Fatma Ana Cemevi and Culture Center, Istanbul

Designed by 9016, the Fatma Ana Cemevi and Culture Center stands as a significant cultural and religious landmark in Istanbul, located in the Beylikdüzü district of Türkiye. Completed in 2020, the project is historically important as the first built Cemevi realized through an open architectural competition in Turkey, selected from 82 proposals in 2015 by the Beylikdüzü Municipality.

Conceived as both a Cemevi—the sacred gathering place of the Alevi-Bektashi community—and a public cultural center, the project establishes a strong civic identity for a religious minority while remaining open and inclusive to the wider neighborhood. Positioned along the Kavaklı Dere river basin, an area described by the architects as a “public corridor,” the building reinforces its role as a social and cultural connector within the urban fabric.

The site spans approximately 7,800 square meters, with a built area of around 3,100 square meters, a rare spatial generosity within a dense metropolitan context. Rather than isolating religious functions, the design carefully integrates them with cultural and communal programs, promoting coexistence, visibility, and dialogue. This approach reflects Alevi values of togetherness, equality, and harmony with nature—core principles that inform both the spatial organization and architectural language of the project.

The architectural composition is defined by three interconnected yet distinct building blocks arranged within a clear rectangular landscape framework. These volumes metaphorically express unity through plurality, echoing Alevi cultural philosophy. The Cemevi itself is articulated as a series of prismatic forms that appear separate but function as a continuous spatial sequence, allowing fluid movement between religious, cultural, and public spaces.

At the heart of the project lies the Cemevi Square, a central open plaza that acts as the primary entrance and social threshold. This horizontal public space responds sensitively to the site’s topography while creating a welcoming gathering area sheltered by a striking 7.5-meter-high timber structure. Vertically, the building establishes a social platform between the adjacent park and surrounding residential areas, strengthening its role as a communal interface.

Materiality plays a crucial role in articulating the building’s dual identity. Natural stone is used extensively to anchor the project within its landscape context and to create continuity with the surrounding park. Timber, by contrast, defines the more intimate and sacred Cemevi spaces, introducing warmth and a sense of spiritual enclosure. Each material is expressed in its pure form, ensuring clarity, honesty, and architectural coherence across different programs.

By blending introverted religious spaces with extroverted public functions such as conference halls and cultural facilities, the Fatma Ana Cemevi and Culture Center transcends the role of a single-purpose religious building. Instead, it becomes a civic anchor, offering a dignified architectural presence for the Alevi community while fostering social interaction, inclusivity, and cultural exchange within the neighborhood.

All photographs are works of  Yercekim Architectural Photograph