Ankara’s Eco-Techno Park is a green oasis for business

Groundbreaking hub set in biophilic environment

Ankara’s Eco-Techno Park is a green oasis for business

Groundbreaking hub set in biophilic environment

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Exterior view.

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    Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East ceremony, Beirut, Lebanon

    Presentation of the Holcim Awards Gold 2014 for “Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey” (l-r): Howayda Al-Harithy, Head of the Holcim Awards jury for Africa Middle East and Professor of Architecture, American University of Beirut, Lebanon; Javier de Benito, Area Manager of Holcim for Africa Middle East; winners Onat and Zeynep Öktem, ONZ Architects, Turkey; and Bernard Fontana, CEO of Holcim Ltd.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub

    Scale model.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub

    Scale model: View of the interior community space.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub

    Night view of the lighting scheme.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Aerial view.

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    Holcim Awards Africa Middle East ceremony, Beirut, Lebanon

    Winners of the Holcim Awards Gold 2014 for “Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey” (l-r): Onat and Zeynep Öktem, ONZ Architects, Turkey.

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    Holcim Awards Africa Middle East media briefing, Beirut, Lebanon

    Onat Öktem of ONZ Architects, Turkey, winner of the Holcim Awards Gold 2014 for “Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey”.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Plan.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Aerial view and façade detail.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Perspective view.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Section perspective.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Lighting Scheme.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Perspective.

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Sustainability Section.

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    Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East ceremony, Beirut, Lebanon

    Accolades for all Holcim Awards main prize winners (l-r): Brook Haileselassie, Dirk Donath and Asgedom Berhe (Bronze), Zeynep and Onat Öktem (Gold), and Raëd Abillama, Youssef Abillama, Yasmina Khalifé and Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine (Silver).

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    Project entry 2014 Africa Middle East - Eco-Techno Park: Green building showcase and enterprise hub, Ankara, Turkey

    Onat Öktem, Zeynep Öktem and team.

Eco-Techno Park is a groundbreaking hub for sustainable research and technological innovation set in a biophilic environment within the OSTIM Industrial Zone, a bustling industrial precinct in Ankara, Turkey. The Holcim Awards Gold 2014 winning project for Middle East Africa is led by ONZ Architects for Ortadogu Sanayi ve Ticaret Merkezi (OSTIM). The project is aimed at small and medium enterprises and will preserve the site’s natural environment while under development.

Last updated: October 05, 2023 Ankara, Türkiye

By Kruti Choksi Kothari, Ecogradia

The architectural wings, laid out over interconnected cascading terraces, are conceived to seamlessly merge within the slanted terrain. They contain offices, conference rooms and workshops. The main linear building, stretching out to one side with views of the industrial neighborhood, houses other function rooms, cafes and an amphitheater.

Structurally, the terraces limit interference with their surroundings while creating several communal spaces for social interaction. The project incorporates many eco-friendly features — natural lighting, passive ventilation, improved insulation, visual comfort and indoor air quality — for user satisfaction and building performance.

We see sustainable construction as much more than implementing sustainable technologies. One must seek the best individual solutions for each project from the very start. Zeynep Öktem Project Architect

Economic growth through environmental innovation

The terraces of the stepped buildings double up as green roofs, a continuation of the natural texture of the site. Their surfaces serve to combat the heat island effect, provide insulation and improve air quality. Waste is an incongruity here. Rainwater and greywater are collected on-site for post-mechanical purification and reuse within the complex through a drip irrigation system.

Discrete sensors are embedded in the facade to monitor temperature and light and ensure minimal energy consumption. The premises are covered in lush vegetation to help achieve optimal thermal conditions. The solar-powered geothermal heat pumps take center stage in conditioning the Eco-Park. Water that is circulating through subterranean pipes is brought to the building at ~10°C temperature. This reduces the cooling load in summer and supports heating in winter.

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