Kayaköy Open-Air Museum - Finalist

Project Information
Project type: Competition
Landscape Architect: MAAV Tasarim
Location: Kayaköy, Turkey
Date: 2024

Whispers of Levissi 

This proposal focuses on revitalizing Kayaköy (Levissi), a historic ghost town in Turkey, by transforming it into a dynamic open-air museum where history, nature, and contemporary design coexist. The project aims to honor the village’s cultural and historical significance, blending preservation with thoughtful intervention. Through storytelling, visitor engagement, and environmental consciousness, the design seeks to foster meaningful connections between visitors and the site. 
The museography plays with the idea of “whispers” — subtle yet profound echoes of the past —guiding visitors through the site, creating an immersive experience where each structure or route tells part of Kayaköy’s story. The village becomes not just a backdrop, but a living, breathing exhibit where visitors are invited to engage, reflect, and connect. 
The design integrates three core components: an interactive visitor centre, a living open-air museum, and commercial units to support the sustainable development of the village.

Visitor Centre:

The visitor center serves as the gateway to the open-air museum and acts as a bridge that connects the paths of the open-air museum at the base of the archaeological area. Facilities include a reception, multifunctional space for workshops and events, and visitor amenities such as a café and bookstore.  
The museography unfolds as a chronological tale, reflecting the village’s evolution from a thriving Greek settlement to an abandoned relic. Immersive storytelling techniques, such as guided audio tours and interactive displays, deepen visitors’ connection to the site.

Open-Air Museum Concept:

The open-air museum with its cultural, educational and agricultural programme invites visitors to explore Kayaköy through a network of curated pathways, interactive spaces and landscape patches that bridge the past and present. By embracing the idea of “living ruins,” the design fosters reflection on the interplay between decay, memory, and renewal.

Sustainability and Preservation:

The project emphasizes minimal intervention, allowing the ruins to remain the protagonists. By integrating lightweight structures and elevated pathways, the design respects the site’s cultural and ecological significance and reduces disturbance to the ruins.  
By intertwining past and present, 'Whispers of Levissi' ensures that Kayaköy’s story resonates with future generations, blending preservation, innovation, and meaningful visitor experiences.