Silver Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design · 2021
Mardin Cevzat Ecological Hotel Ecological Hotel
- A' Design Award 2021 Silver Winner in Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Khg Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 28,377
- Verification code CAE065E3EB · Verify this award
About Mardin Cevzat Ecological Hotel Ecological Hotel
Mardin Cevzat Ecological Hotel is a restoration project for two historic stone pavilions, Cevzat Kasri and Su Kasri. Both buildings were constructed as residences at the end of the 18th century and are reached by passing through vineyards. The existing stone texture was cleaned and preserved, and missing stones were completed with local calcite stone and chipped stone. Present-day additions, such as a staircase, use steel and glass so that new work can be distinguished from the original material. The restored buildings provide eleven guest rooms, a reception, a cafe and a restaurant.
Positioned within the contemporary discourse surrounding cultural heritage preservation and ecological design practice, Isil Gencoglu Tasar's Mardin Cevzat Ecological Hotel represents a thoughtful meditation on the dialogue between ancestral building traditions and forward-looking sustainable hospitality architecture. The design demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to regional vernacular typologies, employing locally resonant limestone masonry techniques and the distinctive pointed arch forms that have characterized the architectural heritage of this ancient landscape for millennia. The composition achieves remarkable balance between preservation of authentic construction methodologies and the introduction of contemporary interventions, most notably the curved glass pavilion that extends from the traditional stone structure with confident yet respectful modernity. Technical accomplishment manifests in the precise ashlar stonework, where individual blocks have been carefully graduated in tone and texture to create visual warmth and surface interest, while the rhythmic arcade demonstrates sophisticated understanding of proportion and repetition. The chromatic strategy harmonizes warm earth tones with the natural landscape, creating an architecture that appears to emerge organically from its hillside setting rather than imposing upon it. Water elements reference the profound cultural significance of courtyard pools and fountains within regional architectural traditions, suggesting cooling presence and contemplative stillness. The integration of mature specimen trees within the design speaks to ecological values and biophilic principles, honoring existing natural features while creating shaded outdoor spaces for human comfort and connection with nature. One might observe how the work navigates the complex territory between museum-like preservation and living, functional hospitality, achieving what appears to be authentic cultural continuity rather than superficial historicism. The viewer is invited to consider how architectural heritage might be honored through thoughtful contemporary practice that neither freezes tradition in amber nor abandons it for novelty.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The design project is a restoration project of "2 stone buildings" (Cevzat Kasri (Pavilion) and Su Kasri (Pavilion) located on 174 decares of land. These stone buildings, which were built as residences when first built, will be restored and used as an ecological hotel. The buildings reached by passing through the vineyards were built at the end of the 18th century and preserved their originality. The design was created as an ecological hotel that the region needs.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The design was created as an ecological hotel that the region needs. Cevzat Ecological Hotel has 7 rooms, a reception, a cafe and a restaurant. The Water Pavilion has an iwan, 4 hotel rooms, and a kitchen. In addition, landscaping has been made. The restoration project was prepared by cleaning the stone texture of the building in the form of repairing the existing pools, completing the deficiencies and strengthening them statically.The old photographs of the building, the information obtained from the art historians, were documented by taking into account the verbal statements made by the owners of the buildings, measurements were made with laser total station, photographs were taken and detailed measurements were made and the project was prepared. These projects have been approved by the "Cultural Heritage Preservation Board" affiliated to the Municipality and the Ministry of Culture.
- Tags
- Restoration, rehabilitation, cultural heritage, ecological hotel, natural life, sustainability, adaptive reuse
- Production Technology
- The existing stone textures were cleaned and preserved, and the project was created in such a way that the missing stones were completed with local materials, calcite stone and chipped stone. In today's additions, the project was prepared using steel and glass construction to distinguish it from the original material. For example, the staircase element in the Cevzat Kasri is located as a period attachment and the material is glass and steel construction.
- Design Challenge
- When the project design was started, an important historical archive research was made because an intervention that would damage this important historical structure would be to damage its precious history. This was the main challenge when the project was in progress.This is why every detail that was founded of the building was so important to finish the conceptual design period.
- Project Duration
- The design project started in 2018 in Bursa and finished in the same city in the year of 2020. It is planned to be implemented in 2021, in the city of Mardin.
- Operation Flow
- The stone texture and historical background of the buildings and the natural and unspoiled topography of them were the elements that excited and inspired the team in the design process. Although the buildings were in ruins, they have reached today by defying the years. With their new function, they have taken the road to reach future generations.
- Research
- The Cevzat Kasri consists of the ground floor, the first floor and the semi-ruined third floor, placed in an east-west extension form. There is an iwan on the ground floor and a room in the west. To the north of the building, there is a carving stone formed by bedrock and called "maasara" where grape is crushed and turned into grape molasses.
The rectangular planned iwan space extending in the north-south direction is covered with a barrel vault. On the 1st floor, there are two rooms with niches on the walls. The niche in the iwan has a traditional decoration called "mukarnas" in which the stone is shaped with carvings.
Su Kasri (Kasr-il May): It is a prestigious stone structure located on this land with water cisterns, suitable for agriculture, watery and green.The traditional pavilion structure has survived from the 18th century to the present, preserving its qualities. In the courtyard on the ground floor, there is an iwan, a room, a kitchen and a toilet.
In this pavilion's iwan, the water source (pointed arch fountain), which we call "Selsebil", is connected to a square pool by means of a narrow canal. In addition, there is another pool for irrigation of the vineyard and garden. The walls and ceiling of the iwan are cut limestone stones. It is covered with a barrel vault. Niches, doors, windows and hearth have preserved their original features. The top of the room is a barrel vault.
The barrel vaults made of stones are very impressive. The stone has almost spoken.
In this project, besides the charm of the stone structures, the fact that the pavilions are located in Mardin, the mysterious fairy tale city, which consists of Jews, Christians (Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans) Muslims and Shams (sun worshipers) and where all beliefs and civilizations live together, has been an indispensable source of inspiration. - Inspiration
- The stone texture and historical background of the buildings and the natural and unspoiled topography of them were the elements that excited and inspired us in the design process.
Although the buildings were in ruins, they have reached today by defying the years. With their new function, they have taken the road to reach future generations.
Colors of Mardin Cevzat Ecological Hotel Ecological Hotel
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Heritage Architecture and Restoration Services
We specialize in architectural design and historical building restoration with over 30 years of experience. Our expertise spans hotels, schools, hospitals, and residential projects, with a particular focus on preserving cultural heritage through adaptive reuse.
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