Newada is a high-rise luxury residential project, currently under construction in Maltepe which is located on the Anatolian part of Istanbul near to the Marmara Sea. The 800m long southern elevation of the site faces the sea and is unobstructed by high-rise construction, affording a unique opportunity to see the Princess Islands in the Sea of Marmara. The prospect of capturing these spectacular views while respecting the context of the surrounding neighborhood was a primary design consideration of this project. 

GAD would need to design the building envelope to maximize light and views, while limiting the shadows that the towers cast on neighboring buildings. In order to achieve this, an adaptive sky exposure plane simulation was prepared with the aid of a Grasshopper plug-in for Rhinoceros 3D. By testing the building in model-space, GAD was able to sculpt the building to maximize the building’s floor-area allocation, direct views, and minimize shadows cast on the surrounding neighborhood. This has resulted in a building that maximizes constraints of the site and view corridors, as well as lends the tower its distinctive profile and faceted surface treatment. Balconies surrounding the buildings are located between an inner glass façade and an outer skin of stone veneer, which creates an effect similar to double wythe brick masonry construction, allowing an inner air cavity to act as an insulative layer regulating the building’s core temperature. This double-fronted façade moderates the effects of the Istanbul extreme climate by limiting heat-gain in the building interior in the summer, and creates a heat-trapping effect in the winter. 

The project contains two blocks on a shared plinth. By taking advantage of the slope of the site, the project is partitioned into two distinct zones. The lower level of the building serves as the main entrance and public spaces including shops, boutiques and services, while the upper levels are reserved for building residences, and features private gardens, reflecting pools and residence amenities. Lower levels are connected by courtyard and stairs, which creates opportunities for terraced indoor/outdoor spaces. Protection from the elements is provided by glass and steel canopies above. 

The material palette used in this project is limited in order to provide visual continuity. There are four primary materials: stone, concrete, glass and steel. A stone cladding with a pink hue lends the project its unique identity.