The volume of the building is formed by two slightly tilted pyramids: a regular pyramid at the bottom connected to an inverted pyramid on top, creating a “hourglass” form. The symbolics of two pyramids is the combination of stability/endurance image with a ‘flight’ effect. This ambiguity correspond to the building program: awareness as an endurance factor, combined with an idea of dream and aspiration.

 

The pyramids are turned relative to each other around the center to provide engagement into the site context. The bottom of the structure is aligned to border of the construction site, the top – to larger urban blocks direction. The structure is placed in the center of the site, forming two squares on the sides. The squares are connected with a passage, piercing through the bottom pyramid. The passage forms an internal street, a public area, and also serves as part of the lobby and main entrance to education center and administrative offices.  

 

The functional program is divided into 3 main zones: training-education zone with simulation sections, public education zone with seminar halls, exhibition space, conference hall, library and planetarium, and administrative zone. Training and administrative zones occupy the bottom part of the structure. All spaces are connected with an atrium that traverses the whole structure. The foyer area on the ground floor contains a shop and a cafe, another cafe is placed on the top floor with an open deсk on the roof with views of Istanbul and the sea. A ramp connects all the levels of the structure and provides access to training rooms and a continuous walkway through the building.

 

 
Architects: Vladimir Belskiy, Sergey Pospelov, Ildar Valishin, Elena Mozgova 
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Project: 2011

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