A Moveable Feast_Reuse Proposal For Izmir2020 Expo Area. New Routes To a Better World_Health For All | Fabrizia Galasso

This thesis develops a project for a multifunctional space included in the program of the exhibition spaces planned for the candidacy of Izmir (Turkey) to Expo2020. The research starts during the study period (January-April 2012) funded by the Erasmus-Mundus, carried out at the Department of Urban Plannig at Dokuz Eylul Universitesi’s (Izmir) under the supervision of Prof. Arch. Sebnem Gokcen Dundar. The international exhibitions events are characterized by a common theme approved by the Office International Expositions (BIE). These are intended to enhance public education by presenting the progress made in different areas of human knowledge and showing the possible developments in the future. Great Britain in 1851 with the Great Exhibition has started a series of events that have taken place over time at intervals governed by the legislation of the BIE Protocol signed for the first time in 1933, then updated in 1972 and again in 1988. From industry to agriculture, art and technology, issues that underpin the different exposures are alternated in order to strengthen international relations, share culture and education, experience the future and renew the city. Precisely this issue is part of the strategic plan of the city of Izmir (Turkey) that is a candidate to host the Expo2020 and committed to its urban transformation. The main theme is “Health for all”, health considered not only in a physical sense but also psychic, according to the mayor of Izmir Aziz Kocaoglu is “to increase the life expectancy of people living in this area including scientific, social and ecological approaches”. The Izmir Organizing Committee has proposed the slogan “New Routes To a Better World” for the Expo 2020. With a new masterplan proposal, Izmir focuses his interest on an area of 370 ha in the district of Balcova southwest of the city. The site is in a strategic position facing the sea with easy access already equipped with the basic infrastructure. Often, however, these opportunities for transformation evolve in environmental detractors for the host city mainly because of prolonged periods of non-use and under-use of facilities and exhibition spaces (eg. Seville 1992, Hannover 2000). The research project recognizes this problem and proposes the reuse of the area designated to Expo2020 as a new university campus in continuity with the best practices of reuse implemented at international level (eg. Lisbon 1998). The decision to propose a university campus arises following a number of meetings with representatives of the Municipality of Izmir (town planning sector) and the analysis of official statistics '>http://Tuik.gov.tr'> ) regarding the number of students falling in the metropolitan area (4.5 million) in the last ten years has grown more than 50% (data from 2011). It should be noted that the educational funding system defined by the turkish government provides an automatic mechanism for implementation based on the relationship between student / sqm. The intervention, consistently with the Expo theme, identifies a selection of 30 faculties of scientific, social and artistic nature aimed at training individuals to improve physical and mental health of future society. After conducting a research based on two case studies with similar characteristics in terms of extension, particularly the campus of the University of California at Berkeley and New York University, a zonal subdivision was conducted. The research also develops a detailed design for a multipurpose space located in an area of two hectares immediately to the north of the main square. This is the core of the proposed masterplan for Expo2020 and hosts an outdoor amphitheater and a pentagonal tower in the shape of moon and star (symbol of the Turkish flag). The structure, a parallelepiped with a square base 80x80x45 m, hosts the Super Theatre (2270 seats), an interior exhibition hall, a restaurant, a bar area and seven levels of rehearsal rooms and study rooms for students. The Super Theatre consists of an egg-shaped exoskeleton made of laminated wood elements that contains: a Grand Theatre (1355 seats), a Conference Room (410 seats), two areas that flank the main stage tower (the first of 340 seats, the second of 165 removable seats) and an exhibition hall of 1780 square meters, which encompasses the scenic tower of the Grand Theatre. The Super Theatre is embraced by a series of irregular projections suitable for temporary exhibition spaces, connected by circular stair/lift blocks to the south and by the structure allocated to rehearsal rooms, stores, offices and public services to the north. The bar area and the dining room (85 seats) is located on top level. At this level it is also possible to access an exhibition hall contained within the Super Theatre, suitable for the organization of temporary exhibitions. A structural photovoltaic glass envelope which contains all spaces is scanned every 4.75 m by a series of 45 m special H steel profiles. These are connected to the reticular spatial structure (Mero technology) that supports the roof consisting of 3857 photovoltaic panels (crystalline silicon). It is estimated (PVGIS method) that the roof along with the three photovoltaic façades have the potential to produce 1.43 GWh per year. The peculiarity of this project is the ability to take advantage of a multifunctional and dynamic space: A MOVABLE FEAST, to quote Hemingway’s novel from the title was derived.