Located in Menemen, İzmir, the residence was commissioned by the Kaya Family, who had technical drawings prepared for a timber construction system based on a building they admired. At the Kaya Family’s request to integrate qualities that prioritize human and environmental health into the project, the material selections and construction details were comprehensively reconsidered by our team. The building was redesigned in accordance with building biology principles, and performance analyses were carried out accordingly.

The building’s structural system consists of laminated timber, while hemp-based insulation boards with high thermal performance were used in the building envelope. The façade was completed with natural timber cladding. To improve indoor air quality and hygrothermal comfort, clay panels were applied to the interior surfaces and finished with clay plaster and clay paint. Through this layered assembly, the building envelope contributes to the passive regulation of indoor humidity by absorbing and releasing water vapour, thanks to its hygroscopic properties, thereby supporting stable hygrothermal comfort conditions.

Passive design strategies were adopted to reduce energy consumption and maintain optimal indoor environmental conditions. However, the building’s large-span spatial configuration and continuous ribbon windows positioned directly below the roof level resulted in increased internal heat loads, particularly during hot periods. As the windows were not designed to be operable, rising warm air could not be naturally exhausted through the stack effect. This limited the potential for natural ventilation and passive cooling. Therefore, a central HVAC system was integrated into the building to maintain comfortable indoor conditions.