Honor Award

Hebil 157 Houses
Bodrum, Muğla, Turkey

CEVSA Landscape Firm & AYTAC Architects Istanbul, Turkey
Client: İnci –Enver AYTAC

Hebil 157 Houses is a residential project consists of 5 luxury villas in Bodrum Peninsula, on the southwestern coast of Turkey. The buildings grow from the landscape and recall the crystalline lava flows of the legendry Volcano Kos once located near the Hebil 157 Site. Landscape design starts with the respect to the natural landscape, preserve the existing topography and the existing grove and reuse again, then continue the design with using the local flora. Consequently, this land turns into a paradise, using 10.000 lavenders and the butterflies flying on them.

Project Background

Hebil 157 is a boutique development of five villas on a sloping five acre site north of Bodrum and set on the Aegean coast of south western Turkey. The site has views of northwards over Hebil Bay and the Aegean Sea. All this from a basaltic geology through which legendry Volcano Kos has erupted and produced lava flows and pyroclastic rocks. This rich geology is clothed with olive groves.

The setting is sublime and the views beautiful. So the first thing to ensure was to protect the topography, and place the villas with the landform and minimize grade change. This has ensured the retention of the surrounding olive groves.

Prior to construction began fifty olive trees, which would be affected by the new buildings, were identified, marked and prepared for removal and re-use and placed in an off-site holding nursery. Existing volcanic conglomerate stone field walls were surveyed and the buildings are located to retain these walls.

Architect Alper Aytac sees the design as an expression of the idea that 'Architecture as the extension of topography': The five villas are shaped and formed like the crystallized lava flows of the legendry Volcano Kos. Erupting out of the terrain dramatically, the vortexing “Bodrum White” masses merge into the background with serenity. The influence of the volcano is experienced both in materiality and spatial organization. The spaces are fluidly connected, rejecting compartmentalization.

The forms and flowing internal and external spaces provide privacy while ensuring views. Materials are the local stone, white rendered walls, wood decking and glazed panoramic windows. No stone other than volcanic basalt has been used in the interior spaces. For the external spaces and the stone screen walls, local volcanic agglomerate, the output of in-situ excavations has been used extensively. Large glass surfaces bring the picturesque landscape inside, blurring the division between inside and outside.

The buildings grow from the landscape and the roofs are partially vegetated. Each villa embraces the century old olive trees the central courtyard pays homage to the local flora. Each villa has a private terrace with replanted olive trees and a pool lined with Murano glass mosaic and the terraces are open to sea breezes. Close to each kitchen landscape architect has also planted a native Bodrum mandarin and other Citrus trees (Citrus reticulata, C. paradisi and C. lemon) for their fragrance and of course some Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis). Slopes offered rock gardens and planted with native drought and salt tolerant grasses and herbaceous plantings (such as Thymus and Salvia), and use of lavender (Lavandula pinnata, L. angustifolia, and L dentata) in mass planting. These areas has become attractive points for the fauna. In the project, color transition from the variations of the violet to pink is the most memorable element during the summer and early fall time. Color is found in the flowers of lavenders and in the flowers of herbaceous plants. These colours are then reflected in the interior furnishings and the applied mosaics in the villas.

The project investigates the rich relationship between the dynamic and complex forces of nature, and aim to work with them to produce relaxing therapeutic environment in touch with the natural landscape. The development is a product of a husband and wife team of architect and landscape architect.

American Society of Landscape Architects