Casa Uva

ZM Yasa, Başak Akkoyunlu

• Architects

Located in Çeşme, İzmir, Casa Uva is a residential project consisting of two houses, each developed on a 635 square meter plot with approximately 564 square meters of enclosed living space. Completed in 2021, each house comprises three levels, including a basement. The main structure is surrounded by a landscape in which travertine, mosaic stone, and natural wood cladding are used in harmony.

Situated on a site with level differences, the building turns this condition into an advantage by creating a dynamic spatial experience between the entrance level and the middle level (garden level), where the main living areas are located. In addition to the interior staircase and elevator, an exterior staircase also connects these levels, enhancing spatial continuity and usability.

photo_credit ZM Yasa, Başak Akkoyunlu — ZM Yasa, Başak Akkoyunlu

On the basement level, the space gained through the site’s level differences is designed to accommodate a sauna, steam room, and an associated relaxation area. This floor also includes two rooms, one intended for service use and the other as a guest room, as well as a covered garage, service spaces, and technical areas. The garden level houses the kitchen, a bedroom opening directly onto the garden, and a living room that maintains a direct visual connection with the infinity pool overlooking the Ovacık plains.

The bedrooms located on the entrance level are positioned to directly take advantage of the project’s most significant feature, the view, and this is further reinforced by a generously sized balcony that functions as a terrace. The rooms and bathrooms on this level are located beneath the reinforced concrete shell that also defines the building’s mass, allowing the shell to be perceived from the interior and contributing to the spatial richness of the rooms. In the master bedroom, a skylight positioned above the bed enriches the space with varying light conditions and visual experiences throughout both day and night.

On the exterior, the reinforced concrete shell is finished with a special plaster, preserving its strong architectural expression. The façades recessed within the shell are clearly articulated through the use of travertine on the eastern (entrance) façade and iroko wood on the western façade, supporting the legibility of the shell as an independent architectural element.