Izmir, Türkiye
Located in Urla—formerly known by its Greek name Vourla—one of the most sought-after districts of İzmir in the Aegean region, this single-storey residential project offers a contemporary lifestyle closely connected to nature.
Set on a flat 6,650 m² site, the project consists of a main house, a guest house, and an outbuilding, together forming a holistic and well-integrated living environment.
With its generous ceiling heights—nearly sufficient to accommodate a mezzanine—the house combines functional planning, spatial comfort, and sustainable design principles.
Vourla House by GAD Global Architectural Development won an American Architecture Award 2025 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
The overall layout is organized around clear public and private zones, separating day and night uses while maintaining strong spatial continuity.
Designed for homeowners who are contemporary art collectors, the interior features wide corridors, custom solutions, and spacious rooms that evoke the atmosphere of a private gallery.
From the main road, a defined axis guides both vehicles and pedestrians through an olive-lined approach, symbolizing fertility and timelessness.
This green corridor naturally screens the guest house, outbuildings, parking areas, and sports facilities, while stone walls reinforce privacy and spatial hierarchy.
The axis culminates at the centrally positioned entrance of the main building. The main house has a total floor area of 850 m².
It includes an entrance hall, a multifunctional living hall, dining area with open kitchen, home office, and three suite bedrooms.
A partially underground level of 413 m² accommodates a private spa, gym, utility rooms, and technical spaces.
A 3.5-meter-wide, 85 m² corridor aligned with the entrance functions as an art gallery and forms a clear boundary between private and guest areas, terminating in a framed view of the pool and garden.
With a ceiling height reaching 5 meters, the main living spaces are filled with natural daylight filtered through ventilation openings and moonlight at night.
A centrally positioned stairwell acts as an interior courtyard, allowing daylight to penetrate the basement level.
Wide eaves surrounding the building provide protection from the Aegean climate, enhanced by movable pergolas that optimize daylight control throughout the seasons.
Orientation plays a key role in the design: the entrance faces east, while the main hall opens to the west and is protected by horizontal sun-shading elements.
Bedrooms are positioned on the north façade for privacy and shaded with narrow windows and wooden shutters.
Recessed interior gardens and reflection pools enrich the spatial experience and strengthen the relationship between indoor and outdoor areas.
Floor-to-ceiling sliding windows with slender frames and solar-controlled glazing ensure visual continuity while regulating heat and UV exposure.
The guest house, measuring 145 m², includes two suites and a living area, offering a more modest yet comfortable accommodation.
The 110 m² outbuilding provides housing for staff and is strategically located to oversee garden access and ensure security.
A security hut at the main entrance further supports privacy and safety.
Landscape design reinforces the connection to nature through orchards, greenhouses, water features, strolling areas, and stables, creating a balanced environment where modern living and the natural landscape coexist harmoniously.
Project: Vourla House
Architects: GAD Global Architectural Development
Lead Architect: Gokhan Avcioglu
Landscape Architects: DS Landscape & Architecture
Client: Folkart Yapi San. Tic. A.S.
Photographers: Cemal Emden
