Zümra Timur

Landscape Architect · Peyzaj Mimarı

Linear water garden and timber bridge connecting parking, housing and shared amenities.
The water spine connects parking, housing and shared amenities through a slower pedestrian sequence.

Academic Residential Landscape

Vita Housing

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE · SHARED LIFE · ACTIVE GROUND

An academic residential landscape organised as one continuous sequence from a controlled arrival to shared gardens, water, play and active recreation.

Location
Çanakkale · Türkiye
Role
Landscape architecture, site planning, planting and material direction
Status
Academic project · Second-Year Site Design Studio

Project premise

Four bands. One shared ground.

Vita Housing treats the elongated triangular parcel as one continuous open-space system rather than a collection of isolated amenities. Housing and arrival occupy the broad northern area; shared life, water and leisure form the centre; active sports conclude the sequence at the narrow southern tip.

Community facility approach framed by layered planting and low-glare lighting.
The community building is approached through a calm forecourt and layered planting at a residential scale.

Site reading

Context before form.

The project is read through location, surrounding urban uses and access. These editorial diagrams are derived from supplied project sources and are not survey or construction drawings.

Project location analysis marking the triangular site in Çanakkale on satellite imagery.
The project site is read as a triangular parcel between the coast and a primary transport corridor in Çanakkale.
Urban context analysis showing transport, residential, commercial, public and green-space relationships.
The urban context makes surrounding residential, commercial, public and open-space relationships visible.
Access and movement diagram showing vehicle and pedestrian entries and the main circulation spine.
Controlled vehicle entries and pedestrian links establish a clear circulation hierarchy across the site.

Design strategy

Four programme bands. One sequence.

Housing + Arrival, Social Life, Pool + Landscape and Active Sports form a clear progression from north to south. A main axis connects the four focuses without flattening their different atmospheres.

Spatial zoning diagram showing housing and arrival, social life, pool and landscape, and active sports bands.
Four programme bands are sequenced from the broad northern area to the narrow southern tip.
Design strategy diagram linking arrival, social life, pool and active sports focuses along the site.
The main axis links arrival, social life, water and active recreation focuses.

Masterplan

A shared landscape across the triangular site.

The aerial view clarifies the overall relationship between parking, housing, the social facility, pool, shared gardens and sports courts.

Aerial concept visualisation of Vita Housing showing parking, residential blocks, pool and sports areas.
The triangular site is organised as one open-space system from arrival and parking in the north to active sports in the south.

Arrival threshold

A recognisable first address.

A controlled entrance establishes identity through warm mineral surfaces, dark metalwork and layered planting.

Vita Housing entrance gate with warm mineral surfaces, dark metalwork, a security pavilion and controlled vehicle access.
The entrance gate gives the project a clear first threshold through warm mineral surfaces and dark metal details.

Parking landscape

Legible in changing weather.

The parking landscape remains legible in rain through tree islands, restrained lighting and wet-surface reflections.

Rainy parking arrival with wet-surface reflections, planted islands and vehicle lights.
Tree islands and restrained lighting keep the vehicle landscape legible in changing weather.

Landscape sequence

The water spine as spatial identity.

A linear water garden and timber bridge create the project’s clearest pedestrian sequence. The element links parking, housing and shared amenities while introducing reflection, planted shade and a slower pace of movement.

Linear water garden and timber bridge connecting parking, housing and shared amenities.
The water spine connects parking, housing and shared amenities through a slower pedestrian sequence.

Community core

Shared life framed by landscape.

The social facility, fountain garden and planted approach create a visible yet calm centre for fitness, gathering and everyday shared use.

Community facility approach framed by layered planting and low-glare lighting.
The community building is approached through a calm forecourt and layered planting at a residential scale.
Small courtyard between housing blocks with a circular fountain-planter, stepping stones and climbing plants.
A compact fountain-planter creates a slower, quieter garden room between the blocks.
Social facility with a transparent facade, planted forecourt and pedestrian link toward the pool.
A transparent facade and planted forecourt connect shared functions to the wider landscape sequence.

Leisure landscape

Pool edge, planting and long views.

The pool is organised as a continuous leisure landscape rather than an isolated object. A timber sun deck, planted buffers and a clear pedestrian edge establish privacy from the road while preserving views across the shared amenities.

Shared swimming pool framed by housing, a timber sun deck and planted buffers.
The pool becomes a continuous leisure landscape through planted buffers and clear pedestrian edges.

Garden rooms

Quiet counterpoints to active amenities.

Flowering layers, sculptural evergreens, low-glare lighting and timber pavilions create sheltered places for conversation and short pauses. Exposed concrete frames and timber screens provide shade and enclosure without heaviness.

Evening garden rooms formed by timber pavilions, flowering layers and low globe lights.
Garden rooms provide quieter shared places alongside the active amenities.

Residential landscape

Everyday garden and protected play.

A stepping-stone route and planted timber shelter create an informal shared garden between the blocks. Nearby, natural timber play elements, resilient surfacing and a dense green boundary support movement without filling the children’s area with excessive equipment.

Everyday garden passage between housing blocks with stepping stones, a timber shelter and shared seating.
A stepping-stone route and planted timber shelter create a quiet passage for everyday social contact.
Protected children’s play area with natural timber equipment beside a dense planted boundary.
Natural timber elements and a dense planted edge define protected play close to the housing blocks.

Active recreation

Sport embedded in the wider garden system.

Football, basketball and racket-sport areas are grouped as a coherent active zone at the narrow end of the site. Transparent fencing, shaded seating and mature canopy planting reduce the visual dominance of the enclosure.

Sports court embedded in planting with mature trees, shaded seating and transparent fencing.
Transparent fencing, mature canopy and shaded seating reduce the visual dominance of the sports enclosure.
Elevated view showing the relationship between sports courts, pool and housing.
At the narrow end of the site, sport, pool and housing programmes form a legible sequence.

Planting strategy

Çanakkale, Türkiye · Academic Project

Seasonal colour. Structural rhythm.

The academic planting palette layers Lagerstroemia indica, Cordyline australis, Lavandula angustifolia, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Festuca glauca and Rhaphiolepis indica. The website must present these as a concept palette, not a construction planting schedule.

Layered planting using crape myrtle, cordyline, lavender, ornamental grasses, blue fescue and evergreen shrubs.
The planting palette balances seasonal colour, textural movement and a low-maintenance ambition.
Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Lagerstroemia indica.

Lagerstroemia indica

Crape Myrtle

Flowering Accent

Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Cordyline australis.

Cordyline australis

Cabbage Tree Palm

Structural Accent

Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Lavandula angustifolia.

Lavandula angustifolia

English Lavender

Drift Planting

Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Fountain Grass

Texture & Movement

Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Festuca glauca.

Festuca glauca

Blue Fescue

Textural Accent

Detail from the approved Vita planting visualisation illustrating the role of Rhaphiolepis indica.

Rhaphiolepis indica

Indian Hawthorn

Shrub Layer

Structural language

Çanakkale, Türkiye · Academic Project

Shade, enclosure and places to pause.

The structural language combines exposed concrete frames with warm timber elements. Vertical slats provide privacy without closing views; pergola beams cast regular shade; and integrated timber seating turns the structure into an everyday social element.

Granite sett paving, dense planting and low globe lighting connect the architectural vocabulary to the landscape.

Garden structure composed of exposed concrete frames, timber screens, pergola beams and integrated seating.
Concrete and timber combine shade, enclosure and pause within one structural language.
Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Structural Frame.

Structural Frame

Exposed concrete columns and beams for durability and clarity of form.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Screening.

Screening

Timber vertical slats provide privacy, filtered views and rhythm.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Overhead Shade.

Overhead Shade

Timber pergola beams cast structured shade and support climbing vegetation.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Built-in Seating.

Built-in Seating

Timber bench elements are integrated into the structure for resting and gathering.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Paving Surface.

Paving Surface

Granite setts in a cobble pattern establish a permeable, robust ground plane.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Garden Edge.

Garden Edge

Lush planting softens edges and connects architecture to the landscape.

Detail from an approved Vita concept visualisation showing Garden Lighting.

Garden Lighting

Low globe lights guide movement and create a soft evening atmosphere.

Credits & disclosure

Academic project · concept visualisations.

Landscape architecture, site planning, planting and material direction, 3D visualisation and portfolio communication: Zümra Timur. Images are concept visualisations. Diagrams are editorial representations derived from supplied project sources and are not construction drawings.

Landscape architecture, site planning, planting and material direction, 3D visualisation and portfolio communication: Zümra Timur. Images are concept visualisations. Diagrams are editorial representations derived from supplied project sources and are not construction drawings.