KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL AND VISITOR CENTER

National Architectural Design Competition Proposal

Design Team: Berke Hatipoğlu, Güliz Özorhon, İlker Fatih Özorhon

Although they may seem like two countries distant in language and culture at first glance, they have established a long-standing friendship through their shared history. This relationship has prepared a solid foundation for the conceptual background of our proposal. The two countries and their friendship—born as a result of the war—form the basis of our design thinking and the main components of our proposal.
In our proposal for the Korean War Memorial and Visitor Center, the two countries are represented by two walls that gradually approach each other. The lightweight roof resting above them expresses the friendship and solidarity shared by the two nations, uniting the two countries/walls through its presence.

The approach to the building is provided from the southeast direction of the site, facing the city center of Lüleburgaz. Bus stops are proposed for access in this direction, and parking areas for tour buses, private vehicles, and bicycles are also provided. The ceremony area, located at the interface of the building and the park, is defined and bounded by the building (exhibition hall), the wall, and the park.

Continuing from this area, the building entrance welcomingly draws visitors into an intermediate space defined by two walls featuring lines of poetry written in both languages about "peace." This intermediate space, defined between/in the interaction of the two walls, is not merely a passage. Forming the main spine of the building, this space serves as both a transition area leading to the main exhibition hall, library, and tea room, and a dynamic-active space hosting temporary exhibitions. With the combination of two different geometric surfaces forming the roof, the light entering the space from the nature of this junction, and the inscription walls washed with light, this space offers the visitor a dramatic and emotional experience.
On one side of the spine, the exhibition hall and library are oriented toward the reed bed, creating an impressive view, while administrative spaces and technical volumes are lined up on the other side. A secondary entrance to the building is defined in this direction, where the staff parking lot is also located. The settlement strategy, which preserves the natural integrity of the site and touches the greenery as little as possible, continues in the building's structural system and material selection. The structural system is designed with two continuous walls extending throughout the building, associated with vertical wooden columns and beams.