Van Science Center

Ridgeline Houses — residential project by Meridian Studio, a house in a big yard with a black car in front of the house

Location

Van, Türkiye

Recognition

A LANDSCAPE FOR LEARNING, DISCOVERY AND PUBLIC LIFE

Overview

Van Science Center is conceived as an interactive learning environment where science becomes accessible through experimentation, observation and participation. Located within the Ihlamur Park development along the Van Lake coastal corridor, the center forms part of a wider cultural and recreational campus that brings together science, urban memory, landscape and public life. The project is intended for children, young people, families and visitors of all ages.

Challenge

The central challenge was to create more than a conventional exhibition building. The project needed to support changing educational programmes, interactive installations, workshops and large visitor groups while remaining welcoming and understandable for younger users. Its position within a major coastal park also required the architecture to establish a strong relationship with the landscape, outdoor activities and the neighbouring City Museum without becoming an isolated institutional object.

Solution

The Science Center is organized as part of a connected cultural landscape. Indoor learning spaces extend towards open-air activity areas, pedestrian routes and shared public spaces, allowing education, recreation and social life to overlap. Interactive exhibition areas, science workshops, educational rooms and a planetarium provide different forms of learning, from individual exploration to group activities. Flexible interiors allow exhibits and programmes to evolve as scientific content and educational needs change. Clear circulation creates an intuitive visitor journey, while shared gathering areas support science festivals, public events and temporary programmes. The relationship between the building and Ihlamur Park transforms the surrounding landscape into an extension of the learning environment.

Result

Van Science Center establishes a new public platform for curiosity, experimentation and collective learning. Together with the City Museum, recreational areas and coastal landscape, the project is intended to create a year-round civic destination that strengthens access to science and technology while contributing to the cultural life of Van and the wider region.