Astari
Burj Al Babas was originally planned as a real estate development, specifically a luxury housing project. It is located in the province of Bolu, within the picturesque Mudurnu Valley in northwestern Turkey.
The surrounding landscape of Bolu province is characterized by lush greenery, rolling hills, and dense forests, creating a serene and idyllic backdrop for the fairy tale-inspired project.
As for the area, it was designed to encompass a substantial piece of land. It was planned for approximately 732 villas and a central castle-like hotel, which would have made it a sizable community.
The actual population of Burj Al Babas is quite limited, primarily comprising construction and maintenance personnel and some homeowners.
However, the project faced significant setbacks and remains largely incomplete, with only a fraction of the intended population having ever occupied the planned as a community of chateau-style villas.
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The Exclusive Housing Project in Turkey
In the early 2010s, the Burj Al Babas project was conceived as an ambitious luxury development resembling a medieval European housing. It marketed exclusive villas and castles to the super-wealthy, with all the desired modern amenities.
The project was the brainchild of the Sarot Group, a Turkish construction company.
The project swiftly attracted global attention, enticing wealthy buyers, particularly Middle Eastern investors, seeking luxury second homes in Turkey.
Furthermore, Burj Al Babas was well-positioned to capitalize on the booming real estate market during that time.
Inspired Architecture from the Fairy Tale
Burj Al Babas was initially planned with a building of a community with hundreds of identical chateau-style villas, each evoking the essence of a fairy tale with turrets and spires.
Each villa is designed to have a unique fairy tale-inspired appearance, ensuring no two are identical in design.
These villas feature architectural elements such as turrets, spires, battlements, and intricate detailing, giving them a distinctly medieval appearance.
It is typically constructed with stone facades, and some include features like spiral staircases, large fireplaces, and grand chandeliers. The interiors of these villas were often decorated to enhance the castle theme, in addition to the exterior design.
Additionally, a central castle-like hotel was planned, accompanied by amenities like a shopping center, sports facilities, and a mosque.
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Initial Construction of Burj Al Babas
Various factors conspired to shatter Burj Al Babas’s fairy tale-inspired vision for the residential area, consequently leading to its downfall.
First, currency devaluation and political instability in the challenging global economic landscape caused the project’s downfall.
Additionally, financing issues and investor hesitancy further hindered the development, resulting in its stagnation.
Moreover, legal troubles, including concerns about environmental impacts, added another layer of complexity.
Lastly, Sarot Group’s bankruptcy dealt the project a decisive blow, leaving investors with incomplete properties and shattered dreams.
As a result, Burj Al Babas is often referred to as a “haunted town” or “ghost town” due to its eerie and surreal appearance. Many of the castle villas and the central hotel structure are empty and unfinished, giving the impression of a deserted and abandoned place.