Nestled within a citrus garden in the Seferihisar District of Izmir, Payamli House is a contemporary interpretation of a quintessential cabin that sits alongside a stream in a rural landscape. The primary design criteria was to construct the space required by the brief in the simplest and most cost-effective manner. For this reason, the variety of materials used in the interior and exterior of the building were kept at a minimum. Along with this, local materials and labor were utilized for most of the material manufacturing and installation.
In terms of design language and meeting the needs of the client, Payamli House easily adapts to the life in the region with its simplicity and materials by allowing the daily life of the home to create a central access or backbone that is closely linked with the gardens and the stream. With the communal living area placed on this central axis, the need for corridors are minimalized while allowing for the private spaces to be separated. This central axis redefines the identity of the building and seeks to blur the boundaries between inside and outside living while providing an unobstructed flow between the interior and exterior spaces.
The positioning of the common living spaces to be accessed from both the front terrace and rear courtyard create a sense of sequencing and layering of spaces that allows for continuous visual relationship with the gardens. The purity of form and the simplicity of robust materials, allow for a distinct connection between the inside and outside. There is a sense of multisensory play, allowing one to smell the citrus, feel the temperature, wind, heat and light throughout the day.
The thoughtful design of the series of openings, allows for an abundance of natural light to flood the space, adding to the open and serene atmosphere while maintaining a harmonious connection between the materials and architectural form. Instead of standard shutter systems, local reeds, collected at a walking distance to the house, are woven together with iron frames that were manufactured specifically for Payamli House, create shading elements that filter the sunlight, providing not only shade but also a visual experience that allows one to observe the passage of time as the shadows shift.
Another very conscious effort in creating a locally produced and sustainable structure can be seen in other architectural elements, like handles for the cupboards that where designed and manufactured from local wood found in the area. The simplicity of the form of the wood and the minimal use of varnish, not only acknowledges the function of the handle, but also respects of purity of the natural material.
Carefully designed to integrate with its surrounding landscape rather than dominate it, the simple yet contrasting palette of plaster, wood, stone, and dark aluminum allow for Payamli House to differentiate with the surrounding landscape but also merge and intertwine, creating a calming oasis-like atmosphere. Through the use of natural materials, simple lines, and large openings that frame the curated views of the citrus gardens, Payamli house offers a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. There is an emphasis on preserving the natural vegetation and surroundings while maximizing natural light and ventilation. Thus creating a tranquil environment where the architecture is not imposing, but is more of a backdrop that allows nature to take center stage, allowing the occupants a constant and immersive connection with nature.
