On the coast of Turkey’s MuÄŸla province, 30 minutes from Bodrum by boat, a sloping plot of rugged, sun-baked land, alive with greenery and bordered by beaches, runs down to the Aegean Sea. Approaching from the northern, land side, it takes a moment to spot the building that has recently been completed here, so artfully does it complement the landscape.
Built between 2015 and 2019, SZ Villa is the work of Foster + Partners. The studio’s projects are typically large-scale and high-profile, making this holiday home, luxurious as it is, all the more intriguing (the firm’s last published private residence was Leedon Park House in Singapore, completed in 2006).
When you arrive, a fragrant Mediterranean-styled garden, carefully cultivated with plants, herbs and olive trees, leads to what at first glance appears to be a single-storey building topped with a simple straight roof, almost hidden among the foliage. Crossing the main threshold reveals the structure’s true dimensions – two levels, not one – which follow the natural contours of the sloped terrain. While the west side contains areas for living and dining, the east is dedicated to family quarters. A spiralling central staircase connects the two aspects, in addition to an open bridge towards the back of the building. To the south lies the sea.
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Wallpaper.
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This story is from the April 2020 edition of Wallpaper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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