RENOVATION - SERAPOOL Porcelain

CeylinKarakayagraduated fromBilkent University’s Faculty of Architecture in 2020 and continued her master’s education at Bilkent. During her master’s program, Karakaya took her first steps into freelance architecture by founding her own firm, Istanbul- based Origo House, and now works primarily on renovation projects. Ceylin Karakaya, who also renovated a villa project in Urla, Izmir, explains why a renovation was needed, especially in the garden area, with the following words: “During our first meeting with the homeowners, we noticed that the interior and exterior spaces were quite disconnected. The main starting point of the project was how we could integrate these two living areas. In its current state, despite being a detached structure, the house had no direct access to the garden from inside; circulation was only possible through the main entrance door. This situation limited the house’s potential. Our primary goal was to create a fluid and living relationship between the interior and exterior spaces.” Pool: The Center of Social Space and Aesthetics Explaining the design decisions they made to integrate the interior and exterior spaces, Ceylin Karakaya describes how the pool was incorporated into the process: “First, we played with the building’s floor levels to connect the living room with a newly designed terrace. We transformed this terrace into a fluid social space integrated with the landscape and pool. Since this location in Urla is a bit far from the sea, one of the homeowner’s biggest dreams was a pleasant pool area. The pool is not just a swimming area, but also the center of social life, an aesthetic element that enriches the landscape, and the most important part of the house’s new identity.” Social Spaces Brought to Life by the Pool and Landscape Ceylin Karakaya, who describes the impact of the pool and landscape on the space, highlights the most noticeable changes of the transformation as follows: 33 InthePool: INTERVIEW “Before the project, there was no terrace connected to the garden; there was only a balcony on the upper floor. By adjusting the ground floor levels and adding the pool, we created an aesthetic vista when looking out from inside and also created a calming landscape. Now, even when the terrace is not in use, the movement of water and nature is incorporated into the house. By adding elements like the bar and fire pit next to the pool, we utilized the dynamism of water and fire to create a social space that offers different experiences year-round.” Unity in Details: Aesthetics and Durability in Material Selection Ceylin Karakaya, who explains the material selection process for the pool and its surroundings, shares the following about the solutions that in Urla The pool, which is not just a swimming area but also a year-round activity center with elements such as a bar and fire pit, achieved both aesthetic and technical integrity with Serapool’s monoblock hidden grates, Kaan Mix porcelain pool tiles, Beige Stone porcelain terrace anti- slips, and curved pieces. From static solutions to energy- efficient mechanical systems, sustainable material choices to natural landscape integration, every detail was transformed into a modern and functional living space while respecting the spirit of the existing structure. This project demonstrates that renovation is not just about renewal, but also about redesigning the experience. “ ”