Zemheri Üsküdar

Designed for Üsküdar, Istanbul, this 65-unit urban renewal project was planned with equal care for its architecture and its people, although it stalled when the owners could not reach an agreement. The aim was not just a new building but a fair, functional and well-designed place to live.

The first priority was to move every owner into a new home as close as possible to the floor area of their existing flat. Throughout planning, the layouts were tested from many angles so that each right-holder could receive the unit closest to their original square metres.

Every apartment has daylight, balcony access and an efficient plan; the restrained lines of the façade give the building a timeless modernity. A rhythmic window pattern and deep balconies contribute both to the look of the building and to how it is used.