Kalyon Karapınar 1.350 MWp SPP – Central Control Building / Bilgin Architects

Architects: Bilgin Architects
Area: 2,778 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Egemen Karakaya
Lead Architects: Caner Bilgin, Begüm Yılmaz Bilgin
Architects Team: Serenay Gürkan, Elif Özücağlıyan, Yıldırım Erbaz
Project Coordinator: Cem Katkat
Main Contractor: Kalyon Construction
Interior Design: Bilgin Architects
Structure Engineering: Attec Design
MEP & HVAC Consultant: Okutan Engineering
Electrical Project: ERKE Sustainable Building Design and Consultancy
Landscape Architects: Bilgin Architects + MY Landscape
Infrastructure Projects: Diyap Project
Lighting Consultants: UKON Lighting Consultancy
Acoustic Consultants: Mezzo Studio
Environmental & Sustainability Consultants: ERKE Sustainable Building Design and Consultancy
Facade Consultants: CWG Consultancy
Parametric Design: Cemal Koray Bingöl
Graphic Designer: Dilara Sezgin
Architectural Consultant: İdil Erkol Bingöl
3D Printing: Rolab Studio
Manufacturers: Andreu World, Jansen, Kasso, Arper, B&T Design, iGuzzini, Avcı Gemino, FLOS, Mozaik Design, Tuna Ofis, Çuhadaroğlu Aluminium
Client: Kalyon Energy
Materials: Perforated metal façade cladding by Kasso
City/Location: Karapınar, Konya
Country: Türkiye

Situated in the arid landscape of Karapınar, Bilgin Architects’ Central Control Building serves as the operational and symbolic nucleus of the 1,350 MWp Kalyon Karapınar Solar Power Plant—Europe’s largest solar facility. Designed as a reflective interface between the earth and sky, the 2,778-square-meter structure merges technological sophistication with environmental sensitivity. Its dual-layer stainless-steel façade, composed of 7,200 parametrically arranged panels, mitigates solar radiation while visually dissolving into the desert horizon. Organized around a central courtyard that creates a sustainable microclimate, the building unites functional precision with spatial calm. As a manifestation of Türkiye’s renewable energy ambitions, it transforms advanced infrastructure into a statement of architectural clarity and ecological dialogue.

Kalyon karapınar 1. 350 mwp spp – central control building / bilgin architects

In the heart of Türkiye’s only desert climate, the Central Control Building anchors a landscape defined by solar fields stretching toward the horizon. Bilgin Architects approached the project as both a technical facility and a conceptual landmark. The structure’s single-story form is positioned 40 meters from the solar panels, aligning with their geometry without casting shadows. This careful placement reinforces its role as an extension of the energy field itself. The reflective façade, shimmering under the desert sun, blurs the boundaries between architecture and environment, turning the building into an ephemeral element of the vast terrain.

The two-layer façade system forms the project’s defining gesture. Crafted from stainless steel panels with four degrees of transparency, it responds to orientation and light conditions to regulate heat and glare. The non-repetitive, parametric pattern creates a dynamic surface that changes throughout the day—appearing metallic at noon, diffused in cloudy weather, and translucent at dusk. At night, the effect reverses: the opaque shell reveals the glowing interior, transforming the building into a quiet beacon within the energy landscape. This interplay between reflection and revelation encapsulates the project’s exploration of energy as both function and metaphor.

Internally, the design balances technological precision with spatial softness. Circulation flows around a lush inner courtyard planted with drought-resistant, endemic species. Acting as a living core, it defines the building’s organization and moderates the microclimate, offering a sheltered gathering space amid the arid surroundings. The interiors, designed for adaptability, host monitoring operations alongside multipurpose areas for events and research. Every system—from lighting to acoustics—has been optimized for efficiency and comfort. Through this measured synthesis of landscape, material, and technology, Bilgin Architects have articulated a vision of architecture that reflects the shifting boundaries between ecology and innovation, grounding the future of energy in a place of quiet equilibrium.