Three Lawsuits Against Hotel Constructions in Cappadocia

Architects Chamber of Turkey's Ankara Branch and Environmental Law Association have filed two seperate lawsuits against hotel constructions in Cappadocia, a historical site with its worldwide-known fairy chimneys.

In December 2012, the construction of Arinna Lodge Otel and CCR Hotels were suspended due to their negative impact on the historical texture of Cappadocia region.

Since 2007 Turkey's world famous Cappadocia region has been bloated with half a dozen of hotel constructions that threaten the authentic landscape and texture of a geological wonderland.

The hotel constructions have negative impact on traditional architecture, as well as city's silhouette and devoidisation of public spaces, locals said. They complaint that the number of constructions are increasing every year.

Architects Chamber of Turkey's Ankara Branch filed a lawsuit against the cultural heritage preservation council in Nevşehir province, saying that the council permittedCRR Hotel construction which harmed the environment with their unfitting oversized buildings and concretization.

The chamber also filed another lawsuit against the construction license of Arinna Lodge Hotel approved by Uçhisar Municipality, saying that the hotel construction, saying that the constructions blocked the view of adjecsent preserved areas. ​

"How did the council allow massive hotel constructions?"

In addition, Environmental Law Association filed a lawsuit against the cultural heritage preservation council in Nevşehir province, saying that the Arinna Lodge Hotel construction wiped out two-story stone houses and replaced them with massive constructions by harming the rock texture of the zone.

The lawsuit also included an offial inquiry on how the preservation council allowedmassive hotel constructions while it severely punished little house renovationsperformed by local residents.

The association claimed that the hotel constructions made an irrepearable damage onthe area by drilling natural rock formations for profit. (NV/BM)

Photos: Nilay Vardar

Archieve: Ahmet Kutlar