Facts
Client: Esta Construction
Architect: Eray/Carbajo
Design: Inanc Eray, Gonzalo Carbajo
Consultants
Structural: Kinaci Muhendislik
Electrical: Sanayi Muhendislik
MEP: ABC Muhendislik
Source: v2com
Photo credit: Eray Carbajo
Eray Carbajo, an international architecture and design studio based in Brooklyn and Istanbul, has won over 20 international awards in architecture, interior design, planning and product design. For Urban Rural, the firm proposes a hybrid unit of habitation where one can be close to the city center and simultaneously enjoy the lifestyle of rural living, with a strong interaction with the community and neighborhood.
The design challenges the status quo of typical residential typology. Urban Rural seeks sustainable development through architectural innovation. The unique form of the residential modules utilizes an efficient hexagonal grid that covers the maximum building volume with minimum number of building elements.
One hexagon unit consists of a polygonal area to inhabit and a triangular cavity to be used as an irrigable garden. When all modules are combined, the triangle cavities act as a truss structure transferring the building’s loads to lower members. As a whole, Urban Rural creates interdependencies between building systems, structure, landscape and architecture. Integration of such complex systems are achieved through modular design that persevere flexibility.
Urban Rural is designed to become a city landmark. Building a vertical urban village in the heart of the city center, immediately reduces dependency on cars and even on public transit, and promotes walking or cycling. This generates more opportunities for human interaction and moments of communication that will eventually result in a stronger community. Urban Rural features social and recreational spaces on the lower floors to build a self-sufficient neighborhood where people can live, work and recreate locally.
