Vocational School of Justice
LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER FOR URLA
Interior architects of Izmir University of Economics designed the Women Producer Market of Urla (Former Repair Shop) as a lifelong learning center. The project designed by second year students of Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), allows the space to become more functionalized with different concepts for women, children, university students, and the elderly.
As part of the protocol between Urla Municipality and Izmir University of Economics, students of IUE Department of Architecture developed “Street and Facade Improvement Projects” regarding Cumhuriyet Square, Bülent Baratalı Boulevard, and the Historical Malgaca Bazaar and surrounding areas. Students of IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design developed projects in terms of interior deign to transform the Women Producer Market into a lifelong learning center where subjects such as marine life, physics, history, space sciences, etc. will be taught.
Assoc. Prof. Deniz Hasırcı, Faculty Member, Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, reported that the building was an important asset for Urla, it also had a spectacular structure for interior architects. “As a team, we wanted to make the historical building become functional again. Students developed many projects under various themes. They did a thorough research. For example, they researched how the interior design of a re-functionalized building to teach kids about space should be. How that topic should be taught, which form, colors, and shapes should be used for that concept, how the lighting should be. Students sought for answers to these questions. They came up with successful and applicable outcomes”.
Assoc. Prof. Hasırcı stated that they aimed to share the projects with Urla Municipality; they wanted to work in collaboration and worked in harmony. Assoc. Prof. Hasırcı said that the team included academicians Silvia Rolla, Didem Özdel, Haluk Tatari, Zeynep Edes, Selin Anal, Orlin Pontremoli, Merve Çelebi, İdil Bakır Küçükkaya, and Elif Büyükkeçeci.