WHO WE ARE
“We don’t consider ourselves as being from a single city or country, but from the world.” Avci Architects was established in 1989, by Selcuk Avci and with offices in London and Istanbul. The practice has always placed collaborative working at the top of their agenda, its founder being nurtured deeply in the ethos of integrated design teamwork, always taking to ensure that the creative work is a shared experience amongst its team members, clients and stakeholders surrounding the projects they are involved with. The practice has been recognised as with a number of awards, both national and international and was awarded the first prize in a competition to design the HQ of the Turkish Contractor’s Association which is a candidate for LEED Platinum with record score in out region through innovative passive and active technologies which will be the first of their kind in Turkey. The practice was selected on of the Architecture Foundation’s Britain’s Best Young Architectural Practices of the Year in the year 2001.
The last few decades have witnessed many changes in public attitudes towards ecology and the public realm and there have been great leaps in methods of reduction in energy consumption while the understanding an acceptance of sustainability as a driver has increased greatly. This has provided a new impetus and direction to how a designer or a client should think about building. Avci Architects has been at the forefront of these developments, in both the UK and Turkey and has contributed to research in this field both in practice and academically. In particular in its second year of formation, the practice won 1st prize in a pan European Union design competition on energy efficient design. In the UK projects on which the founder of the practice Selcuk Avci has acted as design director have won an RIBA Regional Award, and a Queen’s Civic Trust Award. Our most valuable asset is a desire for perfection regardless of size or location or type of brief or programme. We have a personal
approach to our clients and we “own” their issues as our own. Above all considerations comes our interactive approach to design which delivers integrated thinking by involving the whole team as well as the client in the design process. A key methodology of our design development process, both inside and outside our studio, is the “design workshop” in which our teams develop ideas through dialogue and critique in an inclusive process. Stakeholders are empowered and drawn into this process through table top discussions and presentations, where we also encourage and empower non-designers to take the pen and express thoughts. At every stage of design this critical dialogue and interaction with our client ensures final “buy-in” of the design and creates a holistic process that is complete. Avci Architects are fast becoming the sustainability architects of choice in Turkey and are currently working on a number of projects on which the sustainability agenda are held at the highest level.
NING PLAN TER AS M
URBAN D ESIG N
ARCHITECTURE
Echology
E X IB
N G I S E D
Ethic
ON ITI
Economy
SIGN DE
IN T E RI O R
HOLISTIC THINKING
“Our design approach lies in the principle of holistic thinking.” In each and every project, we start by thinking beyond architecture to find the core story and DNA to shape our process. For every scale of project we undertake, we search to find the answer to what makes a great space. We aim to create new experiences within and find new dimensions in these environments. Our design philosphy is based on collaborative thinking, and our relationships with the world’s best doers and thinkers are reflected in our projects. We are experienced in productively and creatively bringing together international expertise from various disciplines.
For this reason we have formed collaborative international pertnerships with design companies, which through our continual dialogue keeps us at the citting edge of design thinking. Our holistic approach is the essential core to our philosophy. We believe that truly sustainable solutions can only result if the parts of the system are understood in relation to their impact on the whole. We do not see sustainability as a feel-good buzz word, but rather as a deliverable practical outcome when it is approached with the proper mental framework and a wide knowledge base.
Economical ‘Product’
‘Planet’
ETHICS, ECOLOGY, ECONOMY
“We seek fully integrated perspectives that build complete and sustainable solutions.” As a practice we establish the performance of sustainable actions on three basic foundations during all of our thinking processes. These we have come to define as the principles of the 3 E’s in which almost all of the remaining layers exist that focus us towards achieving a sustainable result. That is: Ethics, Ecology and Economics. Whether this is the Genus Loci, or the sense of place, or environmental factors, such as sun, wind, temperature, or the cultural region in which the project exists, the 3E’s gives us a complex matrix of layers through which to investigate and discover. Whether all of its principles are used depends entirely on the will and the drive of the user / client who in this respect is the key initiator of the process.
Ethics defines our actions in terms of how we behave towards society, and our relation to people, different cultures, and ways of living, ethical consumerism, and our relationship to community. This is our response to the “Genius Loci”, or the characteristics of “Place”. Ecology is about the planet that we live in, the organism that supports us, and the need to support that organism with every action that we take so that it continues to support us. When we design, our primary objective should be to minimise our negative impact. Economy is about the equitability, and viability of our actions when we build in the environment, or when we invest. Our actions need to last, we need to make investments, which have longevity so that these investments go on and continue to support the future generations.
Royal Holloway, London / Ventilation Slabs
SUSTAINABILITY
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Brundtland Commission, 1987
For us real sustainability is not an optional service or ‘extra’ that can simply be bolted on to a product. It is a way of thinking that touches every idea from the core analysis of the site through to the facility management.
forefront of current thinking. We bring a strong environmental agenda to all our projects whether or not it is written into the client’s brief, and often achieve improvements without any additional costs.
We seek out clients with whom we can collectively push the sustainability agenda, and this has always been a foundation of our work. We have an international reputation for our holistic approach to sustainability and environmental design and work with the best environmental engineers to produce environments that are consistently at the
Avci Architects has a 24 year track record in genuine sustainability in projects and our work in this field has been recognised with several significant awards. Selcuk Avci has been consistently involved in the forefront of energy efficient design has developed a reputation for pushing forward sustainability issues in all arenas.
Mecca Al-Haram Mosque / Ventilation Columns
TMB Ankara / Cooling Labyrinth
Royal Holloway Univeristy / Natural Ventilation
Slimbridge Wetlands Visitor Centre / Local Natural Materials
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
“Buildings are the direct result of human relationships and reflect the quality of thought and engagement applied during the design and development process.“ Every building placed in a different location, geographically, climatically, or culturally diverse is also by definition different, and needs to be responsive to those characteristics. The application of the principles of the 3 E’s ensures that these differences continue to be respected.
Our approach respects buildings, landscape, social and cultural assets and we have broad experience in reconciling the various pressures which come to bear on the historic environment.
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
“We welcome dialogue and have pioneered an approach to understanding and defining the vision, which can then become a shared objective by all stakeholders.” Collaborative working is the methodology we use across all our projects and through all stages. The best projects come from strong working relationships with committed clients, creative consultants and knowledgeable constructors who understand the transformational power of good design – and the importance of sustainability – throughout both the design and construction process. We thrive on uniqueness and desire it every time. Our mission is to respond to each new circumstance in a way, which is not only original but also engaging at every level. We engage the client’s creativity through open forum
brainstorming workshops, and enable them to at one level “hold the architect’s pen”. This is a process of empowerment and engagement. More specifically, from the origination of the vision through to the firming up of options, we will engage in a structured series of strategy and design defining workshops. The construct of the workshop is an open platform where we facilitate engagement between the client, the team, and the project in a process of gradual discovery. In our experience, this leads to a shared and commonly “owned” result which sets the right mental framework, passion, and dedication to ensure the project is as successful as possible.
Proposed Team Structure: Integrated Design Approach
Traditional Approach
High risk / Little Innovation
Low risk / High Innovation
Client
Client
Design Team PM
Design Team Architect Civil Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Fire Consultant
QS
Design Team Architect Civil Engineer
Manufacturers & Suppliers
Mechanical Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Fire Consultant
Manufacturers & Suppliers
Concrete Manufacturers
Environmental Engineer
Sun Screen
Concrete Manufacturers
Environmental Engineer
Sun Screen
Facade Manufacturers
Elevator
Etc.
Facade Manufacturers
Elevator
Etc.
Main Contractor
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
“Integrated and interdisciplinary design processes needs to be pursued from the start of the design process as the issues surrounding sustainability are complex and not within the expertise of just one profession.� We have experience of working on community projects with wide stakeholder groups whether this is within a client group or stakeholders within the periphery of the process. We use a variety of media to explore issues with stakeholders. Here we illustrate briefing models used in an initial stakeholder consultation to understand key adjacencies and issues relating to positioning and critical relationships. The Architect’s world is made up of a symphony of many worlds that at times are in collision with each other. His role is to bring all of these often-disparate areas of thought and discipline in to a close harmony, in its many levels and layers ethereal, but which is finally represented in some thing very physical and permanent and
often life changing for those who experience it. He should be likened to an orchestral conductor who orchestrates an often-unlikely set of instruments, played by specialists who are not always willing to act in harmony. His achievements are not always visible on the surface of what is created, and may often lie underneath layers that are irrelevant, but when successful it is felt very strongly and is a pleasure to observe and to experience. We take great satisfaction in this refinement of the process of integrating often divergent but nevertheless complementary characteristics. Holistic thinking and doing is there fore what principally drives our process. This is something, which motivates the process, a need or a desire to bring all this together.
Good places for work start with basic functionality and support of human needs / Office Fit-out
BT Wholesale Office The former telephone exchange building’s transformation includes a new reception level, open plan and executive offices from the 5th to the 8th floors with a restaurant on the top floor. Through the use of sub-industrial materials such as back lit polycarbonate multi-cell panels and cast glass panels, set against a more luxurious materials such as walnut veneer panelling, the spaces attain a quality of industrial grunge with a touch of corporate quality. C l i e nt: Br i ti s h Te le co m C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 2 0 0 4
Turkish Contractor’s Association The 5500m2 building boasts spacious design and leading sustainable techniques such as rock-store cooling, serving as a true example of sustainable architecture in Turkey. The building articulates itself to reveal the various functions including, apart from offices for administration and guidance, a series of public elements such as a conference hall, and exhibition areas as well as a resource library for visitors. TCA’s basic principle of institutional transparency, both conceptually and structurally, defines the design from the beginning. As you move up the building from ground up the increasing degrees of privacy required in the programme positions these elements in a natural hierarchy, placing at the top the most private lounge, and at the bottom the most public exhibition and conference spaces. C l i e nt: TMB C ate gory : Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : A n kara, 2 0 13 Award s: W i n n e r of Be s t Inte r n ati o n al De s i g n P ro j e ct Aw ard i n Bu i ldi n g Aw ards 2 0 14 , UK .
Seyrantepe Office Building The Seyrantepe project is an exemplary renovation of an existing building in an important position within the district. The building that has been left almost at its construction phase for years, has been purchased by one of the leading companies in the construction sector and is going to be renovated in order to host the company’ s new headquarters office. C ate gory : Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, (o n g o i n g )
BT Openworld Office BT Openworld’s Headquarters are based in the City of London in a memorable 1970’s building called Mondial House which sits along the edge of the River Thames. AVCIARCHITECTS have carried out a number of projects for British Telecom.The first was the HQ building for BT Openworld at Mondial House in the City providing work stations for 600 staff. The central location and quasi - industrial aesthetic was perceived as lending itself perfectly to the creation of modern creative studio space for the Internet Media Services designers. C l i e nt: Br i ti s h Te le co m C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 2 0 0 2
HP Turkey HQ AVCIARCHITECTS worked with Gensler for design and execution of the office space, located on two floors of the Akkom building in Umraniye, Istanbul. The project stands out significantly among other spaces in the building with its successful ‘integrated design’ approach. With meticulous attention to detail and clever use of lighting, the space retains spaciousness and creates a new, capacious office experience for its users. C l i e nt: He w le tt P ackard C ate gory : Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 11
AIG Insurance HQ AIG Insurance İstanbul HQ Project, is a fit-out project of a 4000 sqm office, situated in Maslak, the business district of İstanbul. C ate gory : Of f i ce f i t-o u t P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 14 ( Es ti mate d)
Every building placed in a different location, geographically, climatically, or culturally diverse is also by definition different. / Office Buildings, Retail Centers , Mixed Use, Restaurants
Turkish Contractor’s Association The office building for the Turkish Contractor’s Association in Ankara was selected as winner among a range of projects to become the new landmark headquarters. A display for the most prestigious contractors in the country, the building aims to be a milestone for the association. The 5500m2 building boasts spacious design and leading sustainable techniques such as rock-store cooling, serving as a true example of sustainable architecture in Turkey. C l i e nt: TMB C ate gory : Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : A n kara, 2 0 13 Award s: W i n n e r of Be s t Inte r n ati o n al De s i g n P ro j e ct Aw ard i n Bu i ldi n g Aw ards 2 0 14 , UK
Thermal Labyrinth
Labyrinth operation in Summer: Day Time
Labyrinth operation
Labyrinth operation in Summer: Night Time
The Labyrinth
Balance G端nesli The project consists of an Office & Residential Tower with commercial functions with total construction area of approximately 100.000 sm. The aim is to integrate the remaining green areas between the Ayamama river and the building blocks to allow permeability and to create a lively urban dynamic. C l i e nt: S OL E N Gro u p C ate gory : Of f i ce , Re s i de nti al, C o mme rci al P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 12
Rudas Spa-Hotel This is a project to restore and renew a 500 year old historical Turkish bath built by Mimar Sinan. The hamam was modernized and expanded with a hotel, shops, a spa, fitness and food centre to become a complete lifestyle centre. C l i e nt: Ku be C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Hote l/ S pa P l ace , d ate : Bu dape s t, 2 0 0 9 (pro j e ct i n pro g re s s)
Sela Apart-Hotel The foremost challenge of the Sela project is to reinject new life in to a hitherto derelict baroque palace, which has come in to disrepair with a function that will not only work commercially in the market place but also respond to the unique characteristics of the existing building. It will be designed to occupy the untapped market of the boutique designer hotel in Ljubljana. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Hote l P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 6
Angel Restaurant Angel is the latest in the chain of bespoke restaurants group Kaval in Ljubljana. The restaurant is part of a new shopping centre, Mercator in Ljubljana, but it also operates as a stand alone space, which can be separately accessed from the outside. The design is a timber ark, which completes the ends of the space in a renaissance image of the Angel. The space is organised in to two parts, a bar and wine tasting area near the entrance and a restaurant. Swivelling shutters along the large window control views both out and in to the space from the main shopping centre. C l i e nt: K AVA L Gro u p C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 8
Valvasor Restaurant The restaurant is designed as a modern, sober space, within an old, arched tavern, accessible from the ground floor. The idea was to create a space where old and new harmoniously unite to create the restaurant’s unique image. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 6
Rozmarin Restaurant The entire interior space is divided into five levels but still connected by vertical communication within the glass facade. Glass volume physically and visually connecting the spaces between them allows each space to gain a specific character. Much attention in the design of cafe, restaurant and the wine bar has been dedicated to high quality lighting creating different atmospheres and lighting scenarios depending on time of day or the intended use of space. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 6
Element Restaurant The restaurant is situated in Ljubljana’s business district. The restaurant on the ground floor offers a pleasant, fresh, multi-layered atmosphere, whose colors evokes the food, the selection of materials raises comfort, which is important for the experience of dining. Each table forms a micro-atmosphere above which hang from the darker ceiling decorative luminaires. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 10
Misafir Suites The building sits in the heart of Istanbul’s old Yesilcam, which was until recently the Hollywood of Turkey. The restaurant on the ground floor will operate as an independent eatery while providing the hotel residents with a lounge and dining room. The project was developed by Urbanista and designed by Avci Architects with Deniz Nar as Project Managing Architect. C l i e nt: Mi s af i r S u i te s C ate gory : Hote l, Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 12
USCE USCE shopping center is located at the transition between the old and new city segments. This 200,000m2 extension to the existing center was designed as a residential and hotel unit, transforming and extending the existing retail center’s identity into the future. C l i e nt: US C E C ate gory : Re s i de nti al, C o mme rci al, Hote l P l ace , d ate : Be lg rade , 2 0 11
Zizkov Retail Centre Fiercely independent, proud, strong, unique, rooted and distinctly different, Zizkov is one of the last remaining bastions of old Prague. This new center retail offering takes place on three levels and organized with two anchors marking the corners on both entrances. A retail street follows through along the southern edge of the mall, connecting the two streets. The retail offering is seen as an urban connector, much like a covered street rather than a classic shopping centre. C l i e nt: Di s cove r y Gro u p C ate gory : Re tai l P l ace , d ate : P rag u e , 2 0 0 9
Mosaic Retail Centre The new retail centre in Novi Sad will be the first of its kind in the region, supporting a community of 250,000 residents, but reaching out further to the fringes of Belgrade and to districts further a field to the north and west of the city, possibly serving a population of around 400,000. The centre will fill an emergent retail gap, which is fast growing, in Serbia. It will showcase many international brands as well as local brands becoming increasingly competitive in the region. C l i e nt: Oce an Atlanti c Inte r n ati o n al C ate gory : Re tai l P l ace , d ate : Novi S ad, 2 0 0 8 (pro j e ct i n pro g re s s)
Çubuklu Valley Çubuklu Vadi offers a 3.5km2 plot surrounded by forest just outside the city. Among zoning for several residential estates, the retail center aims to integrate within the landscape and serve as an ‘Eco-Lifestyle Center’. The anchor of the center is not a traditional retailer, but a partially enclosed series of botanical gardens that celebrate nature and biodiversity with retail merging inharmoniously. The spatial experience showcases nature while focusing on being a compelling, timeless, and sustainable concept that takes advantage of the richness of the site and its unique position in Istanbul. C l i e nt: Fi ba Yü ks e l C ate gory : Re tai l, Re s i de nti al, P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, (o n g o i n g )
Nabereznhaya Tower AVCIARCHITECTS has collaborated with RTKL Associates for the concept design of Naberezhnaya Towers which are located at the core of Moscow International Business Centre. The three towers create a public space at the center with a shopping mall at the ground level. C l i e nt: E NK A C ate gory : Of f i ce P l ace , d ate : Mo s co w, 2 0 07
Osmannoro Retail Centre This retail campus contains a series of recreational active zones, which support and link to its retail centre. This centre is devised as a series of open-air streets and squares, covered and shaded by a single (and singular) canopy design, which responds to the natural undulations of the landscape. Public spaces are linked through a piazza to the residential area, which answers its dense planning by opening up its courtyards and atmosphere to take advantage of the parkland to the south. C l i e nt: R DM C ate gory : Re tai l P l ace , d ate : Flo re n ce , 2 0 07
EXSA Sabancı Textile Showroom The brief was to create two room within EXSA’s Marylebone headquarters where the company could hold meetings and display its fabrics. Entry is through a yellow portal, where mirrored strips separate it from the frame. Inside the showroom, a mirror facing the door creates the illusion of space continuing further. Rectangular niches in an abstract composition display the company’s latest exports. Lighting can be changed to suit the different colours and textures of cloth. C l i e nt: E XS A (S aban cı ) C ate gory : C o mme rci al, S h o w ro o m P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 1999
Met Kiosk Retail Met Kiosk was designed to leverage retail within the central circulation spaces of the Metquarter Shopping Centre in Liverpool. The strategy evolved creates a language of permanent and flexible elements, which respond to the market demands of time and location. The fluid element, called the ‘attractor’ is a canopy which is visible from a distance, changes colour and is used as a projection background for brands. The rational elements, called ‘containers’, are dependent on the retail opportunity being leveraged. C l i e nt: Mi lli g an C ate gory : Re tai l P l ace , d ate : L i ve r po o l, 2 0 07
We search to find the answer to what makes a great living space. / Residential Projects
Nirala Residence The villa is set in the grounds of a private estate on the outskirts of London. The residence comprises of a large multi - level living room and gallery, a conservatory and a library, a swimming pool, six bedrooms, and an annexe guest wing. Materials used are frameless glazing, copper roofing and white rendered walls. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 2 0 0 4
The Jacaranda Estate With a stunning location in the hills just outside Yalikavak in Bodrum, the 11 villas of The Jacaranda Estate are situated with expansive sea views, and harmoniously landscaped grounds that blend in with the area’s dynamic topography. A seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, naturally occurring materials and ecologically sound cooling systems create a residential community unrivalled in the area. C l i e nt: Brae mo re Gro u p C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Bo dr u m, o n s i te
Palazzo Dorottya Residential & Retail Palazzo Dorottya is designed to restore the exterior shell of the building while inserting a series of highly modern apartments at the inner core and upper levels of the building. The new inner courtyard is designed to reflect this modern insertion, creating a series of layers which respond to the layout and form of the apartments. C l i e nt: R DM C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Bu dape s t, C o mple te d i n 2 0 11
P alazzo Do rottya – In n e r C o u r tyard
P alazzo Do rottya – Inte r i o r C GI
Palazzo Tornabuoni Palazzo Tornabuoni is at the heart of the City of Florence on Via Tornabuoni, home to some of the top design houses of the fashion world. The upper levels will become a “fractional ownership� managed luxury apartment condominium. The piano nobile will contain public rooms, such as dining, smoking, and library, while the top level will house a spa for the use of the residents. C l i e nt: R DM C ate gory : Re s i de n ce , C o mme rci al P l ace , d ate : Flo re n ce , 2 0 0 6
Cencic Residence The design proposal was to bring a sense of unity and coherence to the main open plan living space, which opens out to a tributary of the Ljubljanica river. Throughout the use of materials and finishes result in a warm, rich and contemporary feel, keeping each element’s individuality although working as a whole. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 8
C e n ci c Re s i de n ce
Hanegraaf Residence This property is a currently occupied semi detached house split over three levels. Each room needed an individual and functional redistribution of the existing spaces to provide a personal adaptation, and more desirable overall layout, for the family’s ever changing needs. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 2 0 0 9
Maรงka Residence The project consists of the renovation and interior design of a flat in a historical building at the center of Istanbul, Maรงka. The nicely divided large volumes of spaces create a lovely canvass for the tidiously chosen designer furniture combined with one of a kind unique objects. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 10
Rotheley House This building in central London was the only visible part of a 1960’s housing scheme which had several accolades of the post war era. The scheme stripped the space down to its bare essentials of the concrete frame and started again. The frame was allowed to positively express itself, framing the more dominant materials of timber boarding and render. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 1998
Mestni Trg Residence This is an essay in how to live large in a small space. The design makes use of articulate “collapsing� elements to increase or decrease the functional characteristics of the spaces. In the living/dining/ kitchen space the dining table slots in under a counter to increase its size from a 4 seater to an 8 seater. In the main bedroom, the floor of the raised section slides open to reveal a jacuzzi which allows views of the river below. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : L j u blj an a, 2 0 0 5
Miray House Situated in Emirgan, the north east facade of this one family residence faces the bosphorus panaroma. At the core of the design process was the desire to integrate the interior space with the exteriors while preserving the privacy. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, (o n g o i n g )
Netherhall Gardens Residences The project consists of the interior design of a -to be reconstructed after demolished- Victorian style estate in London, Hampstead Netherhall Gardens. The new building containing 9 flats aims to create an idyllic life style in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods of London. C l i e nt: P r i vate C ate gory : Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , ( i n co n s tr u cti o n)
For every scale of project, we start by thinking beyond architecture to find the DNA to shape our process. / Master Planning
Mecca Masterplan Our vision is to extend the Al-Haram Mosque in a way that creates a ‘spiritual shelter’ that extends visitor numbers to the required levels, provides practical solutions to the serious problems affecting the existing structure, offers a sustainable direction for future growth, and a more positive experience for both citizens of Makkah and visiting pilgrims that is truer to the original Ka’bah traditions. C l i e nt: MOHE , K i n g do m of S au di A rabi a C ate gory: C i vi c, Mas te r plan n i n g , Mi xe d - u s e P l ace , d ate : Me cca, 2 0 0 8
Zizkov Masterplan Getting the citywide and overall masterplan balance right all hinge on maximizing the strengths of the location and minimizing its handicaps. In other words, on creating an appealing harmony with the character and reputation of Zizkov. Much of the early design work focused on the reorientation of the masterplan and the positioning of the retail component as the heart of the destination. One of our our main concerns has been to ensure the natural connectivity of the linked-in streets and adjacencies. Given the character of Zizkov and the great impact this project will have on its future, we strongly believe that the project must integrate as seamlessly as possible into the existing urban fabric, versus simply being transplanted and forced into life. This will encourage acceptance by locals and also create more of an urban feel to the project. C l i e nt: Di s cove r y Gro u p C ate gory : Re tai l, Re s i de nti al, Of f i ce , P ar k P l ace , d ate : P rag u e , 2 0 0 9
Levent Tower On the main trade axis of Levent, this project is a design and feasibility study of a mixed - use space which houses A - class offices, residential units, a shopping centre and a public museum. As the last available land in the area, the building is a signature to the Istanbul skyline. As with all our projects, the building pays special attention to eco-friendly criteria in its design. C l i e nt: Tu rg u t Ilaรง C ate gory : Mi xe d u s e , C o mme rci al, Re tai l, Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 0 9
Rudas Masterplan Rudas is a place where one can enjoy eating dinner in a restaurant facing the Danube, and after shopping at the bazaar and having a massage bath in the hamam. One can swim in the five hundred year old thermal spa under beams of diffused light or can have a relaxing aroma therapy massage after a pilates session at the gym. This can be followed by a comfortable night in a room with an enchanting view of Danube in the upper level boutique hotel. Â Enthused by the unique aura of Rudas, our aim is to build a complex which revitalises original Turkish bathing culture that has gone through the centuries and to brew it with the most contemporary ways of body treatment and experience, feeding the needs of the modern urban individual. C l i e nt: Ku be C ate gory : C o mme rci al, Hote l/ S pa P l ace , d ate : Bu dape s t, 2 0 0 9 (pro j e ct i n pro g re s s)
TOKI Masterplan In 2009, a competition was launched to create an initial 5500 unit satellite residence for an eventual 65000 unit scale. The aim was to follow sustainable criteria to create an eco - friendly community that could live while practising agricultural activities in the same area. C l i e nt: TOK I C ate gory : Mi xe d-u s e , Re s i de nti al P l ace , d ate : Is tan bu l, 2 0 0 9 Award s: 1. pr i ze
Osmannoro Masterplan This retail campus contains a series of recreational active zones, which support and link to its retail centre. This centre is devised as a series of open air streets and squares, covered and shaded by a single (and singular) canopy design, which responds to the natural undulations of the landscape. Public spaces are linked through a piazza to the residential area, which answers its dense planning by opening up its courtyards and atmosphere to take advantage of the parkland to the south. C l i e nt: R DM C ate gory : Mas te r plan n i n g , Mi xe d-u s e P l ace , d ate : Flo re n ce , 2 0 07
The emergence of a solution comes about from the understanding and engagement with the issues surrounding the project / Civic
Mecca Al-Haram Mosque The project was prepared in collaboration with CINICI and ARUP, following the invitation for the ideas commission by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition to the design of the new mosque, the scheme re-creates a quarter in the area of the medieval town Al-Shamiyah which has alredy been demolished, and allows 1,5 million people to pray at the same time in the praying terraces above the city with a view of Kaa’ba. C l i e nt: MOHE , K i n g do m of S au di A rabi a C ate gory : C i vi c, C u ltu ral C e ntre P l ace , d ate : Me cca, 2 0 0 8
Alevi Cultural Centre The proposal is to transform a disused textile manufacturing building into a new cultural centre for the Alevi community of London. The main functions of the Centre are a Cem salon, a cafe-teria for daily use and special events and a space for funerals. All services and administration are concentrated at the front of the building, with a glazed ‘street’ at the heart of the centre, opening out onto an external courtyard. C l i e nt: A le vi C u ltu ral C e ntre C ate gory : C i vi c, C u ltu ral C e ntre P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 2 0 0 6
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Slimbridge Wetlands Visitor Centre The Wetlands Wildlife Trust is a millenium project which involved both a masterplan and ecological management strategy, including new water bodies, a reed bed purification plant, as well as a visitors’ centre for 300,000 visitors per annum. The facilities include a restaurant, exhibition, galleries and a tourist shop. The visitor is brought up to first level via a series of timber ramps to give immediate views over the flat wetland landscape and a rise up to 16 meters above the ground in a viewing tower which provides more extensive views to the Severn Estuary. Natural materials such as red brick, green oak and shingles were used in the construction of the centre. C l i e nt: W W T C ate gory : C i vi c, W i ldli fe C e ntre , Mu s e u m, Re s tau rant P l ace , d ate : S li mbr i dg e , 1999
S el ç u k Avc Ĺ a s de s i gn d irec tor for ECD A rc hitec t s
Accra Airport Selcuk Avci acted as design director of TPS Consult for a short time while continuing to operate as AVCI + JURCA ARCHITECTS in Islington. During this period in his involvement he was credited with the winning of the design contract for the International Airport at Accra, and he left to set up an association with TPS Consult called TPS AVCI through which the project was designed and realised. It was financed by a European fund and built by Swedish contractors Skanska. C l i e nt: Gh an a Avi ati o n Au th o r i ty C ate gory : C i vi c, A i r po r t P l ace , d ate : Gh an a, 2 0 0 5
Malabo International Airport Capital city of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo needs a new international terminal building with a capacity of 1 million passenger/year, which will answer the needs of country’s future and increasing passenger traffic, while providing the latest international standards. Existing airport is planned to be used as domestic terminal, when the new airport is going to be completed. C l i e nt: Nati o n al Au th o r i ty C ate gory : C i vi c, A i r po r t P l ace , d ate : Malabo , Equ ato r i al Gu i n n e a, C o n ce pt S tag e
Tripoli International Airport The project consists of the revitalisation of the exhisting Tripoli airport to become a renewed gate to the future of the country. In order to meet the needs of the future potential of the country the capacity of the airport will be increased almost to the double, improving services, security and esthetic quality. C l i e nt: C i vi l Avi ati o n Mi n i s tr y C ate gory : C i vi c, A i r po r t P l ace , d ate : Tr i po li , L i bi a, C o n ce pt S tag e
Museum of Religion The Museum of Christianity in Sticna, Slovenia is set in the Medieval Cistercian Monastery, which is still active. The exhibits have been collected over a period of years dating from the Roman period to today, forming the story of Christianity over the ages in Slovenia. C l i e nt: S ti cn a Mo n as te r y C ate gory : C i vi c, Mu s e u m, E xh i bi ti o n P l ace , d ate : S ti cn a, 2 0 0 2
Ethnographic Museum This project involved the presentation of prime objects from the museum’s non european collections, and is entitled The Reflections of distant Worlds Exhibition. The exhibition focuses on “distant” cultures such as the Americas, Australia, China, Africa and the Pacific Islands of which the museum has many collections. C l i e nt: Eth n o g raph i c Mu s e u m of S love n i a C ate gory : C i vi c, Mu s e u m, E xh i bi ti o n P l ace , d ate : S love n i a, 2 0 0 6
Banbury Museum The project involved linking sites on both sides of a canal to form a new centre for the Banbury Museum and associated galleries, together with a new Tourist Information Centre. The glazed bridge gallery overlooks renovated boatyard structures and a new enclosure to house the fully functioning historic dry dock. The project was partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. C l i e nt: C h e r w e ll Di s tr i ct C o u n ci l, Br i ti s h Wate r w ays Au th o r i ty C ate gory : C i vi c, Mu s e u m P l ace , d ate : Oxfo rds h i re , 1999
S el 癟 u k Avc 覺 a s de s i g n d irec tor for ECD A rc hitec t s
The International Languages Laboratory The International Building for the Royal Holloway University in Egham addresses and completes the natural courtyar created by the student union and the physics building. The courtyard rises by one floor to the main entrance of the building, allowing a glimpse of the original Founders Building as one enters. The south- facing inner courtyard is clad in Western cedar panels, while the outer facing the noisier highway is built in red brick. Natural cooling is provided by night time air which passes through the hollow core floor slabs. C l i e nt: Ro yal Ho llo w ay Un i ve r i s ty C ate gory : C i vi c, Edu cati o n P l ace , d ate : Lo n do n , 1998
S el 癟 u k Avc 覺 a s de s i gn d irec tor for ECD A rc hitec t s
Avcı Architects Our Team At AVCIARCHITECTS, we have always considered our selves as being located in the world as opposed to a single country. Our studios take on this multicultural aspect in the composition of their staff and also in their design approach. Our design philosophy is based on an inclusive thought process and our relationships with the world’s best doers and thinkers are reflected in our projects whenever the opportunity allows us. Beyond our own staff we are experienced in productively and creatively bringing together international expertise from various disciplines to form the best teams possible for our projects AVCIARCHITECTS is composed of architects, graphic and interior designers as well as sustainability experts. Engineering design is brought in as an added service, however we retain the inputs of some of the world’s best engineers on all of our projects
Selçuk Avcı Founding Partner Throughout his career, Selçuk Avci has aimed to balance the theory and practice of architecture, working as an architect and recently also as a developer. Along side this he has always put at the forefront of his thinking the idea of holistic design and made this a focus of all his activities in the design and development of buildings and the built environment. Born in 1961 Avci graduated from Bath University in England. He has taught at the Architectural Association (AA), the London University Bartlett School of Architecture, Bath University School of Architecture, the Delft Technical University, and Ljubljana University School of Architecture as visiting professor. Returning to Turkey he has set up a new Eco Design unit in Istanbul, at the Bilgi University Faculty of Architecture. After gaining a strong professional footing in eco sensitive design at some of the world’s leading proponents of the practice of sustainable design in practices such as Feilden Clegg Bradley Design, Energy Conscious Design Architects and ARUP Associates, Selcuk founded AVCI ARCHITECTS in London and has since designed projects in the UK, Turkey, Italy,
Slovenia, Hungary, Ghana, Czech Republic, Serbia, and Saudi Arabia. He co-founded URBANISTA INTERNATIONAL, a development company, in London and Istanbul with his partner Markus Lehto in the spring of 2007. Recently he founded the Architectural Bespoke Joinery Company AVCI BESPOKE, which specialises in the construction and delivery of bespoke joinery for luxury residential projects. The practices he has lead have won numerous awards and prizes both international and national and he has published works in numerous journals and books. One of the most notable was the inclusion of his practice AVCI ARCHITECTS in “A Guide to 50 Best Young Practices of the UK” published by the Architecture Foundation. His projects were awarded various prizes, including an RIBA Regional Award for Royal Holloway University International Centre, and a Queen’s Civic Trust Award, for the HQ of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. He is particularly involved in the concept and scheme design stages of projects. Selçuk Avcı currently practices in Istanbul and London and lives with his family in Ljubljana.
Sanja Jurca Avcı Kurucu Ortak Sanja Jurca Avci is an architect who fell in love with storytelling. As a student of architecture Sanja became involved with the Theatre Academy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and found herself in creating spaces and costumes for the stories of theatre plays. Later on her work naturally spread into telling storylines of exhibitions by working in the field of museum exhibition design. Recently Sanja has also begun to write stories herself – film scripts, dramas and puppet plays. Sanja has designed for theatres in Slovenia and in the UK, for clients ranging from Royal Shakespeare Company to Edinburgh’s the Traverse Theatre and from London based Lumiere and Son to Slovene National Theatre. Her exhibition designs can be seen in Ireland, where she designed the permanent
exhibition in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Book of Kells exhibition and the Museum of Chester Beatty as a project designer for Event Communications, as well as in Slovenia, where her independent work includes large scale exhibitions like the new Lipizzaner Museum Lipikum or Reflections of Distant Worlds in Slovene Etnoghraphic Museum and also small boutique private exhibitions like Our Fathers’ Footsteps at the Pule Estate. Whether working in exhibition design or in theatre Sanja enjoys telling stories in and with space. She strongly believes in legibility, boldness and conveying a clear message. In her designs Sanja tries to use every possible means as a carrier of content and message, be it colour, shape, material, light. Reworking the totality until it is finely balanced is for her a challenge and a pleasure.
Experience AWARDS & PRIZES
SELECTED PROJECTS
Turkish Contractors Association HQ, Best International Project Award Building Award 2014, UK
Turkish Contractors’ Association Office HQ in Ankara, for the Main Contractors of Turkey Limited Competition, 1st Prize £15 million
Pollock Retail Centre, Glasgow Concept design development of major out of town shopping complex in Scotland. (for RTKL) £100 million
Alemdag Envisioning and Master Plan 300,000 sqm Mixed use residential / community development in Istanbul £85 million (UK equivalent prices)
Stockport Station Retail & Leisure Complex, Stockport Master plan for a major complex of shops, international pool, bowling centre, multiplex cinema, restaurants, and bars, car parks and landscaping. £30 million
Turkish Contractors Association HQ, 1st prize Ankara, Limited Competition Kayabasi (Sustainable) Housing and Mixed Use for TOKI, 1st prize (Joint Winner) Istanbul, National Competition Working in the City, Energy Efficient Public Building, 1st prize EU Competition Banbury Museum, RIBA Competition, 1st Prize WWT visitor Centre, Sustainable visitor Centre, 1st Prize, Limited Competition WWT visitor Centre, Sustainable visitor Centre, Winner, Civic Trust Award International Building, Royal Holloway University 1st prize London, Egham, UK. Limited Competition International Building, Royal Holloway University Winner, London, Egham, UK. RIBA Regional Award for Design ECO Centre master plan and labs, 2nd Prize Italy, EU Competition Millwall Dock Restaurant and Bar. LDDC Competition, 2nd prize Mondial House, BT Openworld, London 2nd prize British Council of Offices Award, Shortlisted Alexandria Library, Egypt, UNESCO Competition Hon. Men.
Misafir Suites, Hotel & Restaurant Development Boutique Hotel and Restaurant Development in Istanbul £10 million, (UK Prices) Çubuklu Master Plan & Retail Centre Development 1,5m sqm Mixed use residential, and retail development in Istanbul £250 million (UK equivalent prices) Novi Sad Master Plan & Retail Centre Development Retail development in Serbia £80 million (UK equivalent prices) Zizkov Master Plan & Retail Centre Development Mixed use residential, office and retail development in Prague £200 million (UK equivalent prices) Palazzo Dorottya, Budapest, Hungary Mixed use luxury residential development in Hungary £60 million (UK equivalent prices) Palazzo Tornabuoni, Florence, Italy Mixed use luxury residential development in Italy £45 million (UK equivalent prices) Gates of Florence, Florence, Italy Master plan of mixed use retail, office and residential development in Italy £500 million (UK equivalent prices)
Birmingham New Street, Mixed Use, Redevelopment Master plan and outline design of major new city centre development over existing mainline railway station. Sky scraper of 45 storeys, urban square, station building, retail units, offices, housing, etc. £300 million Cannon Street Station office & retail Development Major development over existing main line station and Underground, including the design of stations, shops, restaurants, commercial offices. £150 million Stockley Park Arena, Leisure and Retail Centre, Heathrow Concept design, planning, and tender information preparation as ‘project architect’ and team leader of the leisure and retail amenities building called the Arena, including pool, sports hall, squash courts, gym, changing, saunas, health club, bar restaurants shops, management offices and landscaping. £30 million Islington Green, Mixed Use Development Plan, London Master plan for a mixed development of housing, offices, Retail centre, cinema, public squares, car parks and crèche. £25 million
BT Wholesale Offices HQ, London HQ office building fit out and refurbishment £15 million Nirala, St Georges Hill, London Luxury residence in St Georges Hill, £5 million AKM Cultural Centre, Haringey, London New community and cultural centre, in North London. £3 million International Airport, Accra, Ghana Extension and refurbishment, of international airport, including retail and commercial elements. £ 25 million BT Openworld Offices HQ Mondial House, London HQ office building fit out built in 3 phases £8 million Banbury Museum, Banbury, RIBA Competition, 1st Prize, Lottery, £10 million WWT visitor Centre, Gloucestershire, Limited Competition, 1st Prize, Millennium Project Civic Trust Award £15 million Royal Holloway university International Centre, Egham, London Limited Competition. University building, 1st prize RIBA Regional Award £ 8 million
Clients Czech Republic
Turkey
U.K.
Discovery Group Grainger Henderson Global Investors
ARUP Astaş Holding ATA Real Estate Developments Braemore Group Çinici Architecture Doğa Madencilik Eksen A.Ş. ENKA (RTKL UK) ‹stanbul FEMCO FİBA Holding Fox International Channels Hewlett Packard Kube SUMMA Constructions Şölen Chocolates Turkish Contractor’s Association (TMB) TOK‹ Turgut Pharmaceuticals Urbanista Developments Yayla Real Estate Developments Yüksel Constructions
After Tuesday Alevi Cultural Centre ARUP British Telecom British Waterways Authority Cherwell District Council Contemporary Leisure
Ghana Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
Hungary Dorottya Parker Green International
Italy RDM Serbia Ocean Atlantic International MEP Properties
Slovenia KAVAL Group GIVO Real Estate NAMA department stores National Theatre of Slovenia Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising Slovenia TBVA Advertising Slovenia Technical Museum of Slovenia
Saudi Arabia MOHE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia FEMCO XENEL
EXSA (Sabancı) Fanshaw Gallipoli Café Quality Capital Management London Docklands Arena London Borough of Hackney London Borough of Southward London Borough of Tower Hamlets Lumiere and Son at the ICA and Riverside Studios Milligan Retail Regnum Royal Holloway University of London
RTKL Royal Shakespeare Company Stratford Team Pictures Film Studios Threshold Tennant Trust Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Urbanista Developments
Contact Istanbul 9/4 Turnacıbaşı Sokak, Beyoğlu, 34433 +90 (0)212 292 79 09 T +90 (0)212 292 79 08 F London 11/2 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU
+44 (0)20 7729 1887 T +44 (0)20 7739 35 01 F
www.avciarchitects.com