Gold Construction and Real Estate Projects Design · 2026
Kobisan Residences Residential Devolopment
by Ser Mimarlık
- A' Design Award 2026 Gold Winner in Construction and Real Estate Projects Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Ser Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 41,170
- Verification code E7A0BEAB91 · Verify this award
About Kobisan Residences Residential Devolopment
Kobisan Residences is a residential development located in Konya, Turkey. The site covers 108,000 square meters and has a steep slope, standing about 60 meters above the city level. The development contains 330 residential units arranged in 9 blocks. The buildings are oriented toward the view and placed along the upper edge of the site. A sectional strategy divides the 14 story mass into a main block and four story volumes, so the development is read as two separate buildings. A social facility in a central position holds the shared functions.
This distinguished residential development by SERDAR EKİZER embodies the contemporary pursuit of harmonious coexistence between architectural ambition and landscape sensitivity, presenting a carefully orchestrated environment where building mass engages thoughtfully with generous green spaces. The composition demonstrates sophisticated understanding of scalar transition, moving from intimate human-scale pavilion structures in the foreground through mid-rise residential volumes to taller towers that anchor the background, creating a graduated skyline that avoids the abruptness often associated with high-density developments. Material selection reveals deliberate attention to warmth and tactility, with extensive use of wood-toned cladding introducing organic resonance against the cooler concrete and glass that constitute the primary structural vocabulary. The landscaping program appears equally considered, featuring mature specimen plantings, ornamental grass compositions, and sweeping lawns that establish Kobisan Residences as a verdant enclave rather than merely a collection of buildings. Formal qualities suggest engagement with both modernist transparency traditions and contemporary biophilic design principles, where views, natural light, and connection to landscape are prioritized as essential amenities rather than afterthoughts. The terraced massing strategy ensures that units benefit from outdoor space while the overall silhouette responds to rather than dominates its setting. One observes careful attention to facade articulation, where the repetition of balcony modules creates rhythm without monotony, and horizontal wood banding introduces warmth that humanizes the scale. The twilight or dawn atmospheric condition captured here emphasizes the development's relationship to natural light cycles, inviting consideration of how residents might experience daily and seasonal variations from these carefully positioned vantage points. What domestic rituals and communal encounters might unfold within such thoughtfully conceived spaces?
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Image Credits
- Photographer: Egemen Karakaya
Colors of Kobisan Residences Residential Devolopment
Design Interview about Kobisan Residences Residential Devolopment
The source of inspiration for the design is the traditional Turkish house, which is an integral part of Anatolia’s cultural heritage. Within the context of the Turkish house, the settlement layout is shaped according to the slope of the topography. As a core principle, rather than viewing the steep slope of the terrain as a constraint, it was embraced as a generative space (sectional strategy) that guides the design. Modular and rhythmic lines characteristic of the Turkish house, along with distinctive elements such as bay windows (cumbas) and wide eaves, have been reinterpreted within the framework of contemporary design principles.
The primary focal point of the design was to integrate a high-density residential program into the site by establishing a seamless connection with the natural environment, without overwhelming Konya’s urban skyline. The design aimed to prevent the visual discomfort that a uniform, monotonous, and high-rise perception of up to 15 stories from the entrance level could inflict upon the city's silhouette. By positioning the blocks at varying elevations within the cross-sectional plane and repeating the facade elements every two floors, the objective was to reduce the visual scale and convey the perception of low-rise structures.
We aim for the design to represent Konya’s contemporary architectural identity on international platforms and in prestigious award programs.
The project process is the product of a long-term and meticulous urban-architectural study. According to our documents, the initial concept and design phase of the project began in 2013. Following the preparation for construction and the maturation of the working drawings, the construction phase commenced in 2017. The implementation and execution processes then continued through 2024.
This project was commissioned by our client, Kobisan K.Y.K., and developed in accordance with a tailored design brief. Nevertheless, the design itself was truly shaped by our architectural team’s professional passion and the creative inspiration drawn from the site’s dramatic topography and its expansive city panorama.
The strategic location of the site at the intersection of the central districts of Selçuklu and Meram, along with its elevation of approximately 60 meters above city level, inspired us to create a symbolic work on this scale. Since the project site occupies a unique position overlooking both the serene green fabric of Meram on one side and the dynamic urban energy of Selçuklu on the other, a need arose to design a living space that is monumental yet respectful of the environment, harmonizing these two distinct characters.
Rather than being influenced by a particular modern designer, our main guidance came from the settlement morphologies of the traditional Turkish city. The way building masses articulate with one another in a traditional Turkish street, the facade rhythm created by the cumba forms, and the interplay of light and shadow under wide eaves are the very historical references that nourished our contemporary architectural language
The target urban audience comprises individuals seeking spatial comfort and an elevated quality of life—those who desire to live intertwined with nature and vast landscapes while remaining closely tied to the city's central energy. Complemented by the premium-segment 'Yalı' and 'Konak' residences boasting expansive panoramas, the project creates a holistic lifestyle scenario that serves both site residents and the broader urban community through integrated commercial spaces and a kindergarten.
The project’s most defining feature lies in the seamless concealment of its massive underground parking and infrastructure within the site's steep topography. The four-story terraced parking structure integrates with the slope, offering direct, at-grade access to each level from the rear ring road. Consequently, unlike conventional developments, the ground level is completely pedestrianized and freed from vehicular circulation, creating a continuous 1.5 km green axis dedicated to walking, running, and cycling
The project's name stems from the integration of the client and investor's identity, 'Kobisan', with its primary architectural function, 'Konutları / Residences'. This nomenclature was preferred to elevate the investor's corporate identity into a distinguished brand value at an urban scale.
The project was developed utilizing advanced architectural design methodologies throughout its production phases: comprehensive cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were carried out to accurately map and respond to the terrain. Three-dimensional digital visualization tools and physical architectural models were used to evaluate spatial perception , while solar angle analyses, passive cooling simulations, and wind direction diagrams informed the environmental design
The project thrives on a relationship of spatial continuity that blurs architectural boundaries. Positioned at the very heart of the development , the visual integration of the social facility’s infinity pool with the expansive outdoor lake creates a fluid connection. This key design intervention dissolves rigid physical thresholds, seamlessly merging the water features to present users with an uninterrupted panorama of the city.
The project was brought to fruition through the collaborative effort of a multidisciplinary network of specialists.
Technology plays an active role in the project's passive sustainability and facade performance strategies. The natural oak material (laminated wood) utilized on the facade is technologically protected with UV-resistant, specialized water-based coatings. Furthermore, the linear wooden solar shading louver systems on the facade are integrated with intelligent control mechanisms equipped with automated sun-sensor hardware.
Yes, the design is built entirely upon analytical site and climate data. Research was conducted to adapt to Konya’s harsh continental climate conditions. The orientation of the buildings was decided based on simulation data to maximize solar gain in winter while preventing overheating in summer through wide eaves and automatic panels. In the landscape, indigenous flora species requiring minimal irrigation (xeriscaping) were analyzed and integrated into the habitat.
The primary challenge lay in integrating the cohesive building blocks across a massive construction footprint while preserving the site's volatile topography and minimizing environmental disruption. To achieve a terraced massing organization parallel to the steep contour lines and ensure minimal cut-and-fill operations, we had to work with absolute precision on the sectional plane. This intricate balancing act truly pushed the boundaries of multi-disciplinary engineering and architectural coordination.
We made this decision because we believe that, far from being just a local residential complex, Kobisan Residences can offer a powerful alternative to global discussions on 'Sustainable Urban Design and Quality Housing' through its contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Turkish architectural codes, its innovative approach to topography, and its car-free ground-level organization.
Through this project, we gained a profound understanding of topography as one of the primary 'actors' driving architectural design in large-scale developments. Discovering how a section-driven design methodology can generate human-scaled, micro-public spaces—such as upper and lower plazas and grass amphitheaters—while remaining deeply respectful of the urban skyline even under a dense program, has substantially reshaped and elevated our firm's design practices.