Erciyes Birun Hotel

Strategic Positioning Along a Mountain Corridor

Located on the primary route connecting Kayseri city center to Mount Erciyes, the project is strategically embedded in a transitional topography between vehicular access and the elevated ski slopes above. The site features a natural gradient, which has been critically assessed to establish vertical connectivity between the arrival road and the piste-level recreational landscape. This gradient forms the basis for circulation, zoning, and orientation strategies across the entire scheme.

Programmatic Hybridization for Year Round Use

Conceived as a full-board accommodation facility with a capacity of 300–400 beds, the project merges hospitality infrastructure with wellness and event programs. The core of the complex revolves around a spa focused experience, enriched by the inclusion of a multifunctional ballroom that allows for daily events, weddings, and seasonal gatherings providing flexibility beyond typical ski resort programming.

Landscape and Visual Anchoring

The site’s unbroken visual connection to Mount Erciyes was central to the project’s conceptual approach. The building massing, façade orientation, and interior layouts were designed to capture and frame Erciyes across multiple levels particularly in communal and recreational areas. This strategy transforms the mountain into both a backdrop and an experiential focal point throughout the guest journey.

Environmental Responsiveness and Climate Analysis

Given the region’s extreme snow loads, wind exposure, and solar angles, climate data played a critical role in shaping the architectural response. The siting of the building was informed by extensive environmental simulations using Autodesk CFD tools, enabling optimization of solar gain, protection from prevailing winds, and structural resilience under snow pressure. These simulations also informed the façade articulation and mass placement to balance passive energy strategies with functional efficiency.

Integration with the Ski Terrain

The hotel establishes direct and seamless access to the adjacent slopes, supporting ski-in/ski-out operations and maximizing user convenience. Architectural connections between the ski zone and the hotel’s arrival and storage areas were designed to enable smooth movement of guests and equipment, turning the ski experience into an integrated spatial and operational system.