Caja by Maxx Royal
Bodrum, Turkey
A simple and splendid experience.
Nestled in one of the idyllic bays in Bodrum -Turkey, CAJA by Maxx Royal is a resort comprising 22 villas with extended stay services. Working together for almost a decade, the project has been a unique step forward heralding a new era for both ETS Group and GEO_ID; in collaboration with GEOMIM -as the studio was commissioned for the architectural design of the project-, a brand new concept is created for Maxx Royal Resorts.
The project has been developed in close collaboration with the client from scratch and redefining the concept of holiday village on Bodrum’s Aegean Coast, CAJA grants a homely atmosphere where guests can enjoy the services of a five-star hotel.
SETTLEMENT
Neighbor to the famous Türkbükü bay in Bodrum, Hebil Bay is a relatively quiet, essentialy a residential district with lush green nature that meets crystal clear waters. White-washed villas scattered on the hillsides, maquis landscape with olive trees, and fantastic views are among the known features of this coastal strip.
The design process started with an appreciation of the existing values and spirit of the place. One of GEOMIM’s primary goals was to design a hotel that not only emphasize and felt connected to the bay but amplify people's experience of it. To achieve this, villa settlements are set back approx. thirty meters behind the building approach limit leaving wide open communal spaces for the pool and beach use.
Every aspect of the resort experience - the arrival, the lounge, pool and beach, restaurant, fitness, and spa- is clustered around the entrance or by the seaside, leaving the villas zone intimate and tranquil. Imagined as a serene Aegean village, guests are welcomed to experience a new summer holiday that will redefine CAJA for years to come.
Drawing cues from the style of houses that were popular in Bodrum in the 80s, the aim was to stay in line with the scales and the monolithic expression of the urban identity resulting in a set of buildings infused with nature and semi-open relations.
AEGEAN SUMMER VILLAGE OPERATES LIKE FIVE STAR RESORT
A drone photo may suggest that the project consists of independent blocks. Still, every unit is connected to the central underground plinth with technical rooms, a carpark, staff rooms, and service connections that enable the efficient operation of the hotel. Located over and around this invisible base, villa units are spatially connected to the service networks. Yet, providing ultimate intimacy for the guests, the service flow never intersects the living areas.
VILLAS
The spatial organization of the villas is planned by dividing the living and service areas into two through a transparent circulation volume. This buffer zone accommodates a linear staircase and is infused with daylight coming from the skylight and the windows. Under the stairs, on the ground floor level, an open plan kitchen is located, well connected to both service and living areas.
Every room in CAJA villas has outdoor access. Life in ground-floor spaces smoothly continues in gardens while large windows on the first floors open up directly to the terraces and frame the stunning views of the bay.
DRAWINGS