VitrA Çağdaş Mimarlık Dizisi - Arkitera

Beginning from the early stages of the design process, the marina project was intended
as a partial rehabilitation of the urban pattern of Çeşme. The objective was to create
a rich market and harbor pattern at the area where the town meets the sea. While
the pedestrian paths and squares opening to the street at the land side direct crowds
coming from the town towards the marina, the shops have been oriented towards the
sea. The approach from the sea was a crucial identity problem for the marina. Rather
than creating another example of a sterile marina, the project aimed to evoke the feeling
of docking at a crowded Aegean harbor. Another concept that influenced the design
is “The Gates of the East”. The design language created by the interaction of local architecture
of the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast with classical architecture was a key
point in the design process. An anonymous approach that generates the language of
its environment was preferred rather than one based on the identities of the architects
and their current tendencies.
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Yacht tourism, seen in the shores of Turkey since the middle of 1960s, has become
common since Kuşadası, Bodrum and Kemer opened as the first marinas in the country
in 1970. They are managed by Turban A.Ş. In 1974, the first private sector marina,
Altınyunus Marina opened in Çeşme. Since then, as there were not enough places for
yachts to dock, new investments were needed to meet this demand. In response, Çeşme
Marina opened in 2010.
Çeşme Marina claiming to reproduce this harmonious anonymity formed one by one in
time, basing jolly experiments lived in here and imitating unique atmospheres formed
by city and architectural repertory as well as the quality life environments formed by
local architecture has made its intellectual investment in producing this kind of architecture
style in order to create harmony and a sense of place.
Çeşme Marina extends the historical Çeşme Çarşı reflection through sea and continuing
it within its body is a project of shopping centre and marina being scattered and being
composed of city and architectural elements such as squares, bridges and focal points
which seem like they have happened to be by themselves in the city.
A sense of place and belonging as well as anonymity is maintained with the help of
expert Xavier Bohl, who has given the project generic properties that allow it to be
a part of Aegean and Mediterranean geography. This feeling is very specific and
leading that it makes use of traditions gathered in this geography and also local people
are accustomed to those traditions. Details of every building were designed carefully,
each size was carefully calculated and every color and material was chosen with care.
Çeşme Marina is one of the most impressive shore projects produced recently in Turkey
in terms of the richness it offers with its experimental elements and the deep meaning
created by city and architecture repertoire.
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