METU ARCHLABS: PCLAB | Motto Architecture

Roots: A Modern Inheritance to Foster Innovation

As a pioneering example of modernist architecture in Turkey, the Faculty of Architecture building holds an important place both in the tradition of the university and in the architectural history of the country. The building is designed by Altuğ and Behruz Çinici with their competition winning project in 1961. The design stands out with its courageous attitude to merge work space with social life in order to foster innovation.

Re-Claiming Versatility

The significance of the building led to a conceptualization of the architectural intervention as a "stripping-down-to-basics" operation, leaving the concrete structural elements as thetabula rasa. Starting from this naked state, the spaces are re-interpreted to house the ever-changing spatial requirements of students and faculty staff. Inspired from the original design of the building, the design of the ArchLabs reclaims the versatility of space in contemporary learning-crafting environments.

The main L-formed hall of the former computer workshop is redesigned as a convertible space that can be divided into three alternative function groups:

(1)         The first space forms the main classroom, lecture and tutorial space, and is equipped with roller desks and chairs.

(2)         The second space can be used as an extension to the first space when the sliding glass separator is open, or can be used as a separate classroom / meeting space when separators are closed.

(3)         The third space provides stand-up desks where students can work for short time spans and quickly access the printing and lending services.

The stepped seating areas are designed to host extra participants for classes and other events providing power outlets for laptops and tablets. The roller desks can be arranged in alternative layouts responding to different characteristics of classes and events.