Serhat Akbay Mimarlık “Between Two Seas Winery,” a project designed by Serhat Akbay Mimarlık, is located in a unique region between two seas — precisely midway between the Gülbahçe shores of the Gulf of İzmir and the Demircili shores of the Gulf of Sığacık, accessible after reaching İzmir on the Aegean coast and traveling through… View Article
Serhat Akbay Mimarlık
“Between Two Seas Winery,” a project designed by Serhat Akbay Mimarlık, is located in a unique region between two seas — precisely midway between the Gülbahçe shores of the Gulf of İzmir and the Demircili shores of the Gulf of Sığacık, accessible after reaching İzmir on the Aegean coast and traveling through Urla to the village of Yağcılar.
The life of Yağcılar changed dramatically in 1924 with the population exchange that replaced its Greek inhabitants with people from Thessaloniki. Today, the village is poised for another transformation — this time awakened by the whisper of the genius loci, as if to revive the long-forgotten memories of this land. Once on the verge of decline like many Anatolian villages losing residents to urban migration, Yağcılar is now set to distinguish itself through its winery and wine culture.
Between Two Seas Winery has two central ambitions: first, to produce high-quality wine and share it with those who savor life; and second, to establish Yağcılar — ironically named “oil makers” — as a destination known for its viticulture. With this vision, a space has come to life where wine and its “supporting acts” can be experienced — along the Urla Wine Route, in a tasting and sharing venue nearly thirty years in the making, quietly situated between the two seas.
The architectural identity of the project reflects its respect for locality; Urla-sourced limestone was used throughout the walls, integrating the structure with its surroundings and celebrating the natural materiality of the region.