Kısırkaya | Sarıyer | Istanbul, 2023
Landscape Design and Application
Located in Kısırkaya, Istanbul, along the Black Sea coastline, this project is a distinctive landscape design undertaking that required meticulous consideration throughout both the design and implementation processes due to its unique waterfront location and challenging environmental conditions. While the site’s direct relationship with the sea provides exceptional landscape potential, the intense exposure to saltwater, strong winds, and the variable conditions of the Black Sea climate required highly durable material and planting selections.
The project extended beyond the creation of aesthetic and functional solutions, requiring advanced engineering and construction techniques due to the site’s sloped topography, coastal conditions, and the aggressive environmental impacts of the sea. Resolving level transitions safely, designing retaining and drainage systems, detailing structural elements to withstand coastal conditions over many years, and managing the entire construction process under challenging site conditions transformed the project into a technically demanding and comprehensive landscape implementation. Throughout the construction phase, the project was coordinated simultaneously with multiple disciplines, with all details resolved through an integrated interdisciplinary approach.
The existing sloped terrain was insufficient to accommodate the users’ needs and lifestyle requirements. Therefore, the site was completely reconfigured according to user habits, living scenarios, and functional expectations, resulting in a holistic landscape composition where different levels establish strong spatial relationships with one another. The design was organized across three main elevations: the entrance level, terrace level, and seaside level, creating a balanced structure in terms of both circulation and spatial experience.
Due to the existing building’s inability to accommodate the desired functional program, three Tiny Houses were positioned within the garden area. These structures were planned as an auxiliary building, guest house, and gym. The gym structure was integrated beneath the upper level, becoming partially concealed within the natural topography. Its roof was transformed into an actively used green roof garden, ensuring continuity of the landscape while minimizing the visual impact of the structure within the natural setting.
At the intermediate level, a social focal point was created where users can enjoy the space throughout different times of the day. The fire pit area, surrounded by Iroko timber seating elements, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere through the natural texture of the material and the Iroko detailing applied to the fireplace cladding.
The wide steps connecting the upper and lower levels were designed as a custom detail that combines aesthetics and engineering. Different sizes of graded river gravel were applied over ecological ground grids integrated within a corten steel structural system, providing natural drainage performance while creating a distinctive visual character.
At the seaside level, open-air living spaces were designed to allow uninterrupted interaction with the coastal view. In addition to dining and seating areas, an outdoor kitchen and bar unit were incorporated to enhance service and user comfort. Storage areas, restroom doors, and kitchen elements were produced using Iroko timber, while the kitchen area was designed with a sliding-folding system, allowing it to be fully opened or closed according to functional needs.
To reduce the scale of the extensive hardscape areas on the terrace level and create a warmer spatial experience, tree planting voids were integrated through metal grid details. This approach provides natural shading, reduces the monotonous effect of large paved surfaces, and establishes a strong connection between planting elements and architectural components.
All metal fabrications used throughout the project were manufactured in galvanized steel to ensure long-term durability. Gates, climbing plant structures, metal constructions, and galvanized steel elevation elements were designed within the same material language, creating a cohesive and unified project identity.
The stairs connecting different levels feature custom-produced precast steps with integrated LED lighting details, providing both safety and aesthetic value during nighttime use. Decorative plaster finishes on parapet walls and galvanized metal coping elements were incorporated to complete the detailing while reinforcing the architectural character of the project.
The planting design was developed with careful consideration of the challenging climatic conditions of the Black Sea coast and continuous exposure to saltwater. Plant species resistant to wind, salinity, and coastal conditions were carefully selected, creating a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape composition that remains compatible with the surrounding natural environment throughout the year.
As a result, the Kısırkaya Project is a comprehensive landscape design and implementation project that brings together topography, architecture, and natural surroundings through a unified design language, prioritizes user experience, and is designed to withstand the demanding conditions of the coastal environment for many years to come.
