METU MUD 2021-2022 SPRING STUDIO
Under the theme of ‘Sustainable Open-Air Museum’, METU MUD 2022 Spring Studio focused on an abandoned rocky valley, stretching between the Nevşehir and Avanos. The valley is characterised by its abandoned caves which used to be lived in the past. This unexplored archaeological site, surrounded by a plateau of traditional vineyards and fruit trees, and a land-art park of the Australian artist, Andrew Rogers, became the focus of the studio project. The design team visited the valley with a professional guide who explained the history of the valley. They also interviewed several important local agencies and private actors to learn about the valley. The team also visited the regional development agency, AHIKA, Cappadocia Site Management Agency, as well as Avanos, Mustafa Paşa, Manastır and Gomeda Valleys, Göreme Open-Air Museum, Uçhisar and between 11-14 April 2022. They collected data about the project site, and were inspired by the visited places, and interviewed local actors for their design projects.