Gaziantep’s Transfer Hub Design Project Inspired By The Intracellular Protein Transport System

Abstract

This article explores how to design a Transportation Transfer Hub inspired by Nature. The Transfer Hub in the study was designed to solve the transportation problems of Gaziantep, one of Turkey’s major cities located on the historical silk road. The research was conducted to prepare the Gaziantep Spatial Strategy Plan. The literature review, document analysis, case study, in-depth interviews, focus group interviews and systematic observation methods were used. The research had shown that the biggest problem of Gaziantep is the unsustainable and non-integrated urban transportation system. Therefore, a transportation transfer hub to Gaziantep city centre was proposed in the strategic plan as the best move to solve the problem. The perspective of biomimicry theory was used in the study. In adopting the biomimicry perspective, the research work commenced with the following research questions: (i) What would Nature do if it encountered such a problem? (ii) How would Nature solve this problem? The intracellular protein transport system has inspired the Gaziantep Transportation Transfer Hub and contributed significantly to the urban design project. First, with Nature as an inspiration, an original design, unlike any other transportation transfer hub in the world, has emerged. Second, an organic urban design in harmony with Nature has also emerged. Third, ratio and proportion, size and standards are on the agenda of design. Thus, in the third dimension, an aesthetic physical environment with balanced occupancy and the void ratio has emerged. Fourth, technological solutions have entered the design agenda. Fifth, Gaziantep’s transportation problem has found a solution with an intriguing, interesting, innovative, and beneficial, sustainable method. The study has shown that many urban/rural problems can be solved using the biomimicry perspective. Mankind still has a lot to learn from Nature.