Velux Plus

*Urban Context and Legacy*

Velux Plus emerges as the continuation of an urban legacy, positioned directly alongside the original Velux development on Istanbul Road, one of Ankara’s principal arteries. Together, the two projects create a unified urban landmark, reinforcing the city’s identity along this major corridor. The design of Velux Plus is conceived not as an isolated development, but as an urban extension—an architectural dialogue that acknowledges its predecessor while expanding the programmatic and spatial possibilities of the site.

*Program and Scale*

The project encompasses a total construction area of 110,876.49 m² and is organized into 11 blocks, with functions distributed across residential, commercial, and recreational programs. Conceived as a mixed-use development, Velux Plus responds to the demands of contemporary urban life, balancing density with livability, and commerce with community. The project seeks to establish itself as both a destination and a place of everyday engagement, where the thresholds between dwelling, working, and leisure are intentionally blurred.

*Design Strategy and Spatial Organization*

The site is structured by the convergence of two distinct design zones, unified through a user-centered experience. In the first zone, the blocks are positioned along the perimeter of the site, enclosing a central recreational space. This inner void becomes a focal point, animated by a nomadic garden—a landscape conceived to evolve through use, seasonality, and collective activity, thereby generating a strong identity for the heart of the project.

In the second zone, the blocks adopt a linear arrangement. Here, the spatial voids created between buildings are transformed into activity corridors, defined by the rhythmic placement of lightweight canopies. These canopies structure the urban sequence, hosting a range of programs such as street food festivals, open-air cinemas, concerts, and markets. In doing so, the project operates not only as a residential-commercial enclave but also as a cultural venue that engages with its broader urban context.

*Accessibility and Circulation*

Accessibility is considered a defining aspect of the project. The site is approached from three different edges of the parcel, enhancing permeability and integration with the surrounding urban fabric. Internally, circulation is reinforced through a system of moving walkways, escalators, pedestrian bridges, and landscaped vertical cores. This multi-layered approach to movement generates continuity across the site, offering users diverse spatial experiences while maintaining clarity and orientation.

*Landscape Strategy*

At the ground level, the landscape prioritizes hard surfaces to support commercial activity, social engagement, and circulation. Complementing this, green gardens are introduced on setback terraces across various levels of the blocks, bringing nature into elevated strata of the development. This dual strategy ensures that both active, urban-oriented spaces and intimate, ecological retreats coexist within the same framework.

*Architectural Expression*

The architectural language of Velux Plus follows a minimalist approach. The upper residential and office volumes are articulated with a modern façade system, emphasizing clarity, rhythm, and verticality. At the commercial base, however, the expression shifts toward a warmer and more tactile character, achieved through the use of brick. This juxtaposition—modern above, classical below—creates a striking dialogue between permanence and contemporaneity, density and intimacy.

*Conclusion*

Velux Plus is envisioned as an urban fragment that transcends the conventional boundaries of a mixed-use project. Through its integration with the legacy of the original Velux, its capacity to generate both public and private programs, and its layered spatial strategies, the project aims to become a catalyst for urban life along one of Ankara’s most significant corridors. It stands as an architectural statement of continuity and renewal—rooted in context, yet future-oriented in its vision.