Integrated Logistics Hub: Freight and Storage Facility in Silivri, Istanbul
Partner: Saye Architecture I Year: February 2025 I Location: Silivri/Istanbul. I Program: Logistics + storage + truck operations I Software: AutoCAD, QGIS, SketchUp, Photoshop, Illustrator, Corona Renderer, Lumion
This project develops a large-scale logistics warehouse in Silivri, structured around truck circulation, loading operations, and high-capacity storage. The design is generated through vehicle movement constraints, dock distribution, and continuous flow systems that ensure operational efficiency. Storage functions are vertically expanded into basement levels, while administrative units are integrated as a secondary layer within the logistics framework.
755/1 Parsel preliminary study is developed on a 68,140 m² site, with a total construction area of 137,000 m² and a leasable area of 109,500 m². The ground floor and first basement each occupy 44,835 m².
Calculations are based on Istanbul zoning regulations, with basement levels excluded from FAR (Floor Area Ratio), allowing the allocation of parking, water storage, shelter, and technical spaces at the second basement level. Parcel grading and setback decisions are derived from E-İmar and Google Earth data, supported by QGIS analysis.
The building is positioned by using the slope as a placement tool rather than flattening the site. This allows direct access at two different levels: basement entry from the lower side and ground-level entry from the upper street.
After fixing the building corners according to elevation differences, the design is developed through sections. The project is not derived from plan geometry but from sectional relationships, where levels, access, and internal organization are defined by the terrain itself.
Truck dimensions are defined based on operational requirements rather than standard assumptions. Different vehicle types were evaluated, and the most frequently used truck configuration of the company was identified.
To prevent operational constraints during maneuvering, loading, and docking, the maximum vehicle dimensions were taken as the reference. The design is therefore calibrated to the largest possible truck geometry, ensuring uninterrupted logistics performance.
The plan is organized around a continuous internal circulation spine that distributes truck movement across both levels. Maneuvering geometry directly defines the width and turning points of this spine, ensuring uninterrupted flow.
Expansion joints are strategically introduced to break down the large structural footprint, controlling structural stress while maintaining spatial continuity. The layout remains column-driven and repetitive, allowing flexible storage organization, while circulation and docking logic operate as the primary ordering system.
The section is defined by the site’s level differences, enabling direct access at multiple elevations. Truck circulation operates at both basement and ground levels, with entries aligned to the terrain on each side.
This sectional configuration eliminates the need for internal ramps, allowing continuous flow and direct loading access on both levels. The building is therefore organized as a vertically stratified logistics system, where section-not plan-determines access and operation.
This project was developed through the initial four stages of the architectural process: Concept Design, Preliminary Design, Developed Design, and Permit Project.The proposal was advanced up to the permit stage, where spatial configuration, massing, access logic, and regulatory compliance were fully resolved. At this level, the project defines the building envelope, circulation system, and functional organization in accordance with zoning constraints, without proceeding into construction detailing.
