A multipurpose building commissioned by Borusan Company as a public exhibition and seminar space in Parkorman forest, few minutes from Istanbul city center. Open 24 hours and attracting many people in day and night. The forest is a respite from the extreme temperatures in the summer months. Facilities include swimming pools, restaurants, spas, and venues for parties and open-air concerts and shows.

A “landscraper” designed to fit around the trees, the building functions like a chameleon blending in with its natural environment. The building is designed to accommodate exhibition space, office and a café. Its outside space is used as a sculpture garden for Borusan art collections.

The structure does not sit in the landscape as an isolated object, but emerges from the undulating topology of the landscape. The angular geometry of the building was predetermined by the positioning of the century old pine trees that populate the forest especially in a city like Istanbul which needs green areas. Working to this premise, the building was designed around the trees, giving the building a dynamic form. Walls and floors converge at surprisingly sharp perspectives, floors slope at unexpected points and the play of light and shade adds to intensify the experience.

Another innovation was the building’s fast track program. Built in just few weeks, the building, constructed from strong and durable materials such as steel and wood, is quick to assemble and can be easily replicated by the client if required. The façade made from steel cladding will rust over time and give the impression of an aged structure abandoned in the forest. Inside, steel and wood are the predominant materials giving the interior a light and airy feel. The glazed sections of the façade are at acute angles to the ground plane in order to give a range of views of the forest. One of the key features is a metal ramp that hugs the side of the building and crawls onto the roof, creating a terrace and additional exhibition space.