Kahramanmaraş Expo Forum

Urban Context and Conceptual Approach

Located within the evolving EXPO 2023 district in Kahramanmaraş’s Onikişubat region, the project redefines the interface between nature, commerce, and public life. Anchored directly on the shoreline of the Sır Dam, the site merges with its natural landscape while strategically relating to nearby urban nodes such as Hasancıklı neighborhood and Kılavuzlu Park. More than a self contained development, EXPO Riverside is designed as an infrastructural extension of the EXPO grounds, responding to its context with a sensitive and integrative approach.

Topography and Landscape Strategy

The terrain presents a 10-meter elevation difference along its diagonals, offering a dynamic topographic condition that shapes the spatial organization. The design embraces this gradient by layering public spaces, pedestrian paths, and view corridors in a stepped configuration. Dense tree canopies and vegetation belts are deployed to create microclimates and shade, enhancing user comfort and ecological continuity. These natural systems are complemented by open-air plazas and terraced green roofs that establish a rhythm between built mass and landscape.

Spatial Framework and Access

A dual-access strategy defines the circulation logic of the project. The main vehicular entry connects directly to the existing EXPO road, supported by a 1,876 car central parking structure. Multiple pedestrian routes diverge from the entrance: one axis links to the enclosed shopping mall, while the other guides users toward fragmented commercial units and waterfront programs. By overlaying these circulation paths onto the natural slope, the design ensures uninterrupted movement and flexible accessibility across the site.

Programmatic Layers and Phasing

EXPO Riverside is envisioned as a two-phase development composed of six primary functions. Phase 1 comprises a 40,000 m² enclosed shopping center designed as a singular, compact mass; Phase 2 introduces a more porous layer of 20,000 m² open commercial units and lakeside programs. At the site’s gateway, a hotel and congress center are integrated into a unified volume, welcoming visitors and anchoring the site’s public image. Supporting programs include exhibition pavilions, sun terraces, children’s play zones, and outdoor workshops all interwoven into the park-like setting.

Waterfront Activation and Environmental Integration

Along the lakefront, the design introduces a multi-use floating concert platform that also serves as an open-air cinema, blurring the boundary between land and water. A water sports hub, designed in coordination with the Sır Dam infrastructure, activates the shoreline with recreational functions. Viewing decks and modular cultural structures frame the lake as a continuous visual and functional axis. Through its sensitive topographic interventions, flexible phasing, and water oriented programming, EXPO Riverside evolves as a resilient and layered landscape  transforming EXPO 2023 into a lasting civic legacy for Kahramanmaraş.