DS Landscape & Architecture

Landscape
Bayou Villas

DS Landscape & Architecture
Sevim Aslan | Founding Partner

being a finalist & motivation…

The decision to participate in a prestigious platform such as WAF was a very important step to introduce ourselves to a wider audience in the design world and gain experience on a global level. The festival offers participants the opportunity to promote their projects worldwide. It is an opportunity not only to showcase our designs, but also to meet and exchange ideas with creative professionals from different cultures.

The most important motivation for us was the opportunity to take part in a global platform, to have our designs evaluated from an international perspective and to interact with professional circles.

As a result, we wanted to take part in this process both to bring our designs to a wider audience and to make new connections.

In this context, our Bayou Villas project is one of the projects that best reflects our design approach and is worth sharing on this platform. The combination of water and green layers creates a deep sense of belonging, while the relationship between the experiences offered by different swimming environments and the natural structure of the water transforms the project into a fully integrated landscape and ecosystem integrity. This project best represents the design language we advocate in a global gathering.

highlights…

The fact that most of the projects featured in the WAF sessions are of public nature shows that the competition emphasizes the importance of social responsibility and environmental awareness in the world of architecture.

These projects stood out for transforming public spaces, encouraging social interaction and prioritizing accessibility.

We were also happy with the intensity of sustainable designs and the sensitivity they showed.

preparation…

We have found that the role of visuals in supporting the message and content of the presentation is crucial, so we plan to make the visual materials more dynamic and interactive.

When we review a few important points about our program in Singapore, we think it would be useful to deepen the communication and organization processes we established before the festival.

remarkable projects & presentations…

Emre Arolat Architecture (EAA) Küçükçekmece Cemevi and Yumuktepe Mound were among the projects that caught our attention before WAF 2024. Both were deemed worthy of an award. These projects stood out both visually and functionally.

In addition, the Southbank Boulevard Transformation Project prepared by Taylor Cullity Letlean (TCL) with the City of Melbourne and Mike Hewson was an important and valuable example for us in terms of highlighting public collaborations in relation to transformation, which is one of the prominent themes of today.

about WAF…

The event offers rich opportunities for participants to interact with each other with the aim of building a global network. Increasing the diversity of the booths will be an important step in providing visitors with more options and information.

We also support the organization of special programs and tickets that encourage student participation, such as the ‘Student Charette’ at the event. This provides an inspiring experience for the next generation of professionals.

WAF 2025 & Miami…

I think it is important that WAF takes place in cities in different geographical, climatic and cultural environments; this diversity should perhaps take place on a periodic basis.

WAF 2025 will be an exciting experience, showcasing a completely different culture and nature in Miami, a climate zone similar to Singapore in terms of landscape design. In terms of architecture and landscape design, both the generation of ideas and the familiarity of sharing design products internationally will be a breath of fresh air for the future as the US participation across the spectrum increases.

WAF will attract more professionals and participants both locally and internationally. Landscape practices in the US can raise important issues such as the conservation of natural areas and the redesign of urban landscapes.

development & progress of WAF…

I think it is very important to enable a wide range of participation and to keep the excitement of participation fresh from WAF 2008.

Starting with 16 categories, the selection gradually enriched and expanded to more than 30 categories, providing the opportunity to encounter the fresh productions of the past year, making WAF a highly anticipated event.

This curiosity, in addition to following the productions, made WAF important as it automatically reflects the language and development of Architecture and Landscape Design in the world. I think that the distinction of public space/private space use, which has a great influence on the progress of the process in Landscape Design, should be reflected in the categories. I find the participation of architecture students that we observed at WAF 2024 very positive; could it be interesting to investigate the possibility of the charette structure turning into education itself? Can WAF expand its mission and create a process that will turn into practical examples?

Landscape
Bayou Villas

Bayou Villas, which prioritizes traditional Mediterranean architecture and urban life, is an annex of the Antalya Lara Barut Collection Hotel, consisting of a welcome building, a restaurant and 25 villas of 5 different types on 30000 m². The complex, which is at one with its architecture and landscape design, has come to life with the close cooperation of the designers, and an integrated language that cannot be abstracted from each other has been established.

The reception building is interpreted both as a gateway to a new experience and as a separation of the new complex from the hotel. The villas, which are considered as a waterside settlement, consist of 1-4 bedroom units ranging from 250 to 1000 m². Entering the building with 2 consecutive passages, the first passage provides a shaded front space, a garden entrance, and also aims to establish privacy. The sense of concealment provided by the wooden breakers on the entrance façade allows the traditional Mediterranean houses to maintain the attitude towards the street to which they open, while making the street-life relationship meaningful. Again, the sunken courtyards that we perceive from this entrance space bring both light and nature to the lower floor and provide the opportunity for rich lives between floors.

Creating an oasis in this privileged Mediterranean compound, the landscape design has ensured that the different layers of water and greenery create a strong language, character and sense of belonging. Each villa consists of intertwining exotic gardens and water gardens. The experience of different swimming environments, both saltwater and freshwater, and the natural environment created by the water, create an integrated natural landscape and ecosystem.