A Critical Evaluation of a Cultural Center Built through Competition: The Muratpaşa Municipality Multipurpose Performance Center
Abstract
Architectural competitions play a crucial role in shaping public buildings by fostering innovative designs and ensuring fair selection processes. This study critically examines the Muratpaşa Municipality Multipurpose Performance Center, a public building realized through a national architectural competition in Antalya, Türkiye. The research aims to evaluate the center’s architectural and urban contributions, spatial organization, and cultural significance within its urban context. As a qualitative research, the study employs Hugh Pearman’s architectural criticism methodology, which includes descriptive, analytical, and judgmental criticism, to systematically assess the project’s architectural attributes. By analyzing the center’s design approach, spatial relationships, and urban integration, this study provides insights into how architectural competitions influence the realization of public buildings. The findings offer a critical evaluation of a cultural building realized through an architectural competition and, in this context, contribute to the critical discourse of architecture by highlighting key considerations that may inform future architectural competitions and public architecture practices.
Keywords
Architectural critism, architectural competitions, public buildings, Antalya, cultural centers
Ethical Statement
Written permission was obtained for the use of visual data in this scientific publication. The study was evaluated and approved as ethically appropriate by the Kocaeli University Science and Engineering Ethics Committee (Meeting No. 2024/11, Decision No. 2, dated 28/08/2024).
Thanks
The authors express their sincere gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback and insightful suggestions, which have significantly contributed to the improvement of this study. Special thanks are extended to the architectural design team of the first-prized project and to the former Director of Projects of Muratpaşa Municipality for their willingness to participate in the interviews and for providing valuable information.
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