Bird Nest
a Playscape, 2023
The Bird Nest Playground emerged from a long collaboration and hands-on work with children, inspired deeply by nature and the spirit of play. Built from natural materials with active child participation, it was completed in three months.
More than a play structure, it’s a multi-layered, sensory space where children can linger, explore, and interact. Sound- and vision-based elements invite intuitive engagement, while its nest-like form offers room for both calm and active play — shaped as much by the children who play in it as by those who built it.
Conceptual Design: Tacmin Sarı
Design: Tacmin Sarı, Ara Yerlikaya
Architect: Ara Yerlikaya
Construction Team: Tacmin Sarı, Ara Yerlikaya, Dilan Karakoç
The Making of a Nest: Chapter One
KAF Collective was formed as a rapid response initiative to support communities in the earthquake zone. Upon arrival, collaboration with local residents was initiated, and organized teams were formed to carry out the work in a coordinated and structured manner.
For the past four months, Taçmin, one of the collective’s members, has been present in the field, primarily volunteering to engage with children and help create meaningful spaces for play.
One day, when games no longer felt sufficient, a new idea emerged: to build a space together, directly on the earth. Around the same time, as people were collecting wooden scraps to protect their tents from the rain, the small play area the children had built was dismantled and the materials taken. In response, a promise was made to the children: “Something even better will be built, and no one will harm it.” That promise was fulfilled—when Dilan said, “I’m in,” and Ara arrived.
The Longest Chapter: Construction
Taçmin had initially imagined the Bird Nest as a cornerless, layered, expressive, and natural space—somewhere to spend time rather than simply pass through. This early vision began to take clearer form when a preliminary sketch of the structure was shared with Ara, a natural building architect with extensive experience in vernacular construction techniques. Together, these ideas and techniques were translated into a structure that was built—without formal permits—inside a schoolyard, under the intense heat of summer.
Last Chapter: Mission Accomplished
The team parted ways with some of the most challenging — and most beautiful — memories of their time together.
This structure has been constructed using natural and ecological materials, integrating local resources with traditional techniques. The key structural components and application stages are as follows:
Ground and Foundation System
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The ground was reinforced using a stone blockage method.
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A radial foundation was then laid, with steel shoe anchoring used to secure the load-bearing system.
Load-Bearing Structure
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A wooden column and beam system forms the primary structural frame.
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The superstructure features a geodesic dome (also referred to as geogezic or geo-gedik in local terminology).
Wall System
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The walls are built using the straw-clay slip technique, providing thermal and acoustic insulation.
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An initial layer of natural earth plaster was applied (with details such as the clay content and source of the soil available upon request).
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A layer of coarse lime plaster was then applied over the earth plaster.
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This was followed by a second layer of coarse lime plaster, reinforced with rabis wire mesh.
Roof and Insulation
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The roofing system includes sliding insulation techniques, tailored to the dome’s form.
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Natural materials were selected for the final roof covering, in alignment with ecological design principles.
Surface Treatments and Finishes
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Earthbag construction was incorporated in certain sections for structural and thermal support.
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Additional elements such as metal details, artistic ironworks, and wooden features ("instruments and quirks") contribute to the building’s character and function.
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A layer of fine plaster was applied to refine surface quality.
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The final surface finish is completed with a Fas plaster coat, ensuring aesthetic coherence and long-term durability.
