Results: Living Ruins
TerraViva has officially released the complete list of awarded projects of the architecture contest entitled “Living Ruins”.
With the ambitious goal of revitalising the abandoned village of Kayaköy, the Living Ruins competition invited participants to propose designs for an open-air museum that would conserve and revalorise this mystical site. Nestled within the Mediterranean landscape, this unique architectural complex offered an opportunity to bridge the past and the present. By transforming the ruins into a dynamic exhibition space, the competition aimed to counteract Kayaköy’s “Ghost Town” status and explore sustainable approaches to cultural tourism. Participants were challenged to create an innovative museum experience that balances heritage preservation with modern design, fostering a deeper connection between visitors and the site.
The awarded proposals impressed the jury with their sensitivity and creativity, presenting thoughtful interventions that honoured the site’s historical and architectural integrity. Many projects introduced subtle yet impactful design strategies, integrating pathways, facilities and minimal additions that harmonised with the ruins and natural surroundings. The careful use of materials and innovative storytelling methods enriched the visitor experience while preserving the essence of Kayaköy’s past. By blending preservation with modernity, the winning designs reimagined the village as a living narrative, transforming it into a vibrant cultural hub that respects its heritage and engages future generations.
The competition was open to students, architects, designers, urbanists, engineers, makers, artists and anyone interested in the fields of architecture and design.
The winners were selected by an international jury panel composed by:
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- Kumru Arapgirlioglu (Ankara, Turkey) | Bilkent University
- Ángel Cerezo Cerezo (Barcelona, Spain) | Cream Estudio
- Yujin Cao (Boston, United States) | Bruner/Cott Architects
- Viviano Villarreal Buerón (Monterrey, Mexico) | Mass Operations
- Dino Delotavo (Sydney, Australia) | i2C Architects
- Paraskevi Doumpa (Athens, Greece)| Stipo
- Giacomo Gallo (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) | New Environments
- Hatice Karaca (Ankara, Turkey) | Bilkent University
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WINNERS
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1ST PLACE
Patika
Pedro Conde – António Salgado
Portugal
A path through the past, a lake in its midst, a wall to guard it all.
Ruins possess a kind of tragic beauty. They reveal the immutable end of all human life and aspiration, and yet also the strength and dignity of all that which still remains. There’s a silent pride in all degraded and yet still standing structures, a harsh and unyielding will to remain, to exist – matched only by the ever indifferent force of nature itself. This sombre and noble feeling is exactly what we wanted to explore and highlight with our proposal.
The idea came about rather quickly, greatly due to it’s clarity and simplicity: using the existing main path and closing its circuit by connecting both ends. In this way a ring is created, which encloses and protects the village, while simultaneously outlining the visiting experience in a broad gesture.
The main focus, in terms of design, was the path itself and everything it touches. Like a dark winding river, the main path courses through the houses, sculpted by them into a stream of expressive geometry. An extension of this path was required in order to connect its loose ends, thereby closing the circuit. This was achieved with the Visitor Center.
No more than an continuation of the path itself, this building adopts a similar geometry, nestling itself against the borders of the plot, and effectively functioning as a separating wall between Kayaköy and the rest of Fethiye. In our opinion, this separation is fundamental, because it blocks out the view of the immediate modern surroundings, and in doing so preserves the essence of the ruined village.
This essence, however, was greatly amplified by the introduction of a vast shallow lake, occupying the majority of the area allotted to the Visitor Center. This feature came about as a simple yet powerful landscaping solution for this lower area, which is presently occupied by a handful of modern houses and commercial spaces. A set of eight new mixed-use buildings lining the northern road is proposed in order to accommodate these displaced residents and businesses. In the center, only the sky remains, serenely reflected in a wide bowl of water, punctured by a tall black tower that harbors in its summit a novel view of the village.
Black concrete and black stone were the materials chosen for the entirety of this project. Like spreading shadows, these dark paths and structures embed themselves in the existing ruins, presenting not so much as new constructions, but rather as outlines of what once was. The rugged black surfaces emerging throughout the landscape point to an absence, to a loss – and yet, they are paradoxically brimming with life. Be it gardens or ponds, cultural spaces or restaurants, shelters or spaces of contemplation: the ruins are open to life and activity, bright and ever-changing, while still paying due homage to the past.
Despite its ruin and abandonment, perhaps even because of it, the village lives on.
This is not a burial, it’s a resurrection.
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About the First Prize – YUJIN CAO – Bruner/Cott Architects
“The ring serves as a powerful manifesto for the living ruins, with its route thoughtfully curated to embrace a series of compelling moments. Sensitive additions and carefully designed interventions breathe new life into the site, revitalizing the ruins and transforming them into a vibrant space of renewed activity and meaning.”
About the First Prize – VIVIANO VILLARREAL BUERÓN – Mass Operations
“A compelling plan with a central space devoted to a body of water crowned by a lookout point connects the user with the site and the historical reference of the tower. The combination of the masterplan in the proposed route and architectural elements accomplishes the goal of having the project look, feel and work as an open air museum.”
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2ND PLACE
Through their Eyes
Experiencing Kayakoy, Luis Friederici, Hendrik Thies
Germany
The open-air museum tells the story of Yanis, a Greek Orthodox boy, and Omar, a Turkish Muslim boy, whose fictional friendship represents the harmony once shared by the Greek and Turkish communities of Levissi. This emotional narrative unfolds through three key interventions: Flashbacks, Textures, and Echoes.
Flashbacks uses light installations and visual displays to illustrate the boys’ shared experiences in Levissi, creating an immersive narrative of unity and coexistence. The intervention serves as both a storytelling medium and a viewpoint, allowing visitors to connect emotionally with the boys’ memories while also offering a panoramic view of Kayaköy, emphasizing the bond between past and present.
Textures transforms two selected ruins into exhibition spaces. These ruins represent the homes of Yanis and Omar, allowing visitors to explore their symbolic and material remains. The intervention highlights the tactile quality of the stone, inviting visitors to touch and feel the textures of the ruins, emphasizing the physical traces left behind by time. It enables a deeper understanding of the personal histories tied to the village and the lives lived within it.
Echoes features the voices of Yanis and Omar, now elderly, as they reflect on their childhood experiences in Kayaköy. Recounting their peaceful coexistence and the loss caused by the population exchange, they share their memories of the vibrant community they once knew. Their stories offer visitors an emotional connection to the past, drawing attention to the long-lasting impacts of division and displacement.
The museum’s history is presented through informational panels along a path that serves as a chronological timeline of Kayaköy’s past. The panels follow four distinct phases: the peaceful coexistence of the Greek and Turkish communities, the rising tensions between Greece and Turkey, the population exchange, and the subsequent abandonment and decay of the village. The visitor center, which serves as both the starting and ending point, provides an introduction to the history of Kayaköy and a space for reflection at the conclusion of the journey.
The site is designed to immerse visitors in the story of Kayaköy, with selected ruins partially reconstructed using greened metal grids, symbolizing the village’s former vibrancy. As visitors walk through the different sections, the vegetation surrounding the ruins decreases, mirroring the loss and decay that marked the passage of time.
The visitor center, accessible from the northern parking area, serves as a welcoming space to begin the journey and includes facilities such as a reception area, restaurant, and educational spaces. Upon returning, visitors can explore the archive and participate in workshops that deepen their understanding of the history and significance of Kayaköy.
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About the Second Prize – ÁNGEL CEREZO – Cream Estudio
“The project offers an emotional and immersive museum experience, telling the story of two boys’ friendship to explore Kayaköy’s history of coexistence and loss. Light installations, tactile exhibits, and voice recordings connect visitors to the past. The design integrates reconstructed ruins and a thoughtful visitor centre, enhancing both storytelling and accessibility. Its graphic execution and innovative approach to heritage preservation make it a standout project.”
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3RD PLACE
Ruins as Traces
Ugur Ozer Ozguven, Ergi Bozyigit, Kubra Altan, Sevgi Bodur, Demet Coskun, Ozden Yalnizgul, Turac Sarikamis, Fırat Meliye, Vahid Farkhad, Seda Yilmaz, Kaan Kahraman, Taha Demirors
Türkiye
With its accompanying destruction, each conflict leaves traces onto the lands we inhabit and the endings caused by these hardships become gateways to new beginnings in the cycle of life. Unfortunately, world history is marked with such examples and Kayaköy is a example of the results of such events.
The displacement of Kayakoy’s inhabitants caused by the 1923 Turkish-Greek Population Exchange not only altered the physical structure of the village but also disrupted its cultural fabric. This historical event is the cornerstone of Kayaköy’s essence, and the design aims to preserve and shine light onto the traumas experienced during this period.
The main goal of the project is to design an open-air museum that accurately conveys Kayaköy’s historical and cultural heritage to visitors, while existing in harmony with the village’s essence.
The design for the project site was shaped carefully to reflect Kayaköy’s historical and natural fabric. The open-air museum is divided into two main routes: the historical route and the exploratory route. The historical route allows visitors to delve into the village’s historical context, featuring significant sites like the church, boys’ school, and St. Umba Square. This route offers visitors a journey through time, bringing the past into the present. The exploratory route, emphasizes the natural potential of Kayaköy, offering an experience with the region’s flora and landscape.
In reference to Kayaköy’s traditional village layout, the Visitor Centre is designed with a central courtyard that is surrounded by small-scale functional spaces. This central courtyard symbolizes Kayaköy’s social and historical heritage. The visitor center consists of small-scale structures, each carrying its own significance, thereby working in harmony with Kayaköy’s cultural texture. Squares and complementary open spaces linked to these squares are designed to enrich social and cultural interaction in the area.
Additionally, the walls in the project area play a crucial role in influencing design decisions. These walls serve different purposes: sometimes as directional elements and sometimes as integral parts of the design that define the space. Similarly, trees and gardens have been incorporated into the design in a way that respects the nature of the village. Notably, the visitor center’s design avoids touching the trees, and the fig orchards in the area have been utilised in their current form.
The existing potentials of the project area has been evaluated, and a design language that applies minimum intervenion and respects Kayaköy’s cultural and architectural heritage has been adopted. For material selection, local stones and corten steel, which reinforces the historical context, were used to ensure harmony with the surroundings and maintain a connection with the past. Corten steel, which oxidizes over time, alludes to the continuation of time.
The concept of rebirth has also been symbolically reinforced in the design. Modest chimneys placed in the area symbolically represent the resilience of Kayaköy. Three focal areas in the design symbolize three significant phases in Kayaköy’s history: life, displacement, and rebirth. These focal points aim to offer visitors a physical and emotional experience, allowing them to reflect on the phases Kayaköy endured.
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About the Third Prize – GIACOMO GALLO – New Environments
“The “RUINS AS TRACES” project offers a thoughtful and respectful approach to reimagining Kayaköy as an open-air museum. By emphasizing the site’s historical significance and natural beauty, the design creates a powerful and immersive experience for visitors. The careful integration of the visitor center enhances the site’s accessibility and educational value without compromising its authenticity. The proposal offers a wide range of design devices for different moments along the route.”
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GOLDEN MENTIONS
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Open Work: an architectural strategy for Kayakoy
Freddie Phillipson
United Kingdom
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Veil of ruins
Xiaotong Ma
China
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Memory Walks
Romane Rebeilleau-Peyrat – Anne Lemaitre
France
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Continuum
Beatrice Maggi, Matteo Miranda
Italy
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The unBUILT Archive
Raj Kansara, Jayant Negi, Naureen Feroz
India
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Chaos of the Unseen
Charles-Antoine Lauzon, Alexandre Boisvert
Canada
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The Dust Settles
Haonan Zhang, Yabing Deng, Jingyao Wang, Yu Duan
China
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Echoes Re-imagined
Polen Yurtan, Alperen Basak
Türkiye
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SILENT WITNESS
Buğrahan Miraç Eser, Hande Eser
Türkiye
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The Quake: An Open-Air Museum in Kayaköy
Maria Shantsueva, Ilya Mordvintsev, Vadim Pochernin, Valeria Bilenko, Aleksandra Galkina, Liubov Ivanova, Andrey Gorin, Maksim Stretskis
Russia
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