'Social' Awareness for a Historical Building

Students of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design have repurposed the Mavi Kortejo (Blue Cortijo) in Basmane, one of the city's most significant cultural heritage sites, into a residential or communal living space tailored for disadvantaged groups. Analyzing the historical, social, and cultural layers of the Kemeraltı and Mezarlıkbaşı areas, the students focused on every detail, from garden structure design to material, color, and texture selection. They developed living scenarios for diverse user groups, including immigrants, women's cooperatives, orphaned children, and individuals with disabilities. The students showcased their 12 distinct designs through visual presentation boards, technical drawings, and architectural models in an exhibition held at the University.

Third-year students from the IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design carried out these works during their spring semester ‘Interior Design Studio’ course. The project was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Avcı, instructed by Lecturer and Master Architect Gözde Özder Çakır, and supported by student assistant Ezgi Mızraklı. The young designers received great acclaim for their successful projects, which redesigned the Mavi Kortejo to meet social needs while preserving its original character.

“PRODUCED FOR SOCIAL BENEFIT”

Providing details about the project phase, which lasted approximately three months, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Avcı stated that they view the work conducted on Mavi Kortejo as a responsibility toward the city, cultural heritage, and social needs. Noting that Mavi Kortejo holds an important place in the historical memory of Basmane and the multicultural urban identity of Izmir, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Avcı said, “In tackling this building, our students did not just develop a proposal for spatial transformation; they also questioned how design can contribute to the city's invisible social issues. In this respect, the project became a highly valuable example demonstrating that interior architecture is a powerful discipline that generates social benefit, going far beyond aesthetic and functional decisions.”

“ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Avcı continued as follows: “As part of the study, our students thoroughly examined the historical, cultural, and social layers of the Kemeraltı, Mezarlıkbaşı, and Basmane line. Based on this research, they reimagined Mavi Kortejo as a more accessible, inclusive, and supportive living or communal space for immigrants, women's cooperatives, orphaned children, individuals with disabilities, and various disadvantaged user groups. It was incredibly valuable that students developed separate living scenarios for each user group, building their design decisions upon real needs and social sensitivity. While considering the building's original character, materials, texture, color, and memory within the city, they simultaneously sought solutions for issues such as housing, accessibility, co-living, social support, and the need for production spaces in today's urban environment. This approach both strengthened cultural heritage awareness and highlighted the role of design in creating social awareness.”

“SUPPORTED BY EXPERTS”

Expressing that they also organized many events during the semester to bring students together with guest speakers, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Avcı concluded, “Throughout the studio process, students also had the opportunity to examine the Mavi Kortejo building, which is currently used by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Urban Justice and Equality Branch, on-site. In this context, Mert Kaya and Ahu Yılmaz provided students with information regarding the building's historical importance, cultural richness, conservation process, and contemporary use. Furthermore, Berk Olçum from Konu-Merdiven contributed insights on staircase design, Emre Ünlü from LightinPlan shared expertise on lighting design, and Verda Çakal from Vanucci Mutfak joined the studio to share knowledge and experience regarding kitchen design. I would like to thank our stakeholders for their support.”