Located in Ula, a district in the Turkish province of Mugla, the U House is a contemporary dwelling informed by the traditional vernacular structures and materiality of the region. Architecture practice URAStudio created two turned over concrete volumes, the larger of the two the designated living, kitchen and dining area; the smaller one hosting the private quarters consisting of two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Between the two volumes is a multifunctional covered space, connecting both front and back of the house. Sliding doors open up to a stone-step pathway that leads down to a swimming pool at the lower part of the hill. The heaviness of the concrete, stone and oak is countered by large glazed openings that frame the views of the country plain.
Conscious of its ecological footprint, the U House is equipped with a hybrid solar system for electricity, an artesian well for water and natural airflow for ventilation. “The crafted proportions of the building create a sensitive, almost sacred relationship with the human scale,” says the studio about U House. The project was completed in 2020.
Istanbul-based URAStudio seeks a poetic approach to spaces, carefully balancing form, material and place to create projects that enhance a fuller sense of being and living. More on their website and Instagram.
Photography © Ibrahim Ozbunar for URAStudio