Selin Biçer Mimar / Architect
Construction methods, stone walls, definitions of craftsmanship have transformed during the rapid construction processes. Representing the structure, stone wall has been transformed into a sort of paving material with the help of the regulations. Approved volumes and implemented volumes played as the new generators of added value.
The founder of MeMA, Mert Eyiler tells about his housing project located in Bodrum, Gümüşlük:
“Acquaintance of Karakaya was started with the housings of Zeynep, David, Arjuna and Kali’(zdak). When Aslı asked for project support for the houses of Zeynep and David, even the feeling of being near the Karakaya Village was enough for me to endeavor for the project.We were facing a square like draft and a rocky topography with a steep slope. The draft was constraining both the connection of the structure with the ground and the project that zdak was intended to realize. The suggestion of a parallel structure for the hill embodying an elevation difference of 10m between the starting and ending points, highly relieved us and mostly Zeynep. While the struggles were continuing, Aslı decided to live around here as well.While planning for a house for her, the idea to build two structures on the same ground changed everything. Our practice of experience sharing with David and Zeynep on a yoga mat; and the friendship we formed with Aslı paved the way for a community life in Karakaya.
The idea of living together was not able to physically correspond to the plan. Disagreements broke out during the construction process. Living side by side remained a dream which the neighbors will develop in the course of time and our plan evolved into two seperate houses… Construction methods, stone walls, definitions of craftsmanship have transformed during the rapid construction processes. Representing the structure, stone wall has been transformed into a sort of paving material with the help of the regulations. Approved volumes and implemented volumes played as the new generators of added value. We carry on our studies for the past three years. During this period, local authorities have been merged with each other and the rights we earned before were reconsidered. For a few times, we consecutively applied for a restoration permit while proceeding with a designer/ producer model. Nowadays, we proceed by fits and starts through the seasonal regulations of the tourism resort with İlkut Gümeke. The structure (A) we designed for Zdak was transformed due to zoning regulations, the demands of the neighbors and budgeting problems because they had to move right away. I am glad that these problems came up because now they have the chance to live in Spain for the education of Arjuna and Kali. The ‘thing’ we do accidentally (for zdak) led to their second ‘home’. (Yes, when considered the period from the 1980’s where the regulations of tourism resorts were being applied up until now, we managed to add another project to the structure portfolio that creates seasonal added values and consists of housings and summer houses built for a nonapparent group. Let’s see what happens next.) The structure (B) we conceptualized for Aslı advanced just as we planned in the beginning and is still in progress. A or B; neither one of them is more valuable than the other. We ran after the neighborhood relation that these two structures create. The structures we call as preliminary preparations and the projects that we develop for the near future will transform both the structures and the geography. We will see…”
