In the southern hills of Fethiye lies Kayaköy, a village abandoned after political upheaval and an earthquake, now preserved as an open-air museum. Among its ruins stands a former girls’ school, one of the least damaged buildings, making it an ideal site for adaptive reuse as a Children’s Intellectual Development Center.
Project Name: Stone memory
Studio Name: olay studio
Location: Kayaköy, Fethiye, Turkey
The project honors the spirit of the place, balancing preservation with contemporary needs. The new program introduces flexible learning and cultural spaces while maintaining the identity and materiality of the historical site.
Site and Accessibility
Due to the natural slope, access is provided from the first floor on two sides, facilitating visitor entry without extensive intervention. The center is organized over two levels:
Basement Level: Multi-purpose hall, classroom, office, and sanitary facilities.
First Floor: Gallery and café, serving as social and exhibition spaces.
Design Strategy
The new interventions are designed with respectful detachment:
Two cubic volumes with a separate concrete structure are inserted within the existing stone envelope.
A non-invasive construction strategy ensures minimal contact with the original masonry, with connection points limited to what is structurally essential.
The internal flooring consists of glass and wood platforms, elevated above the soil on a substructure, preserving the original floor and expressing the new layer of use.
Roof and Observation Spaces
The gallery roof is transformed into an observation terrace for parents and visitors, offering panoramic views of the ruins. The terrace spans the southern and eastern sides, made of wooden beams and flooring, echoing local material traditions.
Material Palette and Environmental Response
The design draws inspiration from Kayaköy’s traditional materiality:Stone and timber are the dominant materials. The roof is dual-pitched and clay-tiled, inspired by local vernacular forms. One side of the roof remains partially open, channeling light, air, and views into the interior. Wooden windows with shutters ensure climate responsiveness and respect for local architectural language.
Cultural Integration
This center is not only a space for children’s development but also a bridge between memory and future—a living dialogue between past lives and new possibilities. It offers a place where history is experienced, not just preserved.
