Project Name: Cabin in the Woods

Location: Kozak, Turkey

Design Team: Ediz Demirel Works

Total Floor Area: 54 m²

Completion: 2025

Photography: Egemen Karakaya

Design Features:

Project - Turkish architect Ediz Demirel has created a striking 54-square-metre cabin on the remote Kozak Plateau that demonstrates how contemporary architecture can both challenge and complement its natural setting. Located on a hill near Pergamon, this short-term rental retreat exemplifies thoughtful minimal intervention through its bold juxtaposition of contrasting materials and construction approaches.

The project's most distinctive feature is its sunken "conversation pit" – a contemporary take on the traditional gathering space that sits embedded within the landscape's existing topography. This lowered central core serves as the heart of the cabin, where guests can gather around a fire while experiencing the space from multiple perspectives. Above this grounded element, a tent-like steel shell appears to float, creating a dramatic formal tension between the earthbound and the elevated.

Demirel's design strategy revolves around the interplay of opposing tectonic languages. The foundation builds upon existing dry stone terrace walls from an old vineyard, using reinforced concrete poured in-situ to create continuity with the terrain. In stark contrast, the Corten steel cladding and structural steel frame were prefabricated off-site, representing an industrial intervention that consciously stands apart from its rural context.

The cabin's sculptural qualities are enhanced by strategic apertures that puncture the metal shell. A horizontal cut frames panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, while protruding openings create "eye-like" moments that mediate between interior and exterior spaces. These carefully choreographed views establish visual connections to the site while maintaining the structure's bold architectural identity.

The structural steel system, detached from the topography, and the Corten steel façade panels are prefabricated in the workshop, with only their assembly carried out on-site. The reinforced dry stone wall that serves as the foundation is intentionally complemented with the existing, irregular arrangement of stones in the terrain. The in-situ reinforced concrete foundation is poured into it, creating a seamless connection between building and site.

The foundation and the conversation pit act as a continuation of the topography, allowing users to form a direct connection with the land and grounding the structure in its context. In contrast, the tent-like steel shell that floats above this base stands in opposition to the landscape through its form and materiality. Ultimately, the identity of the structure is shaped by the interplay of two opposing tectonic approaches in terms of materials, construction techniques, production methods, and the contrast between locality and foreignness.

Design Team - Ediz Demirel Works (EDWorks), founded in 2022 by architect Ediz Demirel, has rapidly established itself as an innovative practice specializing in small to medium-scale architectural interventions that synthesize traditional building techniques with contemporary spatial concepts. Under Demirel's direction, the firm demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of material authenticity and site-specific design responses.

Demirel's architectural foundation was established through his 2019 award-winning graduation project from Istanbul Technical University's Department of Architecture, followed by specialized experience in natural building methodologies. His formative period included intensive work with vernacular materials—particularly natural plaster applications and earth-adobe construction techniques—across hospitality and residential typologies in Bodrum. This hands-on expertise with traditional craft informed his design philosophy of material honesty and contextual sensitivity.

The practice's design methodology reflects Demirel's multidisciplinary background, encompassing architectural visualization, interior architecture, and furniture production through strategic collaborations, notably with OoL Studio for international projects. EDWorks' portfolio demonstrates particular strength in adaptive renovation strategies and new construction that responds thoughtfully to topographical constraints.

The recently completed Cabin in the Woods project exemplifies the firm's integrated design-build approach, where Demirel served as both architect and contractor. This dual role enables precise material detailing and construction quality control while maintaining design integrity throughout the building process. The practice continues to expand its expertise through educational initiatives, conducting architectural model-making workshops at academic institutions, reinforcing its commitment to pedagogical engagement within the architectural community.