VICEM BODRUM HOUSES

The area around Bodrum is amongst the most popular holiday destinations in Turkey.
The strip of land between the sea and the coastal road to İçmeler remains relatively natural despite the dense construction inside Bodrum itself. The Vicem Residences are located along this strip, which poses the problem of relatively high density in a natural setting.

The architects have again experimented with what they call “mass fragmentation” for the 9.500-square-meter (102,257 square foot) housing complex completed in 2013. They employed a strategy that takes into account the three-dimensional topography of the site. They explain, “In order for the buildings to integrate with the natural texture and even to dissolve into the rocky site, the buildings are designed as fragmented masses, and the surface articulation of the parts that sit on the ground is kept as a natural as possible. Thick stone walls provide efficient insulation and keep the inner space cool in summer and hot in winter.” Wooden louvers are placed on facades that face the sun. Cross-ventilation is used along with shady courtyards to provide a cool breeze in the summer. The landscaping aims to stay within the context of local vegetation, and the “rocky texture” of the site is thus considered as the overall source of inspiration.*