Murat Tabanlıoğlu

Bodrum International Airport was shaped by a lineage of aviation architecture. In the 1980s, Hayati Tabanlıoğlu designed Istanbul’s first international airport, a project that deeply influenced his son, Murat. 

In the early 2000s, Tabanlıoğlu won the national competition for Bodrum’s new airport, and the project was completed ten years after its initial conception. The masterplan is organized in a linear layout to meet contemporary technological requirements and the flow of modern air travel. The airport consists of two primary volumes. The airside terminal, where aircraft are docked, is defined by a fully transparent glass structure that contains retail and dining areas. 

The landside functions, including check-in, passport control, customs and passenger lounges, are arranged within a cubic form clad in local natural stone. Materiality and texture are central to the project. The stone façades draw from the geological character of the Aegean region, while the ceilings were inspired by traditional reedwork and produced specifically for this building in lightweight aluminium. Together, these elements create an airport that is technologically advanced yet firmly anchored in the local landscape and cultural memory.