Halfway between Istanbul and Ankara, near the Mudournou area, at Burj al-Babas, there are some amazing ruins. Ruins and surprisingly not possible. Yet. It is a multi-star construction project that was left unfinished. The goal was to build about 700 luxury homes there, a settlement that would look like Disneyland and attract the attention of millions of investors. According to the plans, the residences are something like small fairytale castles with towers, built next to each other, with luxurious amenities.

Ultra-luxurious residences for Arabs

The 500 residences are ready from the outside, the others will remain only in the architectural plans. Nevertheless, passers-by are excited by the sight, stop and take pictures. Of course, not everyone is excited. In the neighboring village of Mouturnou, 3 old men are sitting under a tree and moaning. “It doesn’t suit us. No Turk would live here, don’t get me wrong, but these houses are not suitable for our standard of living. Shall we tell you more clearly? We were not at all happy that this was built. You ask why? But because they cut down forests, for example.”

Who had the bright idea? It is the Turkish construction company SAROT that wanted to offer luxury castles to the Arab market, 732 in total, with hydromassage and underfloor heating. A spa was designed for the needs of wealthy buyers, as well as a shopping center. Over $200 million was invested, today only the mall’s concrete scaffolding remains.

Many local residents protested. Another argument was the architecture. The area around Mouturnou is known for its old wooden houses and neo-gothic tower buildings were considered sacrilege. The whole thing went to court and now there is a law in Turkey that is supposed to protect local architecture, but it is not retroactive. Now the only people moving around the huge space are two security guards in a canopy at the entrance. The grass has grown tall. The settlement has been standing unfinished for five years. The economic crisis and the fall in the price of the Turkish lira made building materials more expensive. Manufacturing companies went bankrupt.

burj al babas

For more locals a stigma

“At that time we were told that the Arabs would come here and that’s why they offered language classes at the public education center,” says a saleswoman. “We joined it to learn Arabic. But all this remained only a dream…” For most residents of Mudourno, the Burj Al Babas is something of a stigma. At best, empty houses attract fans of such places, and many music videos have already been shot against the backdrop of the spectacular scenery. There are many proposals for what will become of this abandoned residential volume of turrets. But construction company SAROT, which has finally managed to get back on its feet, has plans of its own, says the company’s Mezher Järdelen, at the radio studio of German public broadcaster ARD’s first channel in Istanbul. He wants to finish construction.

“We need about $60 to $80 million for that. There is already interest from potential partners. We are also considering selling the rights to just 350 of the homes. These at present, and when this is completed in about a month, then construction work could begin again. Only time has taken its toll, the towers outside have blackened and are gradually crumbling. Electric cables are missing from inside. And experience so far has shown that Mezher Yerdelen said the same in previous years.

burj al babas