Talip Bey – Balatçık: Contemporary Residential Design in a Traditional Fabric

Balatçık is a calm, organic settlement of İzmir sitting between village and city. The Talip Bey project had to search for a language compatible with this environment. A contemporary interior design must not feel alien to a traditional surroundings.

Project Summary

Location: Balatçık, İzmir Category: Residential

Design Approach: Dialogue with Tradition

Local material preference — stone from the region, timber produced near the area — strengthened the feeling that the home belongs to its environment. The interior layout, however, was kept entirely contemporary and ergonomic; traditional references remained only in material and colour, not in form.

Interior Organisation

Ground floor living areas were configured openly and fluidly. The kitchen was positioned generously and centrally, befitting the area's family culture. Children's rooms formed an upper floor layer with a large balcony.

Garden and Surroundings

The garden was arranged preserving the area's olive and fig trees. Rock garden and dry stone wall were preferred over natural lawn; this was an appropriate decision both aesthetically and for ease of maintenance.

Result