ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Hotel-museum hybrid built around ancient Turkish ruins

A unique new attraction is set to open in the Turkish city of Antakya by the end of 2016: a museum/hotel hybrid where guests can walk around archaeological ruins dating back more than 2,000 years.

In 2010, international design studio Emre Arolat Architecture had been developing a five-star hotel development on the site, located close to St. Pierre Church – an early centre of Christianity and an important pilgrimage site. However, plans were postponed when excavators discovered an intact 9,000sq ft (836sq m) mosaic tiled floor – one of the largest in the world.

After negotiations with the government and project developer, the architects agreed to change their design for the project in a way that explores the dynamic relationship between architecture and archeology.

In the final structure, hotel guests will sleep above the ancient relics, and the units of the building will protect and promote the ruins below.

“There had to be a dichotomy between an archeological park and the private hotel, and this has become a major input in the design process,” said Emre Arolat Architecture in a statement. “The building has to turn itself inside out to deal with the specific characteristics of this unique situation and place.”

The location of the findings discovered on site has determined the exact location of the structure’s supporting columns. The building – now named the Antakya Hilton Museum Hotel – features a protective platform covering the excavation below.

The platform is occupied by hotel facilities – including a ballroom, swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, nightclub, restaurant and garden terrace – and doubles as an observation point looking out towards the city and church. Slits in the floor act as skylights for the archeological site and create a visual connection between the findings and the hotel amenities.

Meanwhile, the hotel’s guestrooms are located above, contained within prefabricated boxes that sit on top of each other and are supported by a steel substructure. Ramps, walkways and bridges connect these boxes, creating a semi-open space with views down to the ruins below and leading to the ground floor.

A lobby, restaurant and lounge are located in close proximity to the ongoing dig, in addition to the site’s museum. A pathway offers walks around the site, with display boards explaining the history and context of the relics.

“The building is being assembled on site rather than being built there, reminding one of the temporary structures built by archeologists during the excavation,” explained the architects. “This is not a compact, introverted and conventional hotel building.”

When completed, the museum-hotel will be operated by Hilton Hotels & Resorts, who have signed a franchise agreement with local developer ASF Otelcilik ve Turizm Isletmer?i Ticaret.

Related stories
12 Nov 2015

Foster + Partners design Roman-inspired museum to house ancient treasures

19 Nov 2012

US$15m Mayan museum opens in Mexico

18 Mar 2004

Barco called in to the Forbidden City

A unique new attraction is set to open in the Turkish city of Antakya by the end of 2016: a museum/hotel hybrid where guests can walk around archaeological ruins dating back more than 2,000 years. In 2010, international design studio Emre Arolat Architecture had been developing a five-star hotel development on the site, located close to St. Pierre Church – an early centre of Christianity and an important pilgrimage site.
CLD,SAB,SWC,HHR,HOT,TVL,VAT,HAM,AAC,PRO,ARC,DES,DEV,INV
Hotel guests can walk around archaeological ruins dating back over 2,000 years
/ Emre Arolat Architecture
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: Curry Spa Consulting
Curry Spa Consulting has been providing clients in the high-end and luxury hospitality sector with spa design, programming, guidance and oversight since 2011.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The Gallery in Mourad Mazouz's Sketch is one of London's most instagrammed spaces
After working for Christian Liaigre in Paris, Mahdavi launched her practice in 1999
"I never thought it was a talent. I just did it very naturally, without thinking"

The ‘queen of colour’ on her nomadic childhood, being fearless and choosing the exact right shade of pink for the Sketch Gallery restaurant

The vegetable garden
NYC-based designer Clodagh
"We were blown away by the light, colours and endless fields of grape vines"

The designer of Six Senses' first European resort

The Namibian fog-basking beetle creates its own fresh water in the desert
Michael Pawlyn
"Herzog and De Meuron’s Bird’s Nest stadium looks awesome, but it’s incredibly resource-intensive and takes none of the ingenious aspects of Birds’ Nests"

From climate change to resource scarcity, Exploration Architecture uses biomimicry to address some of the world’s major challenges. Its founder tells us how

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
Visitors can ascend the building via a network of exterior walkways and staircases
"It will become one of the centres of reference for art in Europe - Inigo Sáenz de Miera, Botín Foundation"

Renzo Piano’s Santander art museum

The design ensures that no house is more than three blocks from nature, something that was important to residents
Monica von Schmalensee
"how often do you get to move a whole town?"

White Arkitekter’s Monica von Schmalensee on how culture and leisure are central to plans to move the Swedish town of Kiruna to stop it being swallowed by its mine

features
"Wellness embraces the entire holiday experience"

The design of the newly-opened Lefay Resort and Spa Dolomitti in Italy aims to celebrate and protect its spectacular surroundings

Taipei’s Zhonghe Sports Centre has a curved and faceted exterior form that resembles a giant armadillo
"Farrells delivered a streamlined, zinc-clad structure that looks like the snout of a dolphin when viewed from one of the many high-rise apartment towers that overlook it"

Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf

The interior showcases a mix of reclaimed industrial features and was designed by Studio C102
"We’re passionate about market disupters – companies with conviction and a will to change"

The founders of new microgym 1Rebel

cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
cladkit product news
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo