A small elite village, uniting 21 residential buildings at once, arose on a green hillside in Yalikavak, the most prestigious part of the coast of the Bodrum Peninsula. The slope is quite steep, allowing the architects Richard Meier & Partners to provide many excellent vantage points. Is it worth mentioning that all houses, without exception, are completely white?
The architects presented 5 standard types of layouts. The main changes concern the device of the foundation and the binding of the object to a specific part of the landscape. Otherwise, there are not many differences. Each owner is assigned a spacious 1 acre (0.4 ha) plot of land. It houses the main house with a total area of about 330 m2 and a 40-meter guest house. An open staircase leads to the main entrance, which, together with the hall and the double-height living room, forms a kind of enfilade-promenade.
The set of premises is also identical: in the lower part there is a home theater, laundry and servants' rooms; living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom are on the ground floor; upstairs there are three bedrooms. A full-fledged fireplace will take center stage in every home.
Neat, one might even say "sterile" houses look especially impressive against the backdrop of lush vegetation. Simple and clear geometric shapes, open terraces and an abundance of glass, light, sun-filled interiors are simply the quintessence of resort architecture, an idyllic idea of a carefree life by the sea. And, at the same time, a simple and practical approach to designing a modern residential building. It is no coincidence that this project became part of the active cooperation of Richard Mayer's bureau with the famous investor Nicholas Berggruen and his company Berggruen Holdings.
L. M.
