Celaleddin Çelik
Located within the central garden of the General Directorate of Forestry in Ankara, the Visitor and Information Center is designed as a prestige project that interprets structural timber through a contemporary architectural language. Positioned in the midst of urban density, the project aims to offer visitors a sense of calm and serenity. The inner courtyard organized around a central water element, together with the timber structures that encircle it, creates a strong contrast with the surrounding urban fabric.
In the architectural approach, timber is used in a way that reveals its natural character without forcing it into forms alien to the material’s inherent nature. The clarity of the structural system, combined with the authenticity of the material, establishes a coherent unity both structurally and aesthetically.
The program aims to express the notion of prestige not only in terms of representation but also through user experience. Exhibition halls, rest and activity areas, VIP lounges, and reception spaces create a rich and diverse spatial repertoire. In addition, a shop selling products made from forestry materials and areas dedicated to aromatic plants directly reinforce the building’s relationship with the institutional identity of the General Directorate of Forestry.
The colonnades opening to the garden, the walking routes that encourage movement around the water feature, and the permeable façades that strengthen the relationship between interior and exterior form the fundamental design principles of the project. This integrated composition stands out as both a contemporary representational space and a significant demonstration of the architectural potential of structural timber.
