Press Release
S.A.I.T. Studio Is Honored with the Bronze A' Design Award for Villa Fortuna Private Residence in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
S.A.I.T. Studio honored for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 27, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category for Villa Fortuna Private Residence by S.A.I.T. Studio. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Villa Fortuna Private Residence
Villa Fortuna is a comprehensive coastal renovation project that transforms an existing residence in Kas, Antalya through precise structural intervention and strategic level manipulation. The design elevates the main living space while lowering the terrace to strengthen the relationship between interior, pool and shoreline. Independent guest suites are positioned using the natural topography to maintain privacy and sea views. The use of locally sourced Kas stone and integrated outdoor living areas creates a resilient Mediterranean dwelling that responds sensitively to its coastal context.
About S.A.I.T. Studio
Founded in Istanbul in 2018 by Sait Güray Yalçın, S.A.I.T. Studio is an architecture and interior design practice co-founded by Kemal Çetin. The studio develops residential, commercial, and hospitality projects with an approach that considers architecture, interiors, materiality, light, and spatial experience as parts of a unified whole. Its work is shaped by the relationship between function, context, and visual narrative, with each project developed in response to its specific users and setting. S.A.I.T. Studio’s projects have received international recognition through design awards and publications.
Award Record
With this recognition, S.A.I.T. Studio is a winner of 5 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2023 - 2024 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/182197
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/182197
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!182197
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/351028
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://saitstudio.com/en/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Villa Fortuna Private Residence
- Function
- Private Residence
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Black, Dark Olive Green, Light Steel Blue and Light Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- S.A.I.T. Studio
- Country
- Turkiye
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #182197
Credits
- Team
- Kemal Cetin, Sait Guray Yalcin, Nazlican Kars, Beyza Nur Emir, Sude Karadayi, Ogeday Oguz Atalay and Yusuf Cebeci
- Image Credits
- Architectural Visualization S.A.I.T. Studio, Palm 1890, 2026.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Villa Fortuna is a comprehensive strengthening and renovation project that redefines an existing coastal residence through strategic level manipulation, suspended roof engineering and complete spatial reorganization. By utilizing site topography, integrating independent guest suites and employing local Kas stone throughout, the design establishes a strong dialogue between architecture, landscape and the Mediterranean shoreline.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for Villa Fortuna emerged from the unique coastal character of Kas and the latent potential of the existing structure. The primary motivation was to transform spatial and experiential quality without exceeding regulatory height limits. By carefully reading the topography, preserving mature trees and employing local Kas stone, the design seeks to establish a contemporary Mediterranean living environment deeply rooted in its natural and cultural context.
- Research
- Type of Research: Applied architectural renovation research. Research Objectives: To improve spatial quality within strict height limits. Methodology: On-site analysis and adaptive reuse. Data Collection and Research Tools Used: Field surveys, structural reports and digital modeling. Participants or Experiments: Multidisciplinary design team. Results: Improved spatial flow and coastal integration. Insights and Impacts: Shows how constrained coastal residences can be effectively transformed through level manipulation and contextual material use.
- Challenge
- The primary challenge was achieving a meaningful spatial transformation under strict height and coastal regulations. Vertical expansion was not permitted, requiring the design to rely on strategic level manipulation and structural reconfiguration. Additional complexity arose from preserving existing trees and integrating new guest suites within the natural topography. Coordinating structural reinforcement, shoreline interventions and landscape continuity demanded a highly precise and context-sensitive design approach.
- Realization and Technology
- The project was realized through structural strengthening and adaptive renovation. The existing roof was re engineered with a suspended system, enabling full interior wall removal and spatial reconfiguration. Floor screed removal allowed a 120 cm living level adjustment within height limits. Locally sourced Kas stone was applied to facades and garden walls. The parking pergola integrates photovoltaic panels.
- Operation and Interaction
- The project is organized to create a clear and fluid daily experience between the house, terrace and shoreline. The elevated living level strengthens sea views, while the lowered terrace naturally guides movement toward the pool and outdoor areas. Independent guest suites provide privacy without disconnecting from the main house. The beach deck, outdoor kitchen and landscape support an open and comfortable Mediterranean lifestyle.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project design phase started in August 2025. Construction began in December 2025 and is scheduled for completion in March 2026 in Kas, Antalya.
- Specifications
- The project occupies a coastal plot in Kas and includes a reinforced main residence, three independent guest suites and shoreline facilities. The living area level was raised by approximately 120 cm through screed removal within existing height limits. Extensive Kas stone cladding was applied to facades and garden walls. Total construction area is approximately 110 m2. Backup infrastructure including a water storage system and generator ensures uninterrupted operation.
- Keywords
- Villa renovation, Coastal villa, Adaptive reuse, Mediterranean architecture, Kas stone, Level manipulation, Residential architecture, Landscape integration, Sustainable villa
