The Çatalhöyük Visitor Center is situated between two ancient earthen mounds on the east and west sides of Çatalhöyük, one of the oldest known settlements dating back to the 8th century BC. Located 10 kilometers east of the modern Konya Kumla district, the area features vast fields resembling a sprawling carpet, dotted with small villages of various sizes.
Archaeological excavations were extensively conducted on the eastern mound during the 1960s. Since the 1980s, a cluster of excavation houses has been supporting these efforts. These buildings are positioned on the flattened areas of the eastern mound, covering a large area and facilitating ongoing research.
The dispersed layout of the Tourist Center Park reflects the U-shaped design of the excavation houses. Historically, these excavation houses were located across a dry riverbed that once nourished the mound. The project defines a designated entrance and a walking path for visitors, integrating archaeological sites, existing field buildings, main routes (including vehicle roads), and the historic river that once sustained the mounds. This approach treats the site as an interconnected living organism within a comprehensive residential context.
The primary aim of the Çatalhöyük Visitor Center (ÇVC) is not only to function as a museum but also to serve as a central hub organizing these relationships.
Given the site’s millennia-old history and its valuable underground heritage, careful planning was essential when designing new structures. In contrast to the 9,000 years of collective memory and cultural layers hidden within the mound, the project employs a lightweight and moderate structural system that minimizes ground contact.
Since local materials, particularly ancient relics, consist mainly of adobe, the design favors wooden structures and materials that subtly contrast with, rather than imitate, the surrounding environment. The main building components include foundations, utilities, floors, walls, and roofs, all designed to align with preservation principles and structural requirements.
The building incorporates a concealed installation system located in a one-meter gap between the concrete foundation and the wooden floor, allowing flexibility in structural modifications while maintaining the architectural hierarchy and geometric form.
ÇVC consists of three buildings arranged around a triangular courtyard. The U-shaped building welcomes visitors and leads them into the central courtyard, housing administrative offices, exhibition areas, and related service facilities. It features three types of spaces: exhibition rooms, exhibition corridors, and terraces.
The second building is a 22-meter-high wooden tower with a terrace, serving as a landmark visible across the vast Anatolian landscape. From this vantage point, visitors can view the two earthen mounds rising over the expansive Konya Basin plains.
The third building, facing the courtyard, is a multifunctional hall accommodating up to 100 people. It hosts domestic and international lectures, events, and seminars, offering flexible layouts for both permanent and temporary use, contributing to ÇVC’s dynamic character.
The center’s layout connects enclosed and open spaces, evoking the feel of a traditional village settlement. Elements such as terraces, gardens, small bridges, and the central courtyard harmonize with the peaceful Anatolian landscape.
The chosen materials, textures, and plants extend this harmony, linking the three primary building clusters through terraced fields. These terraces extend beneath wooden eaves to form two separate pedestrian bridges, leading respectively to the eastern and western earthen mounds.
The northern structure creates a prominent entrance and viewing terrace, while the southern structure fosters a subtle, intimate connection between visitors and the ancient architecture of Çatalhöyük.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ Plan view
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Detailed drawing
△ Detailed drawing
Project Information
Architect: TEGET
Area: 3918 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Egemen Karakaya
Lead Architects: Mehmet Küçükoğlu, Ertuğ Uçar
Architects: Hande Ciganarli, Onur Akın, Ethem Aybar, Ece Ünübol, Son Can Öztunç, Tuberk Altuntaş, Sea Dilan Kara, Alican Fog
Structural Engineers: ATTEC & BKSD
Mechanical Engineer: Anka Engineering
Infrastructure: Diyap Engineering
Fire Safety Consultant: Ethos
Exhibition Design: PATTU
Lighting Design: UKON Lighting Consultancy
Landscape Design: Seda Kurt Şengün
Location: Küçükköy, Turkey
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