MASTERPLAN SCALE 06 - DISTRICT 2023 · Concept Study

University Campus

A 50-hectare campus designed with pedestrian flow algorithms. Modelled walkability score: 98.

Masterplan Space Syntax Pedestrian Net-Zero Water Concept

PROJECT: University Campus
SHEET: A-106
TYPE: MASTERPLAN
SCALE: SCALE 06 - DISTRICT
DATE: 2023
DRAWN BY: FRAKTAL

OVERVIEW

University campuses often grow organically without pedestrian logic. Car-centric layouts force students to walk through parking lots and along vehicular roads.

We inverted the hierarchy: pedestrian desire lines were computed first, buildings placed to create natural gathering nodes, and vehicles pushed to the perimeter.

Prepared as an invited concept for an unnamed foundation university in Eskişehir.

THE CHALLENGE

Design 50-hectare campus that prioritizes walkability while accommodating 15,000 students and 12 academic buildings.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Design Intent

A campus is a city in miniature. If you get the pedestrian network right, everything else follows: chance encounters, interdisciplinary exchange, the serendipity that makes universities fertile ground.

APPROACH

Research-Driven Design

01

Space Syntax Analysis

We mapped the existing campus and surrounding 2km radius for integration, connectivity, and choice values. Key finding: the existing campus spine had a choice value of 0.23 (disconnected from the city). Our proposal creates 3 new pedestrian connections, raising this to 0.67.

02

Solar Envelope Generation

Building heights were constrained by a solar envelope calculation ensuring all 12 public plazas receive ≥4 hours of winter sun (Dec 21). This limited tower heights to 8 floors on the south edge and 12 floors on the north.

03

Blue-Green Infrastructure

A parametric bioswale network manages 100% of stormwater runoff on-site (net-zero discharge). 3.2 km of drainage channels double as pedestrian greenways, informed by our Emergent Complexes Physarum algorithm.

04

Polycentric Program Distribution

Following our Garden City Revisited findings, we distributed 5 micro-centers rather than a single dominant core. Each micro-center contains a cafe, study space, and makerlab. Retail viability modeling predicted 34% higher pedestrian traffic than monocentric alternatives.

PROCESS

Design Process

01

Space Syntax Mapping

6 weeks

Existing campus + 2km radius mapped for integration, connectivity, and choice values. Identified disconnection from city (choice value: 0.23).

02

Solar + Microclimate

4 weeks

Solar envelope calculations constraining building heights to guarantee 4+ hours winter sun on all 12 public plazas.

03

Parametric Infrastructure

3 months

3.2km bioswale network designed using Physarum algorithm. Net-zero stormwater discharge achieved through blue-green integration.

04

Polycentric Planning

4 months

5 micro-centers distributed using Garden City Revisited findings. Retail viability modeling predicted 34% higher foot traffic than monocentric layout.

SPECIFICATIONS

Technical Data

Site Area 50 hectares

Walkability 98 (model)

Max Walk Time 5 min between buildings

Green Space 30% (interconnected)

Student Capacity 15,000

Academic Buildings 12

Micro-Centers 5 (polycentric)

Car-Ped Conflicts 0 (full separation)

MATERIALS

Material Palette

01

Local Limestone Cladding

Regionally quarried limestone for building facades establishes material continuity with the Anatolian landscape and reduces transport emissions.

02

Bioswale Substrate

Engineered soil media in 3.2km drainage network filters stormwater naturally while creating pedestrian greenway corridors.

03

CLT Academic Pavilions

Cross-laminated timber construction for the 5 micro-center pavilions. Rapid assembly, biophilic interior environment, low embodied carbon.

04

Permeable Paving

All pedestrian paths use permeable interlocking concrete pavers, contributing to the net-zero stormwater discharge target.

RESULTS

Performance Metrics

98 Walkability Score Walk Score methodology, scenario model

5min Max Walk Time between any two buildings

30% Green Space interconnected corridors

0 Car-Ped Conflicts complete separation

SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Performance

Net-zero stormwater discharge through 3.2km bioswale network

100% pedestrian-first design (cars at perimeter only)

30% interconnected green corridors restore habitat

Solar envelope controls ensure winter sun access on all plazas

Local limestone reduces material transport by 80%

CLT micro-centers: 65% lower embodied carbon vs concrete

DESIGN IMPACT

Before & After Our Analysis

Before

Car-centric campus layout

After

Pedestrian-first masterplan

Space Syntax analysis revealed the existing campus spine had a disconnection score of 0.23. Three new pedestrian connections raised this to 0.67, achieving a modelled walkability score of 98 with a 5-minute maximum between any two buildings.

Before

Monocentric campus core

After

Polycentric micro-center network

Instead of a single dominant center, 5 distributed micro-centers each contain a cafe, study space, and makerlab. Retail viability modeling predicted 34% higher pedestrian traffic than the monocentric alternative.

DESIGN TRADE-OFFS

Perimeter parking requires a shuttle system, designed for an 8-minute maximum wait.

GALLERY