Villa Nev is located on family-acquired land in 1978 in the Boğz region in Ağırdağ, between the capital Nicosia and the coastal city of Kyrenia. Representing different generations of the Atun family, it was designed as a residence to be used by the family again with the meeting of three architects of ITU, METU, and EMU origin in 2010. The place where the residents will be a guest overlooks the Mesarya Plain and the capital Nicosia, starting from the southern slopes of the Besparmak Mountains to the Troodos Mountains. The terrain is challenging with both shape and slope. There’s a 30-foot denim difference between the bottom end of the terrain and the road, which looks like an equilateral triangle on the map. Designing and implementing in a rural area with a steep (18%) slope has not been easy. It was possible to adapt to the natural structure of the land by both softening the slope and cutting down at least a small number of trees with a rational layout plan covering a long period in the design process.
The house, which is organized with floors (238 sqm), first (145 sqm) and basement (54 sqm), is approximately 440 sqm. It has a two-car semi-open garage defined by stone walls. From the elevation of the road to the ground floor you enter under wide stairs and a long fringe. The reflection of the dynamism of the structure on the interior is felt more from the entrance hall. In the lower elevations, the social areas of life are gathered. The lounge and the kitchen to the east are headed for the southern sun. The open kitchen has a large pantry in the back. It was caught in harmony with the contradictory posture between the kitchen’s red glossy cabinets and the hall’s lean modern furniture. The wall between the two places is covered in limestone. In front of this carved textured wall, which was previously planned with a fireplace, there is now a casting stove. To the right of the entrance is a toilet for guests and a study room with its own service on the western front. In the upper levels, there are peaceful places of residence to relax. Private spaces at this level are reached from the gallery, which is climbed with comfortable steps.
The three bedrooms, one owned by parents and the other two belonging to the young members of the family, are set up with different views. The large bathroom belongs to the ensuing bedroom, the other one large enough to be used comfortably is planned between the two rooms. The residence has two important complements that have close contact with the interiors. Those who bring ‘blueness’ to the green of the land and ‘coolness’ to the yellow heat of Cyprus: one is the pool of about 4×8.5 meters. It is adapted to the shape of the land in the lowest elevations with a view to the terrace of the hall and kitchen. There’s a seat north of the pool that leans against the basement wall. This nook and crannies are engraved in a local language that reminds us that the building is Cypriot. The other is the waterfall to the left of the main entrance to the residence. The inner garden, which can be heard from the outside when entering the house, perceived at eye level when entering, is a hidden treasure of the house, which is taken out of the kitchen if desired and plunged into it.
The owners of the residence are Nevhiz and Asım Özer. They conveyed their own manners and energies with an attitude that understood the language of architects. One inside and the other outside, they’ve enjoyed their savings to family unity. Nevhiz (Atun) Özer was interested in the decoration of interiors, while Asım Özer was involved in the landscape of the garden.
The fine details of the surfaces of the building and the points where the architectural elements meet were maintained in the corners of the interior. The endings are a sign of carefully executed enjoyment. Each surface is sometimes differentiated by color, sometimes by texture. Among the furniture, family heirlooms are in the majority. Most importantly, works by Cypriot artists such as Emin Çizenel, Özden Selenge and Hikmet Uluçam give meaning to the walls.
The garden of the house, which attracts attention with its harmony to its surroundings, is shaped with stones that seem to have come voluntarily from the mountains of Besparmak. Olives tucked between the abundance of redwood and cypresses, such as harnup, are preferred for those who want little water under the typical trees of Cyprus. With other plants suitable for the region, the rich colors of the land are highlighted. Near the structure, it featured cacti accompanying different textures on the facades.
The first of the design principles of the structure is its ‘respect for nature’ attitude. On the one hand, a hard, hard-to-process material such as limestone is reinforced concrete; On the other hand, a building reinforced by human hands was fed into the memory-filled mountains of Cyprus. ‘Respect for the land’ is another principle. In the design of the structure, those who fed on it were envied. On the day when the dwelling will become a home, the sounds of birds, the smell of pines, the nooks and crannies are preserved. These indispensable principles; it has become the original qualities of the structure. The essence of this transformation story, which has many architects, is based on a strong love! The structure was designed with a harmonious union and implemented with a competent team. A hopeful story for the family was conveyed not only to their own place but to their homeland; it’s taken a holistic approach to life here. ‘Villa Nev’, as Hakkı Atun, the eldest of the design team and the family, calls it, is like a fresh flower of the strong mountain, similar to its name. The kind that was surprised as if it had fallen slightly from the tree and disappeared into the soil…
CREDITS
Architectural Design: Hakkı Atun, Burhan Atun, Cenk Atun
Statical Project: Ünsal İnce
Electrical Project: Enver Ulaş, Ulaşım Mühendislik
Mechanical Project: Aysan Cumbezli
Contractor: Cemal Yapıcı
Building Date: 2015
Total Construction Area: 437 m2
Photographes: Burhan Atun, Devrim Yücel Besim
NATURAL STONE:
FRONT FACADE, LIVING AREA WALL, GARDEN RETAINING WALLS, ARTIFICIAL WATERFALL
CHILLED LIMESTONE
QUARRY
SOUTHERN RIDGES OF BEŞPARMAK MOUNTAINS (BETWEEN DİKMEN AND DEĞİRMENLİK)
