“Whatever the language, color or religion they have, good people are always good.” -Haci Bektas-i Veli Sercesme Faith and Cultural Center is a building complex including the Cem House (Gathering House), guest house, multipurpose hall, soup kitchen and many supporting functions and it is planned to be built in Hacibektas District of Nevsehir in Turkey. The project intends to reflect a modern architectural look harmonious with the environmental and social context, taking in consideration the needs of the local community, such as religious beliefs, cultural traditions and accommodation, as well as the inherent Bektashi culture.
The residential context around the site consists of sparse single storey structures while two of the roads surrounding the site are planned to be used as pedestrian roads.
The pedestrian road to the north of the site and the 20-meter setback distance have significant potential for pedestrian access. The green belt extending parallel to the pedestrian path and the urban space linking the green spaces are associated with the complex.
Principles of tolerance and simplicity belonging to the Bektashi Culture are considered as important design principles to be reflected to the architecture of the complex alongside with the environmental restraints and parameters.
The architectural program required functions that will bring all the people of the community together apart from the conventional gathering house (Cem). In this sense, the building must include public spaces as well as areas that require privacy. Hence, these functions are separated from each other in different levels of the section of the complex, according to the degree of their privacy levels. Functions that require privacy such as management, library, guesthouse and funeral units are located in upper levels, whereas the lower level includes more public areas like multipurpose halls, classrooms and a soup kitchen. In addition to the functions, open and semi-open spaces between these areas are also considered together with the overall design of the masses. Thus, the relationship between the secluded and the apparent is provided in a holistic manner. In addition to this, the twenty-meter setback distance is joined with the lower public courtyard by means of landscape elements to establish a relation between the urban ground and the buildings.
While the simplicity of the architectural language of the complex is related to the philosophy of Bektashi order, the material and structure typology is designed to be in coherence with the urban texture. Thus, the project of Sercesme Faith and Cultural Centre finds its place in harmony with the physical and spiritual context in its structural environment.
