Turkish practice Melike Altinisik Architects – MAA took part with “THE GATE” interactive installation at Tersane Istanbul (Golden Horn Port) at the 21st Brand Conference.
“Where, how, and what do we live? What kind of universe do we turn into to live?”
Melike Altinisik Architects created “THE GATE” with these unanswered questions that are still searching for answers. MAA’s installation, “THE GATE,” creates an interactive spatial interface between the “present” and “future.” At the same time, MAA seeks to provide a new perspective that is sustainable awareness to heal the wounds we have left to nature and humanity for future generations.
“THE GATE,” like the Tersane, appeared at the intersection of 550 years of mossy and stratified history and existed at the intersection of nature and humanity. “THE GATE” exists in a hazy “moment” and “space” that encompasses movement, social interaction, and perceptual existence with the observer. People are constantly questioned throughout their lives.
“Present and Future” is a general expression in nature and the universe that expresses the duality and complementarity principle. All spatial and functional transformations in Tersane’s historical process reflect a duality of continuity and discontinuity in its natural environment.
People encounter thresholds and are unaware of them before entering this frame. When people see the sea, they dream of the land, the sky when they touch the earth, the day when they know the night, and the “future” when they live in the “present.”
“THE GATE” refers to the historical process surrounding it in the physical layer, which takes the lead in its location. “THE GATE” maintains a new frame with a corten gate to the city that contains contradictions, dualities, and the definition of limitlessness. At the same time, the perforated reflective surface in its center blurs all dualities. People face the city in this unique location where land and sea meet. While experiencing “THE GATE,” humans can observe themselves and what they leave behind.
“THE GATE,” tells the present and future story through a digital layer that interacts with a reflective perforated metal surface at the intersection. The digital layer of AR (Augmented Reality Technology) in “THE GATE” confronts the observer with the worlds of “Present” and “Future” at the intersection of time. The “Present” interface creates scenarios in the AR world to raise awareness of the climate problems that are shaking our world and lives every day.
“THE GATE” allows the audience to witness today’s destruction of nature in an ever-changing world and the surreal destruction of the urban landscape. People begin to understand the return of wild nature (re-wilding nature) in the “future” interface as technological tectonics change and develop. Wild nature will be resurrected in the “future,” and humans, nature, and technology will coexist harmoniously. Nature resurrected will tell the story of a struggle to deal with today’s climate crisis.
“THE GATE” builds a long-term bridge between the present and the future and expresses itself through the AR Interface. Apart from their morphology, it confronts them with various scenarios. “THE GATE” is a metamorphosis, not a transformation. This journey, which “THE GATE” has established over time, is one of self-questioning in nature.
“THE GATE” is the experience of balancing humans, nature, and technology.
For more about Melike Altinisik and MAA, you can listen PA Talks 20 – Melike Altinisik
Project Info
Location: Tersane Istanbul
Year: 2022
Size: 180 sqm
Organization: MARKA 2022
Sponsor: Yapı Kredi World
Curation: In-Between Design Platform
Architect: Melike Altinisik Architects-MAA
Design: Melike Altinisik
Creative Media Lead: Bengu Ozmutlu
Project Team: Bengü Ozmutlu, Elifcan Merden, Ece Tunca
Project Creative Consultant: Melih Altinisik
Assistant Team: Selen Bektas, Nursena Colak, Abdullah Mallah, Mert Nalıncıoglu, Duru Yolac, Seyma Olcay
Digital Fabrication: MAALab
Fabrication Contractor: DDF – Dream Design Factory
Photography: GRIYER – Mehmet Akif Sarı
