Actera Group Office Building

ACTERA GROUP OFFICE BUILDING

Çengelköy/İstanbul ︎ 2016 ︎ Contruction Area: 1.000 m² ︎ Site: 330 m² ︎ Office ︎ Gülenay Erdem, Nevzat Sayın

Having evolved from an industrial building into a hotel and later into an office building, the tax records of this building date as far back as 1875. We are talking about a history of at least 143 years. It is an exceptional phenomenon in a land where long–term standing is limited at best. The building was originally conceived as an alcohol and spirit factory. Once alcohol production was taken over by the TEKEL company, the factory manufactured coal briquettes. Later, it was used a beach and outdoor movie theater. In 2005, the building became part of the tourism industry with the hotel Sumahan on the Water.
Our task was to convert half of this building into an office setting for the Actera Group. The extraordinariness of its history and geography was made part of its new use as well. With numerous meeting rooms of different sizes, the “partner” rooms all overlooking the water, and the open offices on the dock level, the design of the Actera project required a unique space; as we installed the program in this building, there were almost no traces left of the volume used as the hotel. Despite that, we believe that it still carries the impressive and positive vibes of its former state. On all floors, the solutions are based on the separation and need–based affiliation of spaces that give and receive service.
Considering we made no alterations to the exterior, it appears that the buildings could be used for purposes markedly different than the original ones and that they had quite a long lifespan; this proved to be a good experience on the importance of transforming a space instead of demolishing it.