Kobisan Residences Whakawhanaketanga Whare Noho

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The project is situated approximately 60 meters above the city level, directly impacting the skyline. The buildings are oriented towards the view and positioned at the upper edge. To mitigate the effect of the 14-story development, a sectional strategy divides the mass into the main block and four-story volumes, creating the perception of two separate buildings. The social facility, as the symbolic heart of the project, is located in a central position.

Dimensions & Packaging

The project is located on a 108,000 m2 site characterized by a steep topography. It comprises 330 residential units distributed across 9 blocks. A centrally positioned social facility accommodates all shared functions. The project is situated in Konya, Turkey.

Tags

Integration with Topography, Skyline Sensitivity, Mass Fragmentation, Balanced Scale, Pedestrian-Oriented Ground Plane

Production Technology

The project is designed as a reinforced concrete frame system based on a raft foundation. The superstructure consists of a column–beam–shear wall system resisting lateral loads. Due to steep topography, a stepped layout and geogrid-reinforced MSE retaining walls were implemented. Terrace roofs are designed as inverted roofs with waterproofing, XPS insulation and drainage layers. Landscaped areas include an extensive green roof system.

Design Challenge

The challenges of the project can be addressed in two phases. In the first phase, the massing strategy and perceptual scale control of the volume integrated into the city skyline constituted the primary design problem. In the second phase, adapting the structure to the natural terrain became essential; efforts focused on minimizing excavation and fill. Due to the slope, high retaining and reinforced earth walls required significant engineering solutions.

Research

The research is grounded in key concepts such as view and housing, landscape and topography, density and section. Its aim is to integrate intensive development with natural slope and the urban skyline in a balanced manner. The methodology is based on sectional terracing and terrain-adaptive strategies. Zoning data, level analyses, and 3D modeling were utilized, resulting in a scale-controlled and context-sensitive residential model.

Inspiration

The project treats topography as a productive design force. Its sensitive position within the skyline transforms development rights into architectural responsibility. Height is reinterpreted through sectional manipulation, and the mass is fragmented to achieve a balanced scale. Inspired by traditional Turkish architecture, principles such as adaptation to slope, orientation, wide eaves, low-rise structures, and terraced layouts are reimagined within a contemporary residential environment.

Project Duration

The project in Konya began in the design phase in 2013 and was completed from a design perspective by 2017. Construction started in 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Operation Flow

Kobisan Residences offers a settlement model integrated with topography and oriented toward panoramic views. Its terraced massing and pedestrian-focused open spaces create a calm residential atmosphere, while the social facility and central plaza foster a strong sense of community. The development’s adaptation to natural slope generates a balanced and human-scaled living environment.

Image Credits

Photographer: Egemen Karakaya