Aiming to encapsulate the spirit of Bodrum -one of the most popular cities on the Aegean coast of Turkey, the world-class hospitality brand Maxx Royal partnered with GEOMIM to create a boutique resort in a private setting in Golturkbuku Bay. Maxx Island is settled on a 75-thousand square meter peninsula resembling a small Aegean village with its scale, patterns, and level of amenities. The master plan includes eleven exclusive island villas and resort features including a village square, reception, cabanas for sport and leisure treatments, beach decks, retail areas, and f&b facilities. Authentically local, yet also entirely international, the project has a barefoot sense of luxury. Taking inspiration from neighboring old towns and their relation to land and nature, 80 cm thick masonry stone walls are the constituent architectural element used throughout the project. The level of craftsmanship, selecting and collecting the stones from the site seeks to praise ‘genius logi’. The island villas are also simple-yet-modern interpretations of the traditional Bodrum houses with the cube-shaped exterior walls exploding on every side providing spacious interiors and ensuring complete privacy from its surroundings at the same time. A generous amount of skylights and adjustable wooden shutters filter light and air through the resting and living areas. Having slightly different plans, scales, and orientations, each of the eleven island villas is unique and has uninterrupted views of the turquoise waters with their open plans. Plan types also include duplex villas with open mezzanine rest areas. Large outdoor terraces host most of the daily activities while the continuity of materials unifies the exterior and interior spaces. Villas have green roofs and small gardens connecting masonry walls and interior spaces to create unique experiences. Inspired by the Aegean outdoor lifestyle, common spaces have cozy exterior qualities with nature infused in them. Wooden canopies and stone walls blend into each to create buildings that dissolve into nature and become invisible, balancing architecture and nature with humbleness. Inheriting local architecture, the restaurant and retail spaces are designed with flat volumes, courtyards, and terraces on various levels to encourage more outdoor activities. Cascading terraces follow the slope of the terrain. The small village square in the center of villas functions as a communal garden where open-air breakfast will be served. A second square is formed as the village market next to the restaurants where small shops are placed. Offering a chance to experience the pastoral pleasures of Bodrum, the project is expected to be completed by June 2023.
GEOMIM is an Istanbul-based design studio providing architectural, master planning, and interior design services on all scales. Born as an interior design practice in 1991, the decades-long experience of entertainment design, is transferred today to the DNA of the architectural design approach resulting in Turkey’s most prominent hospitality projects.
Creating spaces that respond to the culture and climate of its place, GEOMIM designs unique experiences for each and every project. A key part of the ethos comes from the belief that sustainable buildings can also be beautifully designed, and can be achieved without compromising the architectural and experiential qualities of the space we live in.
The practice’s parent company GEO is a multidisciplinary group offering consulting, branding, interior, and product design services. GEO_MIM and GEO_ID together provide a comprehensive service that encompasses architectural and interior design.