Fener House

The client requested that we design a building in Fener-Çeşme with two independent sections, including three rooms, bathrooms, and living spaces. Furthermore, they wanted the living space in each independent section to overlook the view on the northeast side, i.e. the narrow side. An analysis of the program and land data revealed that both independent sections could benefit from the landscape, thanks to the elevated structure of the land; as such, we placed the independent sections on two separate elevations, three meters higher than the land slope. As part of the project, we called the lower and higher levels Independent Section A and B, respectively. On the lower level, we outlined the ground floor of Independent Section A. The higher level featured the first floor of Independent Section A and the ground floor of Independent Section B. Still on an upper level stood the first floor of Independent Section B. We used a total area of 184 square meters; 50, 90, and 44 square meters of which took up the lower, higher, and upper levels.

The driving design factors included efforts to establish the proper spatial relations ensuring that both independent sections in the building would benefit from the same possibilities in the same single one, and place them in a certain composition due to the sloping structure of the land.

This sloping site allowed the entrances of the Independent Sections A and B to be located on separate levels and facades, while also assuring that each individual section had its garden within the same land. We designed “A” as an independent, two-story section with living spaces located on the ground floor, and rooms upstairs; “B” offered a living room on the upper floor, and rooms on the lower floor, while also featuring a basement floor.

The entrance floor of Independent Section A is located on the lower level, accessed via a few steps down from the lower road. This floor features the living, kitchen, and powder room spaces of the unit. Also forming the basement floor of Independent Section B, this level separates the main gardens of both independent units with plants.

An upper level was planned as a floor with the bedrooms for both independent sections. The terrace accessed from the bedrooms of Section B provided a graduated access to the main garden on the lower level. We also provided access to the other common garden on the side of the road from both independent sections. Independent Section A ended on this floor, while the living and kitchen spaces of Independent Section B were planned at a higher level. The terrace accessed via the independent section, and located on the roof of Section A, enabled Section B to take advantage of the scenery. Entrance to Section B was provided at this level via a bridge arranged with several steps down the main road.

In the design, we used a simple language analyzing the forms and functions interacting directly with each other in a balanced way. We selected materials that both supported this style and were suitable for Çeşme's climate and environmental conditions, in color, texture, and physical properties. We split the building mass into four, fitting it into the land in a gradual fashion, and we differentiated each mass in terms of its space and the material covering its facades. Generally, white paint was employed on the plaster of the building facade, while the facades of the masses featuring living spaces were covered with wood.