VitrA Çağdaş Mimarlık Dizisi - Arkitera

The original core of the building was a small chapel built sometime around the 5 th
century, which was later converted to a monastery (Mort Şemun Destune) with the
addition of the vaulted sections. Surrounded by thick walls, the three storey building
shows signs of construction techniques of different periods. During the restoration process,
some later additions were removed and redesigned to adapt to the new function.
In addition, the new hotel section was constructed on a site that had been in ruins.
A second building located 50 m from the hotel was designed as a supporting annex.
More than just an accommodation space, Kasr-ı Nehroz is a special architectural example
that achieves international standards of comfort combined with a sensitivity for
the regional urban texture.
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The opening of Mardin Airport for service in 1999 and the discovery of the pastoral
aesthetics of the town of Midyat followed by its becoming the setting for many movies
and TV series during the 2000s have considerably accelerated tourism activity in
Mardin, which was already a significant venue of cultural and religious tourism. Aiming
to respond to the increasing demand for accommodation and transform Midyat into a
destination point for tours, this development has triggered a series of investments in
tourism in the region. Kasr-ı Nehroz Hotel is one of the most significant examples of
these investments, and aims to attract the tourists expecting exclusive services and
offer them a tourism service of high standards while standing out from other hotels in
Midyat with its style and design.
In this historical town of Mardin, also known as Tur Abidin, Nehroz Aga Mansion was
used as a residence by the Nehroz family for 260 years, and is located in the neighborhood
named after the family. The mansion is in fact a multi-layered complex of buildings
that consists of the Syrian Orthodox Church, called Mort Şemun Destune, which
dates back to the 5 th century. Two towers were later added to the introverted structure
of the church and a section called Divanhane was added to the complex in 1933. This
1600 year old group of buildings also includes a tomb open to the public, which went
through a series of structural changes and interventions during the 19 th and 20 th centuries,
and was refurbished in 2009 for conversation into a boutique hotel. The hotel
consists of two independent buildings, with the Nehroz Aga Mansion housing 24 rooms
of diverse forms and sizes and a new stone building constructed on a nearby historical
island that has 5 rooms. With its 29 rooms that offer a historical atmosphere, meeting
room for 80 people, cafe and restaurant, Kasr-ı Nehroz Hotel serves post-tourist users
in search of a sense of place, genuineness and authenticity, offering them a chance to
experience the fascination generated by its 1600 years of history.
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