A Luxury Resort, Bodrum
Turkey
We envisioned a luxury resort that listens to the rhythm of the land. Guided by Turkish principles of paradise, harmony, and the elegance of privacy.
The site’s natural topography and dense forest shaped every decision. With over a thousand trees on the land, the masterplan was designed to preserve as much as possible with villas nestled between existing pines, views revealed gently through the terrain, and pathways meandering toward the sea.
By placing the arrival at the highest point of the site, the experience becomes a moment of reveal. We designed a curved stone wall and a floating timber pavilion that hovers lightly above, guiding guests forward into the landscape. As they step through the threshold, a glass-lined lobby on three sides reveals the Aegean unfolding beyond.
Guided by Turkish principles of Cennet (paradise), Uyum (harmony), and Mahremiyetin Zerafeti (the elegance of privacy), the design sought to create a sanctuary defined by stillness, craft, and restraint.
“We’re trying to redefine what luxury means. It’s not about opulence any more—it’s about privacy, space, and calm. In this case, the forest was the luxury.”
The site’s natural topography and forested character shaped every decision. With over a thousand trees on the land, the masterplan was designed to preserve as much as possible. Man-made lakes created new waterfront settings; along the slopes, hillside villas offered quiet elevation among the trees.
The villas were designed as individual pavilions, each positioned to frame a unique perspective of forest, hillside or sea.
Natural materials of limewashed plaster, local limestone, and timber screens invite a sense of timelessness and a palette of texture and honesty. Every detail reinforces the project’s ethos of quiet luxury.
Arrival at the waterfront marina and restaurant neighbourhood was envisioned as an unfolding journey through courtyards, water reflections, and soft transitions between interior and terrace, inviting guests to meander and explore.
Designed for intimacy and atmosphere, the marina becomes a place to pause between land and water, a setting that feels both social and serene. An underwater wine cellar adds a quiet moment of magic beneath the surface.
Overwater restaurants extend across the bay, while the dining village forms a cluster of pavilions that echo the local vernacular with stone walls, timber colonnades, and shaded pergolas opening out toward the sea.
Developed by BLINK’s architectural team under the direction of Iain Smales, the Bodrum concept captures BLINK’s belief that architecture should reveal the beauty already present in a place. Though unbuilt, it remains a study in designing with nature. For us, it was an exploration of how restraint, proportion, and craft can shape a deeper connection to land and sea.