The project organizes residential units across garden-level dwellings, mid-level apartments, and roof duplex typologies with private terraces within a horizontal architectural framework. This approach supports structural resilience, spatial continuity, and controlled density while reflecting the principles of horizontal architecture.
Responding to Mediterranean climatic conditions, the design adopts a permeable spatial system composed of semi-open spaces, shaded thresholds, and naturally ventilated circulation voids. The façade operates as a climatic interface, transforming from seating elements at ground level into sun-shading components at upper levels, supporting passive environmental control.
The concept extends the traditional Turkish “hayat” through contemporary transitional spaces that mediate between interior and exterior environments, promoting both natural ventilation and controlled social interaction. A hybrid structural system combining reinforced concrete and steel construction supports the architectural strategy, unifying technical efficiency with environmental responsiveness and contextual sensitivity.
MINIMALISM: A New Paradigm in Contemporary Housing
The design approach of the MOSS project is grounded in two conceptual propositions. The realities of earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have significantly shaped contemporary urban life, have triggered a profound paradigm shift not only in the fields of health and safety, but also in spatial organization and housing production practices. Within this context, the question of “what kind of buildings should we live in?” has become a central research inquiry in contemporary architectural discourse.
Horizontal Organization and Spatial Continuity
This line of inquiry has brought the concept of “horizontal architecture” back into discussion as an emerging residential typology. This approach, which supports seismic resilience through low-rise, horizontally expanded, and controlled-density configurations, can be read as a contemporary reinterpretation of long-established spatial continuities within Mediterranean and Turkish housing traditions.
In particular, semi-open spatial configurations, shading elements, and permeable façade systems provide significant spatial advantages in both post-disaster conditions and in response to pandemic-related spatial requirements.
From “Hayat” to Contemporary Living: Reinterpreting Transitional Spaces
Within the Turkish housing tradition, semi-open transitional spaces known as “hayat” constitute one of the key references of the project. These intermediary spatial layers between interior and exterior are reinterpreted not only as climatic devices but also as social infrastructures that enable controlled interaction.
In this framework, MOSS proposes a housing approach that diversifies rather than standardizes individual units and positions the relationship with nature as a fundamental component of architectural design.
Climatic Intelligence and Hybrid Structure: Context-Responsive Design Strategies
Climate and contextual parameters are addressed as fundamental drivers of the design decisions. In response to the Mediterranean climate, the building is structured around passive environmental control strategies.
While the façade system generates spatial extensions such as seating niches at ground level, reinforcing continuity with the public realm, it transforms into a shading and sun-control envelope at upper levels. At roof level, duplex units with landscaped terraces reinterpret the tradition of garden-based living within a vertical configuration.
The structural system is defined as a hybrid solution, combining a reinforced concrete primary structure with lightweight steel construction for the roof duplex units.
