N u r G ü l g ö r
P o r t f o l i o
Mediterranean House
Year: 2021
Type: Commercial
Status: Design
Team: Yerce Architecture
The building is designed for a small Mediterranean village called Yahşibey in İzmir, Turkey. Yahşibey has a sloping landscape and the houses in the village are located at different levels so as not to block each other's views. The project site is at the top of the village and provides a panoramic view of the entire village and the sea beyond. The back side of the area looks out onto a forested area, while the main view is towards the east and northeast sides.
The project area comprises of two mirror houses designed for two families with shared spaces. The north house is positioned to offer a direct view towards the east side, while the south house is rotated towards the northeast to provide an even better view. The middle common area is a semi-open space that connects the two houses and overlooks the pool area.
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The architectural character of the village, which features terracing, has been continued in the project area. The entrance is located at the lowest level of the area, and the elevation increases as one proceeds further up the hill. This design feature has been incorporated into the interior space as well, with the living area and kitchen separated by different levels.
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Stone is the local construction material used in the village, and the building walls and site walls have been constructed using masonry with stone. Additionally, some of the old buildings are covered with plaster. The project emphasizes the significance of vernacular materials and construction techniques. The goal is to blend traditional building materials with modern techniques. The materials used in the houses reflect both old and new situations, including stone, plaster, and concrete.
Images, plan and spatial diagram of a local house in Yahsibey, Dikilli-Yahşibey Köyü Konutları Örneğinde Mekansal Sürekliliğin İncelenmesi, Melis Cankara
The project pays homage to the local architectural traditions by incorporating them into both indoor and outdoor spaces. There is an outdoor oven in a semi-private space. The building entrances are designed like local houses with semi open spaces. Also, a research about Yahşibey houses has revealed that the houses follow an "out - in between - in - link - in" spatial organization. The project aims to recreate this spatiality using innovative methods. The project features out, in, and in-between spaces, respectively. The upper floor has small windows that refer the traditional small openings of masonry houses, while the ground floor has wide openings that are characteristic of modern construction.
