Tracing the Void The Search for Belonging

the “place”: Konya-Karapınar

 Topography is the situation where different parts come together with different relationships in contiguousness. The relationships between the parts are the main element in this formation. The proliferation and differentiation of these relationships and parts produce patterns.

sinkholes mapping

 The overlapping, separation, and merging of relationships that create different patterns at different temporalities and scales result in intermediate patterns, leading to a multi-layered pattern geography. Here, in this place where there is "nothing", patterns reign supreme.

 

The different layers constituting the place: 

 -Components (stone, soil, vegetation, water, wind...)

 -Relationships (dragging, dispersing, sticking, fracturing, piercing...)

 -Patterns

the “patterns” fand the “fields”

 The patterns that are meandering pattern formed by the rocks and soil particles inside the twin sinkhole, created by the combined effects of wind and water. It involves interpreting and reconstructing the pattern again, along with deriving different relationships obtained from the ground. 

"fields" and "patterns"

 The connection between textures observed and the creation of textures and spaces derived from them has been explored. How is architecture based on textures can be done? How are fields can be defined when forming spaces? These inquiries form the fundamental questions in the establishment of the space.

 transforming meander shapes into a space as an experiment

the two personas: stranger and rootless

The Stranger:

A figure who feels no belonging anywhere or to anything. His actions are spontaneous and unpredictable. Sometimes, he doesn't know where or what he will do next; it's as if the world is a constantly changing puzzle for him. While sharing similarities with idleness, he is aware of his responsibilities and is disciplined when he needs to work. He often changes between actions or repeats the same routine for a long time. The weight of the past and the anxiety of the future do not affect him. He also has a sense of estrangement with himself, but this doesn't bother him; he is at peace with himself. His quest is not to find what he's looking for but to experience the search itself. In the midst of emptiness, among the stones and sand, he seeks the act of existence.

The Rootless:

A personality deeply feeling the lack of belonging and uneasy because of it. This absence drives his into an endless quest: the quest for belonging. This journey is filled with constant self-questioning. He wonders how well he knows himself and if there is truly a place where she belongs. Is he unable to find his place, or is it because he doesn't know himself well enough to cope with this void? Throughout his journey, he tries to discover himself by experiencing his actions and the places where these actions take place. The Rootless hopes to find a place where he feels belonging through these self-questionings and inner confrontations. Each step offers him both a ray of hope and a new unknown.

section A-A

site plan

 

 

 As a result of the search for creating architecture with patterns, the observed and developed meandering curves evolve into a structure positioned on the slope where two sinkholes merge, giving the sensation of walking on the terrain on each level.

The curved surfaces intersect at certain points, forming connection points with the other surface. These points turn into a kind of bridge that connects the surfaces, facilitating transitions between surfaces.

Rootless's quest in this building is expressed through his actions and the spaces in which he performs them. For instance, Rootless sometimes tries out behaviors from his previous life (before his quest began). He cooks in different places within the building; one day in one room, the next day in another. After cooking, he looks for a place to sit and watch the view, but soon starts exercising there instead. He also seeks to explore activities he couldn't experience in his past life. For example, he fills the center of the building with water to create a pool or sets up a plant garden either in the same place or elsewhere in the building. Through these actions, Rootless questions his behaviors and the spaces in which he performs them, essentially creating these spaces himself.

 

Stranger, on the other hand, acts with complete freedom. Sometimes he accompanies Rootless, spending time with him; other times he opposes Rootless's actions, disrupting what Rootless has created. At times, he occupies himself alone, engaging in various activities anywhere in the building: playing the guitar, exercising, reading, writing, lying down, or simply watching the scenery.

The behaviors of this duo and their interactions within the building continuously shape the spaces. In a way, they are like the architects who create these spaces. Every corner of the building is formed as a reflection of Rootless and Stranger's quests and actions.