Bolu, Turkiye
A Reflection of History. At first glance, the Earthquake Memorial seems to rise organically from the park it inhabits, as if the earth has folded and ruptured to reveal this new form.
The Earthquake Memorial won an “Europe 40 Under 40” Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies.
The design’s topographical interpretation mimics the earth’s unpredictable movements, with a shell-like structure that appears to have been thrust upwards, creating an immediate tension between solid and void, between what is seen and what is felt. The monolithic, irregular concrete walls that dominate the ground floor are perhaps the most striking feature of the memorial. These walls are not merely structural; they are symbolic.
Their irregularity is a direct reference to the chaotic forces of nature that once wreaked havoc on this land, a visual echo of the destruction that the city of Bolu has endured.
These walls are the guardians of memory, insulating and protecting the spaces within
while allowing glimpses of the outside world through carefully curated openings. The play of light and shadow through these voids varies the spatial experience, making each visit to the memorial a unique encounter with the past. The contrast between the heavy, grounded nature of the concrete walls and the lightness of the upper volume comes to the fore. The horizontal volume, defined by a concrete grid and clad in reflective glass, floats above the weight of history below.
This upper structure acts as a beacon—literally and metaphorically. Its reflective façade captures and diffuses the surrounding landscape, making the building appear almost ephemeral, as if it could dissolve back into the earth at any moment. Yet, this very volume becomes a lantern for the park, illuminating the way forward and highlighting the transformation of a site of tragedy into a vibrant public space for reflection and dialogue.
Inside, the material palette is restrained yet deliberate. Basalt stone flooring grounds the visitor in a sense of permanence, while the reflective glass surfaces on the upper floor create a sense of lightness and openness. This juxtaposition of materials mirrors the overall design intent: a balance between memory’s weight and hope’s lightness.
Architect: Ali Burak Yanardağ, Turkiye
Architecture Office:Ali Burak Yanardağ, YNRDG
Lead Architects: Ali Burak Yanardağ, Burcu Semizoğlu
Landscape Architects: CAPS
Design Team: Ali Burak Yanardağ, Burcu Semizoğlu
Contractor: EMÇ, Ankara, Turkiye
Client: Bolu Municipality
Photographer: YNRDG
