A hotel? An archaeology site? Or both?
Authorities quickly turned what was going to be the hotel basement into a major archaeological site. For seven and a half months, Dr. Hatice Pamir, a professor of classical archaeology at Antakya’s Mustafa Kemal University, led almost 30 scientists from around the world, aided by about 100 workers, in a massive dig funded by Asfuroğlu.
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Experts believe they uncovered one of the largest intact tile mosaic floors in the world, measuring just over 9,000 square feet. In the course of the excavations, they also uncovered the remains of buildings and dwellings that go back perhaps 2,300 years.
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Preservation is expensive and under-funded, but moving the beautiful floors and other remarkable finds is unthinkable. His hotel project could continue, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism said, but with challenging conditions: no concrete could touch any area of significance beneath the hotel, and the plan would have to incorporate a museum.
Asfuroğlu consulted a number of designers, some of whom declared his challenge a pipe dream. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Architectural Commission were not optimistic. Then Asfuroğlu consulted Turkish architect Emre Arolat, who was moved by the historical significance of the project.
Arolat’s plan seized upon an ancient riverbed running through the excavated property, a narrow strip which would allow for the placement of support columns. The architect’s design concept features a building which will sit about 30 feet above the site, with views of the site from common areas, even from the hotel’s rooms. There will also be museum-like access.
Asfuroğlu and his son Asaf recount that the proposal literally brought applause from the Architectural Commission and Ministry board members.
With the preservation and design issues solved, actual construction is finally under way.
