Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hospital

In April 1947, Dr. Behçet Uz Hospital was built as a result of a fire which occurred while the Turkish military troops came to İzmir in order to the city has lost its old architectural identity. The building is the product of the 'Modernist style' of architecture as it was part of the city planning and architecture project in the 1920s. It was designed and built by Zeki Sayar and continues to function as a children's hospital. The structure is well-preserved and has not changed significantly since its creation. However, Hikmet Gökmen restored the building and reorganized and updated the surrounding environment to fit modern needs.

Context

The building has Cumhuriyet square which permanent arrangement applied on surrounding buildings and planted garden by the partition border walls were separated from outside as well. As a result of World War I, Izmir lost many things in terms of architectural aspect and despite all the challenges, while the city was rebuilt in the new period of the republic, many public and governmental structures have been built around the hospital. In that period of time, the hospital got wide boulevards and other buildings that have similar architectural characteristics with it. While it maintains the synergy with this environment, now it is losing its architectural effect because of the crowded masses around it and the new restoration policy.

Formal qualities

An enormous part of the hospital includes rooms for patients, staff and 4 level blocks which join together in the rectangular form to creates atrium in the center of the form. These rectangular elongated blocks are coming up with an idea of 19th-century architectural approach which aimed to utilize sunlight from multiple window opening system. These are also crossing with another square blocks as an example of 3 levels headquarter of the hospital and canteen part, so that, the different form of blocks separates in each. The same geometric form repeats itself in openings on the exterior facade and it follows modern aspects in architecture. Those architects which live in that time of period considered building planning in İzmir as '' since to protect the traditional features lead us more nationalist? it is irrelevant. so make it modern and save the future''. up until the 1920s Turkish architects fellow the similar architectural trend but in 30s it has changed a little bit and this hospital and Gazi Primary School are good examples of it.

Spatial experience

Comparing with its period of time and the traditional aspect of architecture, the most significant point of the building is the circulation in the building. Despite the old fashion stair system which has sectional stairs to reach upper floors and large lobby among them, it has preferred functional and minimalist circulation elements. This situation creates more 3D pattern and repeated floors instead of gorgeous entrance and its double-height atrium, and make things possible to reach building's maximum height to carry the upper floors. Another difference from other hospitals is a rectangular oriented block and their corridors have rooms both sides. İt is also possible to observe these types of corridors in Gazi School in Alsancak. The school was also part of that modern aspect of architecture.

Structure

It is a completely quite example of the usage of supporting walls in construction. And, partition brick walls creates rooms and corridors apart. As a result of applied supporting walls, it has preferred regular rectangular windows in order. Artificial lighting is not obligated because of these openings enough in daylight and it has maximum efficacy. However, it is hard to say the same thing for corridors and artificial lightning applied more in corridors.

The roof structure has similar characteristics with the surrounding public buildings to catch the harmony of them which is the red tile pattern with an angle. The painting of the building is pink. The decision is more relevant to the function of the structure instead of design and composition.

External links

• Official website