Awards Presented at the Idea Project Competition

The program held at the Herodotus Cultural Center was attended by Bodrum Mayor Architect Tamer Mandalinci and his wife Architect Sezil Mandalinci, Bodrum Deputy Mayors Attorney İdil Ekmekçi, Hasan Kanat Özsert, Ahmet Yıldızhan, and Tanju Aksu, Bodrum Municipality General Coordinator Emel Çakaloğlu, directors of TMMOB Chamber of Architects Muğla Branch and Bodrum Representation, competition jury members, representatives of professional chambers, contestants, and numerous guests.

The program began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, followed by speeches from TMMOB Chamber of Architects Bodrum Branch President Gamze Bağcı and Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci.

Mayor Mandalinci: “We Are Proceeding with Collective Wisdom for Değirmenburnu”

In his speech, Bodrum Mayor Architect Tamer Mandalinci stated that this was the first time in the municipality's history that a national-scale architectural idea competition was organized. He emphasized that the Değirmenburnu Historical Windmills are not only one of Bodrum's iconic structures but also an important heritage reflecting the city's history, production culture, and collective memory. As an architect and mayor, Mandalinci said they regard it as a duty to protect and develop Bodrum's historical sites, iconic structures, and cultural values to pass them on to future generations. He underlined that during this process, decisions were not made alone; instead, they acted in accordance with collective wisdom alongside experts and professional organizations.

Mandalinci noted that they started a strong collaboration with the TMMOB Chamber of Architects Bodrum Branch to revive and reactivate the Değirmenburnu Historical Windmills. He expressed that the qualified jury formed, the meticulously prepared competition specification, and the 78 projects coming from all corners of Turkey generated more interest than expected. He stated that the ideas awarded today are valuable works that will direct the future of one of Bodrum’s important cultural heritage sites.

Emphasizing that the award ceremony is not just an organization where winning projects are awarded, Mandalinci said this meeting is an indication of respect for the past, a joint will to preserve historical heritage, and an important step toward transforming ideas into concrete projects. Mandalinci stated that Değirmenburnu holds a special meaning for him personally; after assuming office, he visited the historic windmills whenever possible, believed this area needed to be revitalized, and that this idea contributed to the emergence of the competition concept.

Continuing his speech by discussing the next phase of the process, Mandalinci stated that by working in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Monuments Board, the National Real Estate Directorate, windmill owners, and all relevant institutions, they aim to restore the historical windmills—one of Bodrum’s most important symbolic areas. Highlighting the importance of making decisions about the city’s future with collective wisdom, Mandalinci expressed that with this understanding, they will both protect the historical heritage and implement permanent projects that will add value to Bodrum. He thanked all the contestants, jury members, Chamber of Architects representatives, and everyone who contributed to the competition.

TMMOB Chamber of Architects Bodrum Branch President Gamze Bağcı emphasized that architectural competitions are among the most important design processes that shape the future of cities, and that developing the culture of competitions which enables different ideas to meet within the framework of collective wisdom is of great importance. Bağcı thanked all project teams participating in the competition, jury members, rapporteurs, and Bodrum Municipality for their contributions to the process. She hoped the competition would be an important start for qualified urban projects to be realized in Bodrum from now on.

Awards Found Their Owners

In the competition aimed at protecting and reintroducing the Değirmenburnu Historical Windmills and their surroundings—one of Bodrum’s iconic values—to cultural and tourism life, awards and plaques were presented to the authors of the winning projects. Alongside project teams awarded equivalent prizes, equivalent mentions, and purchase awards, certificates of appreciation were also given to jury members, rapporteurs, and individuals and institutions contributing to the competition process.

Winning Projects

The competition's Equivalent Award was given to project number 16 with code 94831 and team led by Fatma Zeynep Altınbaşlı Koç, project number 40 with code 94725 and team led by M. Batu Kepekçioğlu, and project number 63 with code 31580 and team led by Sacit Arda Karaatlı. Equivalent Mention Award was presented to project number 18 with code 96253 and team led by Mehmet Erdönmez, project number 26 with code 25713 to Emre Özcan, project number 41 with code 31976 to Sevgi Türkkan Sroka and team, project number 54 with code 48615 to Fuat Arabacı, and project number 76 with code 46925 to Burak Pelenk and team. The Purchase Award was given to project number 20 with code 25714 and team led by Gencay Çubuk and project number 42 with code 73014 and team led by Hüseyin Öztürk.

Jury Team

The jury was chaired by Prof. Dr. Zeynep Şirin Enlil (Urban Planner); permanent jury members included Prof. Dr. Deniz Dokgöz (Architect), Hüseyin Sinan Omacan (Architect), Aslı Özbay (Architect), Evren Başbuğ (Architect), Münire Sağat (Landscape Architect), and Ahmet İğdirligil (Architect).

Alternate jury members were Mert Uslu (Architect), Hamdi Erdoğan (Architect), and Şerife Türk Derin (Architect). Advisory jury members included Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci (Architect), Assoc. Dr. Devrim Yücel Besim (Architect-Historian), Devrim Erbil (Artist), Sungu Turmuş (Bodrum Municipality Director of Zoning), Gamze Esedoğlu (Architect), Güray Karabağlı (Competition Coordinator), Prof. Dr. Bekir Özer (Archaeologist, MSKU Faculty Member), Behnan Çamdağ Tengilimoğlu (Bodrum Municipality Planning-Project Director), Banu Tok (Bodrum Municipality KUDEP Chief), Ali Rıza Uysal (Civil Engineer), Taner Uslu (Geophysicist), BODTO Board Member İbrahim Akkaya and BODER Board Chair Ömer Faruk Dengiz.

Rapporteur tasks were performed by Betül Demircioğlu (Architect), Figen Helik (Interior Architect), and Pembe Ülgen (Architect). Assistant rapporteurs were Sinan Çiftçi (Architect), Neslihan Kaya Bostan (Architect), and Yasemin Putgül (Architect).

Exhibition Open Until August 20

Following the award ceremony, a symposium was held where contestants and jury members reviewed the projects together. During the question-and-answer section, opinions and suggestions related to the competition were shared, and the program continued with the opening of the project exhibition.

The competition, which attracted 78 project applications from creative ideas on Bodrum's historical heritage, evaluated 76 projects that met the specifications. Winning project owners were awarded in the ceremony held.

The exhibition featuring the projects prepared within the scope of the competition will be open for visits at the Herodotus Cultural Center until August 20, 2026.