Riva Hale Nui by Dilek Karaman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Loko Hale a me Hōʻike Competition Category.

KeleaweLoko Hale· 2026

Riva Hale Nui

by Dilek Karaman

Client: Dk Interior Architecture

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Loko Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180354

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Riva Hale Nui

ʻO Riva Villa he hale noho ʻekolu papa i hoʻonohonoho ʻia a puni i kekahi alapiʻi wili kālaikiʻi e piʻi ana i loko o kahi keʻena māla kūloko pālua ke kiʻekiʻe. ʻO ia hakahaka kū pololei ka mea e hoʻopaʻa ai i ka hoʻolālā, e alakaʻi ana i ka neʻe ʻana a e hoʻolauna ana i nā hiʻohiʻona papa. Ke hoʻomaikaʻi nei kahi pale lāʻau hoʻomau i ka ʻoluʻolu o ke kani, ʻoiai ke hoʻokahua nei nā puʻu pōhaku hookahi i nā hana nui me ke kaumaha i ana pono ʻia. Na nā kikoʻī metala mālie a me nā mālamalama papa i hoʻomalu ʻia ka ʻālohilohi e hana i kahi ʻano waiwai hanohano mālie e loli ana mai ke ao mālamalama ʻoi a i nā hiʻohiʻona ahiahi pili kokoke.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Riva Hale Nui i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Riva Hale Nui he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Riva Hale Nui i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Riva Villa is a three level calm residence centered on a sculptural spiral staircase rising through a double height indoor garden atrium. The stair serves as both circulation and signature artwork while warm timber architecture ensures acoustic comfort and visual continuity. Natural materials act as structure not decoration timber defines rhythm stone volumes anchor key functions and subtle metal accents refine the palette.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total area approximately 1000 square meters. 3 floors organized as a gradient from public to private
Key spatial elements
Double height living core with indoor atrium garden
Signature ribbon spiral staircase as the primary vertical connector
Kitchen dining anchored by a monolithic stone island and sculptural lighting
Private suites with soft acoustic textiles layered illumination and tactile wall relief surfaces
Material performance moisture resistant timber assemblies long life stone surfaces energy efficient LED strategy and low emission specification principles.
Tags: quiet luxury interior, biophilic residence, sculptural staircase, ribbon spiral stair, double height atrium, indoor garden atrium, natural stone finishes, warm timber architecture, sustainable materials, gallery like home, luxury villa interior, Riva Istanbul villa
Production Technology: Executed with high craft and minimal visual noise, the ribbon stair is engineered on a CNC-cut substructure and finished with seamless joints for a single-surface read. Timber wall systems use sourced veneers on accessible subframes with acoustic backing. Stone elements are fabricated with vein matching, mitered corners, and shadow-gap detailing. Layered lighting combines concealed LEDs, micro downlights, and dimmable pendants, with low-VOC finishes for low glare and healthy indoor air.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was achieving iconic presence without visual noise a home that feels elevated and artful but never showy. Key difficulties included engineering a seamless ribbon stair with clean junctions and consistent curvature balancing the weight of stone monoliths with warm timber rhythm integrating the atrium planting without compromising maintenance lighting and humidity control and delivering a lighting system that remains discreet by day yet creates rich warm atmosphere at night.
Research: The project examines how a large scale residence can feel quiet breathable and materially honest through biophilic strategies centered on the atrium sustainable material selection focused on longevity and responsible sourcing and light as architecture using layered concealed sources to shape mood depth and comfort.
Inspiration: The project is inspired by coastal calm and fluid movement the ribbon geometry echoes shoreline curves and wind shaped forms while the atrium introduces a living seasonal dimension to the minimal palette. The overall approach follows biophilic quiet luxury softness tactility and breathable spatial composition that feels timeless rather than trend driven.
Project Duration: Riva Istanbul Turkiye designed in 2025
Operation Flow: Arrival frames the identity immediately drawing the visitor toward the stair and atrium where vertical movement becomes a slow curated experience rather than a functional transfer. Public life unfolds on the main level with living hosting and dining while upper floors transition into calm private suites. Sightlines are designed for controlled reveals art moments material transitions and the indoor tree acting as a living landmark that reorients users throughout the home.
Team Members: Dilek Karaman