Bodrum Health Foundation Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy Center National Architectural Design Competition

RETURNING TO LIFE and PORIFERA as a Place of PURIFICATION…

Derived from the Latin roots porus (hole) and ferre (to carry), Porifera (i.e. sponge) absorbs water, filters it, and returns it to its source in a purified form.

We interpret our relationship with the program through this metaphor as purification, and define this structure—which, through the therapies and treatments it offers, allows its visitors (users) to feel well both physically and mentally—as a space of experience. It is a Porifera that brings them back to life.

Concept

The project site, backed by prevailing winds—Yıldız (north), Karayel (northwest), and Poyraz (northeast)—offers a unique Aegean view toward Gumbet Bay, described by Homer as a "paradise of eternal blues," under the refreshing breeze of these dominant winds.

In the site plan, a strong east–west axis defines the orientation, establishing the relationship between building, site, and user. This approach, which creates tension with the existing slope to the north and divides the plot in two, transforms into a transitional space between areas that do not require sunlight or views and those that seek to open toward the scenery. At the same time, it becomes a concrete and geometric form that allows for the entrance.

The curved WALL, which borders the entrance and atrium and holds all circulation and movement along its edge, defines the building's entrance and gently invites the user inward. As the visitor experiences the play of light—and perhaps sound—on this surface, they begin to perceive the colorful corridors of the seemingly complex leucon, and disperse. In a sense, Porifera prepares the user for life.

(LEUCON: A type of sponge or sponge larva characterized by a complex structure with a flagellated chamber limited by many small openings.)

This solid wall also contains the movement and noise of the entrance hall. The entrance hall functions as a kind of activity zone. At its end, on the eastern façade, the cafeteria is located, which is expected to connect in the future to a natural park boundary. During this journey, a hall opens northward to the pools (blue), while two main halls open southward toward the sea view. One of these halls, close to the entrance, leads to the polyclinics (green); the other, on the eastern façade, connects to the administrative units (yellow). These halls accommodate two-story structural and functional units. As one moves eagerly toward the sea view, the inner courtyard—shaded by the east–west sun during the day—draws attention, waiting to be felt when the time is right, beyond the view, along with the wind. The landscape of the courtyard is a therapeutic garden composed of simple, local plants that aims to preserve the natural setting.

Design / Material

"Architecture offers a dimension made by humans that acts as an extension of nature—by creating a plane for people to perceive the world they live in and a horizon through which they gain and interpret experiences."
—Juhani Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin

This monumental wall, with its surface cast using wooden molds, stands like the hull of a gangava boat anchored in the bay, within Bodrum’s poetic landscape. Made from white concrete mixed with local stone and rising two stories high, this structural wall requires craftsmanship. It is not flawless; it evokes a desire to touch.

While dividing the plot in two, the wall creates a tension with the existing northern slope, yet also seeks a visual and physical connection with the park area to the immediate east. It almost seems to advance toward the park, inviting it inward. In future works that may be developed within the park, the wall desires to make its presence known, allowing its users to dream of engaging with the park. Through the reflections on its surface, while serving as the central architectural element of the building, it also contributes to the relationship between the road and the park.

Louis Kahn said, “The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.” The presence, intensity, and warmth of light affect our emotional state, sleep patterns, focus, and productivity—both psychologically and physiologically. By allowing visitors to witness these movements of the sun within the building, we aimed to provide them with the opportunity to feel connected to the outside world while being indoors. While the three main halls are defined by specific colors (blue – green – yellow), the entrance and atrium are composed entirely of white surfaces.

Saying “the form of the building is inspired by porifera” would not be accurate. Rather, this definition forms an abstract relationship with the program, user movement, and experience. However, the ancient city of Pedesa, located to the north of the town, provides concrete and strong references for establishing our relationship with the land, its geometric order, and orientation. While defining the structural boundaries of the project, the movement of people between units was taken as a reference. After outlining the voids, the spaces that form the building’s units were attached to the periphery.

A material frequently used in local building traditions—gray limestone (calciferous stone)—clads the southern-facing wings of the building. It serves a protective role in the building envelope during summer. With narrow and recessed openings, a physical connection is established while shielding from the sun’s harsh effects.
(Spicule: A structural element made of silica or calcium carbonate, found in invertebrate marine animals like sponges.)
(Limestone: A carbonate sedimentary rock formed from the skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral and mollusks.)

Hydrotherapy / Physiotherapy

The pool(s) are defined through phenomena appealing to visual, tactile, and auditory senses. Although it may seem unfavorable, daylight is carefully and indirectly admitted into the interior through slits located on the roof and façade of the building.

Water therapy areas and rest zones are positioned behind the wall, leaning against the northern slope. Considering the clean foot / dirty foot circulation, users are free to move within these spaces during treatment. The interior layout is organized through a sequence of interconnected rooms.

Above the hydrotherapy spaces, physiotherapy rooms are located, where physical activities take place. These rooms overlook the pool to the east and green roofs to the west, establishing a relationship with the green coverage on the rooftop terraces.

Sustainable Design

The prevailing wind directions come from the north, northwest, and northeast. The building does not rise on the north façade and, with its fragmented massing, allows air flow. The design aims to enable dominant winds to penetrate into the building and the inner courtyard. However, healthcare buildings may require increased ventilation capacity to expel contaminated indoor air.

The atrium serves as an architectural element that breathes life into the building and its users by facilitating the circulation of clean and polluted air, thereby contributing to sustainability. While a large roof structure massively covers the building, the openings along the perimeter wall allow natural light and air to enter.

The roofs are suitable for the use and orientation of solar energy. Skylights, which allow daylight into the interior, also function as roof windows providing natural ventilation. Air entering through window and door openings completes its circulation inside before being expelled to the exterior through the roof windows.