This project was produced for an African family as a competition project.
Architects: Hacer Bozkurt and Kamile Öztürk Kösenciğ.
The house was created as modules to create an integrated relationship between interior and
exterior programs. The site decisions are based on the protection of the existing path and
the house is located on an empty area to allow the family to live while constructing it. In
terms of sustainability and the budget of the house, accessible local materials were
preferred. The concept is based on the balance of privacy-publicity and outdoor
activities-security needs of a large family. This balance was created by dividing the programs
by the private axe. This axe creates two courtyards, first one [kitchen-yard] integrating the
living areas and the second one [green-yard] integrating the bedrooms. The bedrooms were
raised from the ground to provide passive ventilation. Each room had at least two windows in
order to ventilate it properly.
These two courtyards also function as exterior spaces that the family can gather most of the
time. Firstly, [kitchen-yard] is designed as an outdoor kitchen. It integrates the interior
kitchen, warehouse, washing areas and indoor living areas. It provides a safe outdoor
gathering place for the family. Secondly, [green-yard] integrates the bedrooms in two levels
(0,00 + 0,68). It was designed as an area with vegetation and small animals. A porch was
designed for small animals separately from the kitchens. This courtyard; with trees, plants,
hanging chains and ivy from the roofs (as a rain carrier) and small animals; would be a
natural and warm space as a contrast to [kitchen-yard]. The [kitchen-yard] is sterile, public
and integrated, the [green-yard] is private and natural. It has been provided to have
openings in the east-west direction to ventilate the roof spaces and courtyard. In order not to
allow the summer sun inside, the roof surfaces are longer on the southern facade.
The interior kitchen has rotating separators because the courtyard is a safe zone but also
exterior. This will allow the kitchen good access from the outside and allows functional
integration with the exterior kitchen and storage at the same time. It also supplies good
ventilation for the interior wood cooking stove. There is also space for gas cooking inside.
The [kitchen-yard] is a transitional space between the living room, kitchen and storage,
laundry, dressing room and showers. Wooden tables that can be converted into benches are
designed for outdoors.The buildings and the roofs are designed as a shelter for rain and also
supply shading.