Project Consultant: Institute of Building Biology and Ecology (YBE)
Yaka House
Yaka House was designed as the adaptive reuse of an old stone barn in Barbaros Village, transforming the existing structure in accordance with healthy and natural building principles. The existing stone walls on the ground floor were preserved to benefit from their thermal mass. Rising above the stone volume, the lightweight timber-framed upper floor was clad with timber slats on all sides, creating a natural façade that provides protection from sun and wind. Defining the character of the transformation, this timber structure, with its wide openings and semi-open terraces, largely dissolves the boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces.
Öztürk House
A pioneering architectural project in Turkey, it has helped pave the way for the official recognition and regulatory acceptance of natural building materials.
Designed in harmony with the region’s rural architecture, the building features a stone masonry outer shell and a timber frame structure. The interior incorporates earth- and bio-based materials to create a healthy building system.
Home to our institute’s headquarters, the building was the first in Turkey to be designated as a “Bio-house”, reflecting its diverse use of natural materials, integrated design approach, and coherent execution.
The settlement masterplan envisioned all buildings with timber structures and natural building materials, reflecting a commitment to healthy, environmentally responsible design.
Designed in line with permaculture and building biology principles, the projects were recognized among the world’s 21 leading examples of natural building.
Designed in harmony with the local architectural tradition, the building combines a stone masonry outer shell with a wide range of natural building materials.
The building was designed around user experience, maximizing daylight and natural ventilation while creating spatial solutions that promote well-being and quality of life.
The winter garden on the fourth floor of SALT Beyoğlu was redesigned with a rammed earth floor, creating a public space in the heart of Beyoğlu where visitors can feel the earth beneath their feet.
Designed as a visitor, exhibition, and multi-purpose facility introducing the village of Ayazini, the pavilion’s defining architectural feature is its two towers, which establish a dialogue with the historic rock-cut dwellings carved into the valley slope.
