BODRUM U HOUSE

Slash Architects

U-House designed by Slash Architects is a residential unit of the prestigious Seba Küçükbük Houses of Bodrum. This is a summer-house-type project that consists of independent villas within a private residence. The topography of the plot is highly diverse, the design had to find meaningful ways to connect these and make the U-House whole. The different zones of the design were as such: The main entrance, a staircase connection with the upper level, the pool area, an outdoor bar, a cocoon outdoor unit, and finally a service area.

Since the plot is irregular, some reflections had to be made for the architectural language to be unified and coherent. The first requirement was to create a phenomenal entrance linking the street level to the villa’s level. Subtly, a staircase had to be camouflaged with a set of landscaping techniques to create a pleasing passage at the entrance giving the best first impression of the villa possible. The gate is designed carefully to walk hand in hand with the other upcoming zones by including the owners’ personalities in the design. The selected materials for the intervention as a whole are a combination of Corten Copper and concrete.

This decision is based in addition to taste on the imposing stone work done over the outer fencing facades of the unit. The balance created by the warm-looking metal and the relatively neutral concrete did accompany the stonework delicately without stealing its spotlight being a costly material. Combining landscape and architecture, the entrance is enhanced by copper planting pots, on-step light boxes, sculptures, a resting bench mid-way, and a varied selection of plants. All these elements harmoniously created an experimental walk through the entrance of the U-House.

.The pool area was originally placed in an awkwardly isolated area excluding any sunbathing or seating elements around it, Slash Architects convened to create an appropriate environment around it. These design decisions included the surrounding wall, the in-pool leveling, and two different sunbathing areas. Right by the pool, a built-in day-bed-like bench is installed as an annex to the distant official sunbathing zone. Additionally, the flooring is entirely replaced by wooden decks to bring out the family house warmth to the outdoors. In a constant quest to exhibit the owners’ identity in the design, graphic, and lighting elements come to complete the architectural work. The outdoor bar area is connected to the pool area, a continuous flow and rhythmic design is portrayed through a precise material selection that is durable for the outdoor environment and the rest of the materials used.

Ultimately, the star element of the architectural intervention is the annex home unit, or cocoon outdoor unit that was called U-Nest. The design language of U-Nest is a mixture of sobriety and sophistication with a minimal approach. Destined to perform essential tasks, it stands vigorously on a hill-like platform, facing a splendid sea view. This same view led to opting for a completely transparent façade representing a thin border between the indoor and outdoor environments.

Speaking of frames, the idea was to create an infinite joint between the two sliding walls of the unit. Therefore, extremely thin profiles were cautiously selected to sustain the infinity effect. The interior of the nest is a cozy space with an iconic concrete table and a sustained fireplace chimney. Again, the warmth of a family house was transported in the U-Nest to give the U-House a singular design language, appearance, and ambiance.