iDEEGE Technopark by ATÖLYE Labs

Area: 1,000 m² total floor area, 800 m² landscaping
Scope: Core & shell office building (architecture + landscape architecture + engineering) designed with 35 second-hand shipping containers
Timeline: January 2015 – October 2015

iDEEGE Technopark A.Ş. approached ATÖLYE Labs with the vision of creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary space for collaboration in the heart of Izmir, Turkey’s bustling cosmopolitan city. The resulting project repurposes 35 second-hand shipping containers to form the centerpiece of a vibrant new research community within Ege University. This innovative space is designed not only to house R&D facilities but also to serve as a creative hub for talent in the region, particularly focusing on biotechnology, energy, materials, and software research.

Project Overview:

The 1,000 m² technopark facility is designed to accommodate independent research and development (R&D) facilities for both large Turkish and international companies. The facility promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction, with strategically placed “catalysts”—spaces designed to enhance connections between members. The project features fast-paced design, research, and construction processes, completed within a tight nine-month timeline.

Design Principles:

Site-Specific Design
The project began with the discovery of a dormant site with the rubble of a demolished building amidst the expansive campus of Ege University. By upcycling 35 second-hand shipping containers sourced from Izmir port, the design team transformed this underused site and repurposed materials into a vibrant, functional space.
The design carefully considered solar orientation, existing campus circulation routes, wind angles, shaded areas from trees, and the contours of the previous building, resulting in a programmatic division and volumetric arrangement that optimized user circulation. Storyboarding potential user interactions helped emphasize the importance of catalyst programs for art, design, and technology. Key features such as a vertical ‘beacon’ container, an inner courtyard, narrow cross-circulation corridors, and abundant seating options create spaces for social interaction, refuge, and spontaneous encounters.

Ecological Design:
The project integrates numerous ecological strategies. The container modules are oriented to maximize north-south exposure and facilitate passive solar heating, while narrow cross-sections enhance natural ventilation. The design also incorporates several sustainable features, including existing trees, custom shading devices, solar-coated southern windows, thick insulation, natural materials such as cork, and LED lighting systems. These features work together to reduce the building’s environmental impact, minimizing the need for artificial cooling and heating.

Future-Proofed Design:
A major focus of the project is adaptability and resilience, ensuring the space can evolve over time. Key technical details include exposed beams and columns, visible electrical trays, abundant electrical outlets, high-capacity ventilation, and locally controllable heating and cooling systems. The structure is designed to be flexible, with a supporting sub-structure for future modifications and separations of spaces.
The modular design, combined with alternative layouts and movable furniture, allows for future reconfigurations. The container facades are envisioned as canvases for murals, and the building is designed for easy dismantling and relocation. This adaptability makes the technopark a prototype for future institutions.

Project Credits:

Design Team:

• Engin Ayaz

• Nesile Yalçın

• Nujen Acar

• Elif Karaköse

• Buşra Tunç

• Berna Erenoğlu

Project Manager:

• Nesile Yalçın

Interns:

• Begüm Ural

• Batuhan Türker

Visualization:

• Murathan Sırakaya

• Gökhan Gürbüz

Collaborating Firms:

• ATÖLYE Labs: Architectural design, strategic consulting, sustainability consulting, landscape design, project management, site control

• Antre Design: Architectural consulting

• STEB: Site control

• V​enta Mühendislik: Mechanical engineering

• Sinapsen Elektrik: Electrical engineering

• Methal Mühendislik: Structural analysis

• Parça Proje: Lighting consulting

• Yerçekim Architectural Photography: Photography

Status: Built
Location: Izmir, Turkey

Visit the Project: Container Park on Archinect

The iDEEGE Technopark serves as a model for sustainable, adaptable, and innovative spaces that foster interdisciplinary collaboration, making it a landmark project not just for Izmir, but for the broader tech community.