‘sur yapi offices’ by tago architects, ümraniye, turkey
image © gurkan akay
sur yapi, a prominent turkish construction firm has headquartered itself in a mixed use building that reflects the aesthetic values of the company. designed by istanbul-based tago architects, the high-density, three storey space is primarily relegated to the 2 basement levels, allowing for the above-ground structure to engage in the dialogue of the landscape. the building is oriented to maximize the generous southlight, while dramatic, faceted louvers act as a solar shading device. the louvers become part of the dynamic skin of the building, with richly grained, dark wooden slats complementing slate planes of stone and concrete. material sophistication is an appropriate identifier for the construction company’s center of operations, but the formal subtraction of the built volume on the western facade is an exuberant gesture that lends an unprecedented elegance to the architectonic makeup. the deep gash and its smaller complement on the southwestern face are delineated by wood panels and made crisp by generous glazing. at night, the illuminated boundary of the recessed perimeter emits an impressive yellow glow. the prismatic mass is a synthesis of the elements. wood, stone and glass meet to create an architecture that exceeds the tectonic limits of a corporate space.
views of the geometric shading system and the smaller, light-emitting gash
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repetition remains consistent in the landscape
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the voumetric louvers shade a glass expanse and exterior walkways
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light changes over the surface
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detail of the solar shading system
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the louvers are faceted in various directions to optimize shading
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the front facade hints at the gash of glazing
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the corner of the edifice is opened up by an angled expanse of glazing
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the massive form is visually lightened
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a ‘green wall’ and stepped garden border a water feature
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the wood-paneled language continues into the walkway
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the cut is framed by a wall-thick recess
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the exterior aperture breaches the glazing
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interiors remain faceted and rooted in materiality
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the double height space is divided into smaller meeting areas
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concrete columns are tectonically consistent
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interior views
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the visual weight of the materials is changed by night lighting
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louvers are made more dimensional with single-source ground light
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lit perimeters wash the recess with a yellow glow
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night view of the sweeping cut-out
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the south facade at night
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site plan
floor plan level 0
early interior renderings
slatted wooden louvers form a geometric skin
dematerialized exterior rendering
project info:
architecture office: tago architecture engineering consulting and trade. ltd. sti. architect: gökhan aktan altug design team: mevlut duymaz, eker eryayar müge, müge turgay landscape design: çiğdemünal client: sur building construction industry. tic. ltd. sti. project location: london-ümraniye project date: march 2010 date of production: july-2010 land area: 1139 m2 covered area: 2182 m2 project type: office building construction type: concrete
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