KAŞ HOUSES

Winner of the 2015 Turgut Cansever National Architecture Awards of 2015 and located in Kaş, Antalya, the Kaş Houses project was designed by Ven Mimarlık. Intended to seamlessly integrate into the fabric of the history and nature of Kaş in a way that respects rather than competes with nature, it  draws upon the potential of local architecture and local materials. Situated at a key point right in the heart of the Lycia Way alongside the Çukurbağ Peninsula, opening out into the Mediterranean Sea, and speckled with antique theatres and ancient ruins, Kaş served as the project’s main source of inspiration. In an attempt not to destroy the historical settlement’s green texture, the architects tried to protect the region’s biodiversity, put forth human-scale spaces, shape the topography with minimal interference to the landscape itself, benefit as much as possible from the energy and scenery lent by the geography, and create a regional language with a universal approach.

When it came to the settlement plan, each house was positioned along parts of the property where the level of vegetation was less intense in order not to inflict any harm upon any of the protected endangered species that constitute the region’s flora. Walkways provide circulation within the property and were designed to impact the landscape and minimally as possible. Each unit was designed the outdoors and intense sunbathed summers in mind, and thus was positioned according where the sun dawns and sets, thereby also allowing the pools and terraces to remain in the shade throughout the day. Similarly, mass voids and transitions were created around the curvature of the elevation where the units merge. The architects were able to navigate the incoming breeze so that it combs across the entire project by having each unit face in direction of the region’s prevailing wind current. When you look at surrounding settlements and how they have evolved architecturally, you will notice that a common language-the extensive use of natural stone and wood-unites them. This common language extends to the Kaş Houses as well: each façade, retaining wall, and terrace (indluding support beams) respectively features Limra stone quarried from the region of Kaş, natural Çamyuva stone, and local lumber. The architects wanted to reflect the Lycian Way in project’s inner walkways, gardens, and terraces using natural stone.

CREDITS

Architectural Design: Ven Mimarlık

Project Coordinator: Gül Güven

Project Team: İrem Kılıç, Fatih Erduman, Recep Aygın, Gamze Güven Total Land Area: 935 sqm

Total Construction Area: 448 sqm

Construction Year: 2015

Project Location: Kaş, Antalya

Photographs: Mehmet Reşat Ayalp  

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