Heritage at Risk – Antalya Archaeology Museum

Our colleagues from Docomomo Turkey have notified us of a Heritage at Risk – Antalya Archaeology Museum. You can read their assessment and petition text below:

Antalya Archaeology Museum, Doğan Tekeli, Sami Sisa and Metin Hepgüler, 1964-1972

Antalya Archaeological Museum is under a current threat of demolition. In March 2025, the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that the building will be demolished, and a new museum will be constructed because the current building is not earthquake-resistant and does not meet the needs of a contemporary museum.

In April 2025 Antalya Cultural Heritage Association (ANKA), Turkish Association of Architects in Private Practice Mediterranean Branch (SMD Akdeniz) and docomomo_Turkey National Working Party applied to the Regional Commission on the Conservation of Cultural Property for designation of the museum. However, these applications were rejected. The legal process continues with an application by the same NGOs to the Higher Commission on the Conservation of Cultural Property.

Meanwhile, the museum is rumoured to be on the brink of evacuation and demolition without waiting for the completion of the legal processes. In July 2025 many local and national NGOs came together in an initiative named Antalya Museum Working Group to protest against this situation. On July 7, 2025, ICOMOS Türkiye, its national scientific committees on the 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C_tr) and on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH_tr), KORDER Conservation and Restoration Specialists’ Association and docomomo_Turkey National Working Party made a declaration for the preservation and sustainable strengthening and restoration of the existing building.

Antalya Archaeological Museum is an important example of the Modern Architectural Heritage of Turkey. It was the first museum building in Turkey, whose project was obtained through a national architectural competition. The project was designed by Doğan Tekeli, Sami Sisa and Metin Hepgüler and won the first prize in the competition in 1964. Its implementation was completed in 1972. The building won the Council of Europe Museum of the Year Special Award in 1988. It is not only important through its architectural design that reflects the language of the mid-20th century in Turkey and the Mediterranean but also has outstanding value for its relationship with the exhibited collections and archaeological research.

The public reaction focuses on establishing an open and participatory process for the sustainable preservation and restoration of this important example of the Modern Architectural Heritage in Turkey. Interventions on the building should consider its deep-rooted relationships with spatial and urban memory and identity, illustrated by the ongoing protests.

Please sign the online petition here.