9.5.2018 00:00:00

Doğuş Group’s 20-year partnership in support of Göbeklitepe, the world’s oldest ritual complex

May 9, 2018 – Doğuş Group, the Turkish-based international conglomerate founded in 1951, has already invested $15m in Göbeklitepe – a major archaeological site dating back 12,000 years, and home to the oldest cult structure in the world. According to the partnership with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism will see Doğuş Group become the sole partner of the major Neolithic site.

Extending beyond a typical corporate sponsorship with a very holistic and global approach, Doğuş Group has committed to building continuous brand awareness and communications to support the site on a global level and encourage visitors from across the world. In addition to a generous donation for the ongoing excavations at the site, the 20-year sponsorship – launched on a global level in January 2016 at the World Economic Forum in Davos – includes a new visitor and exhibition centre that opened early this year, as well as the development of a new brand ID, sensory ID and sound ID to be used across all communication by Doğuş Group and the Ministry with a unique and holistic approach.

Called “Potbelly Hill” by locals for its gently sloping curves, the monumental buildings at Göbeklitepe were constructed of limestone and feature large monolithic T-shaped stone pillars, some of which carry breath-taking imagery, including carved depictions of wild animals.

The site in southeast Turkey was constructed by humans during a period commonly referred to as the Early Neolithic, when humans made the transition from hunting to gathering and farming, a process known as Neolithisation.

Following an architectural competition called in 2015 by Doğuş Group, an Istanbul-based practice was commissioned to produce a timeless scheme that would have a positive impact on the site’s environment, help underline the significance of this historic location, and re-design the tourist experience, whilst also encouraging people from across the world to visit this iconic, yet under-explored destination.

Drawing inspiration from the circular layouts of the world’s first temples, the practice envisioned the centre as a two-part structure featuring large counters for the ticket office, as well as a souvenir store, café and restrooms on one end, and a state-of-the-art animation centre on the other end, in which audio-visual and highly-technical installations will showcase the history and relevance of the excavation.

The interiors will combine visual representations with highly-advanced technology to create an interactive exhibition for visitors. With the motto of “ The Zero Point of Time”, the story of the oldest cult structure of human history will be projected on 200m-surfaces that will allow visitors to circulate throughout the space and interact freely. The mirrors on the walls will also reflect the projections, providing a sensation of infinity and increasing the impact of the experience.

Featuring a significant collection of artefacts found on site, the exhibition is designed to transport the visitor to the Neolithic era with chronological narrations that will accompany the visitor’s itinerary, whilst also setting the context before the excavation visit and highlighting the magnificence of each work of art.

The new visitor centre has been constructed using a revolutionary technique, commonly referred to as Earthwall, or “Alker” in Turkish, by which the main material is obtained by compressing earth from the area. Developed by Istanbul Technical University (ITU) over the course of the last 30 years, the technique uses both mud-brick and plaster to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions and limit the pollution impact on the environment, thus respecting the site’s legacy and the excavation’s historic significance.

The decision to use mud-bricks in the construction of Göbeklitepe visitors centre underlines the importance of protecting the country’s assets and popularizing the use of traditional, local materials for sustainability.

UK and International Press Office

Marta Bogna-Drew and Gabriel Rodriguez at Caro Communications
T: +44 (0) 20 7713 9388
E: marta@carocommunications.com
E: gabriel@carocommunications.com

About Göbeklitepe

Göbeklitepe is an archaeological site at the top of a mountain ridge in the South-Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, approximately 12 km (7 miles) northeast of the city of Şanlıurfa (Urfa). This location, known as the "Fertile Crescent" with burgeoning Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is a part of Mesopotamia. This Fertile Crescent is the location for the first city in history, the starting point of writing and the seed of civilization. Göbeklitepe, as the oldest known monument built by man, goes beyond these ‘firsts’ as a ‘zero point in time’.

The temple-like structures consist of T-shaped pillars carved with the images of wild animals. Until his death in 2014, Dr Schmidt was able to uncover six of these structures that were built on top of each other, in a time period that exceeds 1,000 years. Currently, excavations led by the director of Şanlıurfa Museum, Celal Uludağ and German Archaeological Institute, still continue.

Since its first archaeological excavation in 1995, Göbeklitepe has received limited attention globally and due to a lack of sustainable support, the site requires global recognition to continue the efforts. A continuous and sustainable support program has been put in place by Doğuş Group, including a major international initiative to introduce Göbeklitepe to the world.

For more information on Göbeklitepe please visit https://www.dogusgrubu.com.tr/en/gobekli-tepe-zero-point-in-time

About Doğuş Group

The Doğuş Group, founded in 1951, sets standards for a better living by being at the forefront of discoveries that shape modern life. Doğuş, which aspires to be a global house of best in class lifestyle brands that create aspiration, not only for customers but also employees, partners and even competitors, continues to work in all of its fields of operation with the aim of becoming a global player.

The Doğuş Group, active in seven core businesses including automotive, construction, media, tourism and services, real estate, energy and food & beverage, sustains its growth with new investments in the areas of technology, sports, and entertainment along with its current operations. With over 300 companies in 25 countries in 4 continents and more than 35,000 employees, the Group serves its customers with advanced technologies, highest brand quality and a dynamic human resource.

The Doğuş Group owes its success to a management approach centered on customer satisfaction and efficiency. As a result of this approach, the Group continues to build strong partnerships with globally reputable brands, and represent Turkey across the world. The Doğuş Group currently partners and cooperates with some of the large global players including: Volkswagen AG and TÜVSÜD in automotive; Condé Nast (Vogue, GQ) in media; Hyatt International Ltd. in tourism; the Latsis Group , the Kiriacoulis Group and the Adriatic Croatia International (ACI) Group in marina and nautical operations; the international Azumi Group that holds under its roof brands such as Coya, Roka, Zuma and Oblix in food& beverage and entertainment; and the South Korean SK Group in e-commerce.

The Doğuş Group’s management approach also embodies a strong corporate citizenship awareness that the whole society does and will benefit. In launching social responsibility projects, the Group always aims to leave a mark on people’s life and make it much better. The Group’s social responsibility projects are managed with the objective to help the society to create a progressive future; a modern lifestyle.

The Group launches and carries out a variety of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship projects, particularly focused on culture and arts, sports and education. Aware of its responsibilities in all the areas it supports, Doğuş Group acts with the vision of leading the community by example, and contributes to the economy and employment through its investments.

As a pioneer of change in Turkey, the Doğuş Group capitalizes on its broad network of services, knowledge base and collaborations to attain its goals. The Doğuş Group, driven by its vision of becoming a global player that sets the standards and advances through explorations, continues to consider the partnership and investment opportunities that might be beneficial for the nation’s economy.

For more information on Doğuş Group, visit the website https://www.dogusgrubu.com.tr/en