flexible and open, allowing it to interact more organically with its context. The goal is to shape the campus as a whole that includes open, semi-open, and closed spaces, moving away from heavy mass effects. Consequently, the campus is not isolated from its surroundings but stands out as a space that interacts with its environment and continuously facilitates this interaction.

This design approach aims to divide the building into units of different scales and functions, rather than compressing it into functions specific to certain user groups. This modular approach allows the cultural center to include a range of functions that serve multiple purposes. Through these functions, the campus can host a variety of social and cultural events, cater to different user groups, and blend into everyday life as a space that brings diverse communities together.

As a result, the design of the culture and arts center is not conceived as a dense, singular, and large structure, but as a multifaceted space divided into scale and functional units. The aim is to create not only a monumental structure but also a culture and art campus that gains meaning through its interaction with its surroundings.