Pinar Cengiz

Pinar is from Istanbul and has been living in the UK since her undergraduate degree at University of Bath. Before joining RCA she has worked at Squire & Partners on renovation and reuse projects involving Grade II listed buildings.

Having lived in big cities, she has been interested in the energy and the changing nature of the urban realm from early on in her studies. Her work has been influenced by the wider economical, social, environmental and political consequences of architecture.

The project starts from two reference images chosen from the ADS5 Atlas which are analysed and read intuitively. Initial explorations develop and translate into a building design, taking form in a transparent flexible envelope built within a solid repeating structure. The research questions how the contrasts of solidity vs. transparency and repetition vs. flexibility can work together.

The recess on the exterior facade creates a loggia together with an upstand and a downstand, generating a protected area. The horizontal facade elements are mirrored and keep the plane of symmetry at eye-level. The view is framed and the eyes are delivered into the horizon.

Although we think of bathing and exercise as private activities, the public bath, or hammam, was a vital social institution in the Middle East for centuries before the advent of modern plumbing. The baths played a central role in promoting hygiene and public health but they also served as meeting places where people could relax and socialise, creating a culture that brings people together. Whereas today, we are more drawn to go to gyms or spas in the middle of the city formed within existing buildings which are most of the time enclosed, poorly ventilated and individualistic in nature. On the contrary to what we have conformed to in the 21st century, the project aims to use sports culture as a public condenser and focuses on creating interactions in the community within an open atmosphere which also relates to the landscape.

Connection to Landscape — The scheme connects to the landscape with a running track going through the campus, using the whole site as a sports area. This creates a relationship between nature and sports while also allowing the building to be used as a hub to exercise.

Approach — The approach faces the external ramp which is connected to the running track in the campus. The ramp creates a route to run around the perimeter of the structure and allows the residents to begin their journey to exercise from the street level.

Ground Relationship with Exterior — The ground floor acts as an extension to the main square and connects to the urban network with its central social space. The ground material merges the inside and the outside and breaks the boundary between the building and the landscape.

External Courts — The badminton courts are external but sheltered and make use of a double height space while the mezzanine level generates views to the activities below. The flexibility of the area allows for different activities to take place at the same time which promotes interactions between different types of sports and people.

Loggia — The loggia is constructed with the upstand and the downstand which are mirrored to create a protected space. The facade elements keep the plane of symmetry at eye-level, framing the view and focusing the vision on the outside.

Workout Experience — On the ground floor, the treadmills are internal but placed around the climbing wall, allowing users to watch climbers while working out.

Changing Room / Bar — The changing rooms are located near the bar on the first floor as social areas are distributed throughout all floors. This creates natural interactions between users at all times and breaks the boundary between exercise and socialising.

Spa — The spa has a different atmosphere to the rest of the building and is more secluded. Introducing different levels within a double height floor create zones that are separated from each other. The pool is lifted to align with the view while swimming.

Rooftop — The rooftop has views to the rest of the campus and accommodates a multi-purpose court as well as flexible social areas which can be adapted to different activities taking place.

External Appearance — While the building portrays a more regular image on the outside and as the perforations of the steel become less visible from far away, the flexibility of the interior allows many activities and natural interactions to take place.

— By creating insulated and enclosed volumes within the structure which are adjustable and vary according to the use, different moments and experiences are designed for the user. This also promotes the active use of loggia and provides opportunities to exercise both inside and outside.

— The scheme is located in the universal campus and positioned centrally near the main courtyard where it can be approached from all sides. It connects to the rest of the landscape with a running track leading up to the entrance.

The structure is essentially occupied freely within the grid. Being almost like a vertical city, there is a choice to move around and engage in activities as one desires and the chance of encountering people in that journey. Overall, the scheme provides an infrastructure with different levels of enclosure. It aims to enhance a social culture of sports and promotes interactions between people by creating a public condenser in the campus.

Pinar Cengiz

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Royal College of Art