Silver Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
Jaqalan Villa
by Yaser and Yasin Rashid Shomali
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Shomali Design Studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 18,967
- Verification code 7B96D39F39 · Verify this award
About Jaqalan Villa
Jaqalan, translating to friends in Turkish, comprises two architecturally unified villas in the verdant landscape of Zekeriyakoy, Istanbul. Characterized by striking sloped roofs that descend to the ground, the design addresses the region's heavy rainfall while creating a bold visual identity. Expansive terraces and floor to ceiling windows foster a strong indoor outdoor connection. With solar panels and energy efficient materials, Jaqalan exemplifies sustainable living, redefining contemporary residential architecture through minimalism and contextual harmony.
Yaser and Yasin Rashid Shomali's Jaqalan Villa emerges from contemporary architectural discourse as a compelling meditation on the relationship between constructed geometry and organic landscape, demonstrating sophisticated formal strategies that position the work within traditions of expressive modernism while advancing distinctive material and compositional innovations. The architects appear to engage deliberately with questions of shelter, prospect, and territorial marking, employing dramatically angled roof planes that may reference vernacular building traditions adapted through contemporary formal language. Technical accomplishment manifests through the precise articulation of intersecting volumes, where the controlled collision of angular and rectilinear forms generates visual dynamism without sacrificing compositional coherence or structural logic. The chromatic strategy demonstrates particular sensitivity, balancing the commanding presence of dark slate roofing against the warmth of timber soffits and the neutrality of rendered wall surfaces, creating a material hierarchy that guides visual attention while establishing appropriate relationships with the surrounding natural environment. Fenestration patterns reveal careful consideration of interior experience, with generous glazing oriented to capture views and daylight while cantilevered balconies extend living spaces into the landscape and provide sheltered outdoor zones. The work participates in ongoing conversations about domestic architecture's capacity to mediate between human habitation and natural setting, suggesting through its formal choices that contemporary dwelling might embrace both bold geometric assertion and respectful contextual integration. Thematic resonances evoke notions of sanctuary, elevation, and the aspiration toward views and light that characterize mountain or hillside architecture across cultures. The staggered arrangement of volumes and the layered depth of the facade invite extended contemplation of spatial complexity, while the interplay of solid and void, opacity and transparency, suggests sophisticated thinking about privacy, prospect, and the choreography of domestic experience. Viewers might consider how architectural form shapes daily experience, or reflect upon the ways contemporary design continues to explore fundamental human desires for shelter, beauty, and connection with the natural world.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Jaqalan is a modern villa project in Zekeriyaköy, Istanbul, featuring dynamic forms and sloped roofs that integrate with the landscape. Sustainable materials like concrete and metal are used, along with solar panels for energy efficiency. Ample open and closed spaces promote social interaction and connect residents with nature, setting a new standard for contemporary residential architecture.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Jaqalan project consists of two villas: a 1,000 square meter villa with five bedrooms and a 400 square meter villa with three bedrooms. Both feature sloped roofs that extend to the ground for optimal rainwater drainage and solar panel integration. Located on a sloped lot, the structures ensure unobstructed views and abundant natural light, reaching approximately 7 meters in height.
- Tags
- Jaqalan, ModernArchitecture, SustainableDesign, LuxuryVillas, DynamicDesign, ResidentialDesign
- Production Technology
- The Jaqalan villas utilize reinforced concrete and steel for structural integrity. Advanced techniques, including modular construction, enhance efficiency and minimize waste. Sloped roofs facilitate rainwater drainage and house solar panels, while large glass facades maximize natural light and views, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
- Design Challenge
- A key challenge in the Jaqalan project was balancing innovative design with local regulatory constraints. Building codes limited design flexibility and material choices. Achieving sustainability required extensive research into ecofriendly materials and technologies. Collaborating with local authorities ensured compliance while maintaining a modern aesthetic that resonates with the landscape.
- Project Duration
- Design work commenced in April 2022 in Tehran, Iran, with construction starting in summer 2023 and nearing completion now. The project located in Zekeriyakoy, Instanbul, Turkey. The villas are located in a luxury residential area, leveraging the natural landscape for optimal integration.
- Operation Flow
- The Jaqalan villas encourage interaction through open floor plans, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. Large terraces and balconies facilitate social gatherings, while strategically placed windows frame views and enhance ventilation. The sloped roofs create dynamic interior spaces with high ceilings, promoting openness and comfort throughout the villas.
- Research
- This design research focused on sustainable architecture's impact on residential living. The objective was to create a harmonious environment that integrates with nature. Qualitative methods included site analyses, resident interviews, and lifestyle surveys. Insights revealed a need for open spaces fostering social interaction, aiming to influence future architectural practices for community well-being and sustainability.
- Inspiration
- Inspiration for Jaqalan comes from the lush greenery and hills of Zekeriyakoy. The design emphasizes harmony with nature while embracing modern aesthetics. Research into sustainable practices guided the choice of eco-friendly materials and solutions like sloped roofs for rainwater management, aiming to redefine contemporary living in a serene and functional environment.
- Image Credits
- Main Image: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.
Optional Image #1: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.
Optional Image #2: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.
Optional Image #3: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.
Optional Image #4: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.
Video: Visualizers Yaser Rashid Shomali & Yasin Rashid Shomali, Jaqalan, 2024.