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KAHVESI KNOWLEDGE BREWERY 34110, I S TA N B U L , TURKEY
ASIK KAHVESI (1600s) Troubadour sharing monologues on legends and poetic readings.
YENICERI KAHVESI (1620s) Political discussions and debates amongst janissaries and bodyguards of the Ottoman empire.
TULUMBACI KAHVESI (1800s) Coffeebreaks for firemen in between duties.
SEMAI KAHVESI (1880s) Public entertainment venues for story telling, musical performances and shadow puppetry.
cooling fins typical coffeehouse fountain
PREMISE Coffeehouses in Turkey has been a symbol of democracy throughout history. The Ottoman government had attempted to ban coffeehouses, accused coffee for its power to unite the public. After coffeehouses survived the dictatorship, coffeehouses have become more of a leisure venue. Date back to 17th Century, coffeehouses became dedicated to certain social classes and cultral interests. Over time, coffeehouses in Turkish society take on different roles according to shifts in fashion. Responding to the current political landscape in Turkey, coffeehouses is vital in uniting the public for democratic purposes.
fountain tray
motor
fountain base
T H E C O F F E E B E A N F O U N TA I N S Fountain is a centre piece in traditional coffeehouses in Turkey, around which visitors are inclined to enjoy their Turkish coffee and have social acitivities such as political discussions and monologue sharings depending on the trend. In other words, the fountain symbolises the unification of knowledgeable people encouraged by coffee. In the design of Kahvesi Theatre, the fountain is taken as a historical reference and redesigned as a coffeebean fountain - a big, round shallow tray where freshly roasted beans are cooled. The aroma of the beans is distributed gently by the slowly rotating fins rolling the beans over. Programmatic configurations are also designed around this piece of monument, creating a symphany with the sounds of people and coffeebeans colliding and the robust smell of coffee.
COFFEEBEAN STORAGE Unroasted ooffeebeans are imported by vans in burlap bags on ground floor back of house area behind the Debate Fountain. The bags are hung and sent to the top floor where it is dry and cool and naturally ventilated. The vertical void coffee bean storage creates imposes a spiritual spatial quality enjoyed from the ground floor and the first floor co-working space. When needed, the beans are collected from the bags and is poured into one of the coffeebean roasters in the roof garden. The delicate sound of coffeebeans pouring down the roaster is heard throughout the building.
BUILDING PROGRAMME A debate forum, lecture theatre and Turkish coffeehouse compound that manifests the democratic role of coffee in Ottoman Empire history and a platform to unite the people. Functional spaces are designed around two coffee bean fountains celebrating intellectualism and freedom of speech. The Debate Fountain is situated on the ground floor in the centre, welcoming visitors to join in any conversations going on, while given the option to sit back and enjoy the shadow puppet show of the day in the theatre space in front.
2/F PLAN
1/F PLAN
G/F PLAN
On second floor there is the Knowledge Fountain, the second fountain at Kahvesi Theatre which promotes a quieter environment for readers to enquire the library for political books. It also serves as a co-working space. Speeches and lectures on political topics are also held at the lecture thetre on this floor.
N A R R AT I V E D R A W I N G R E V E A L I N G T H E V I S I T O R S ’ A N D PERFORMERS’ JOURNEYS