While some members of the group had experienced Turkey before, others were new to the country, but all were excited to explore. The trip commenced in Istanbul and the schedule allowed for some free time to tour the city and visit its incredible sites such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace.

“If you had asked me if I could be transported anywhere in the world to see a work of architecture any time in the past 15 years or more, I would have said that I want to be in Hagia Sophia, lay on that stone floor and feel that space,” said Earl Jackson, architect/owner of Jackson Workshop in Allenhurst, NJ. “I first saw an image of it more than 30 years ago when I was a student and have since been haunted by the way the light streamed in, filled the volume and washed across the surfaces of all that stone. When coupled with the opportunity to see new quarries and expand our network of suppliers and fabricators, despite the demand on time away from family and office responsibilities, I couldn’t say no.

“Spending a couple of days in Istanbul before the program began was a great reminder of how sustainable the use of natural stone is as a building material,” Jackson went on to say. “At almost every turn, I was reminded of how one era’s use of natural stone was altered, transformed and reconstructed by the subsequent era as power over the city changed hands throughout history. Old lintels, capitals, columns and pavers seemed to be reconfigured throughout the city without feeling odd or mismatched. Happenstance arrangements of stone elements that served ‘new’ purposes told the story of the place and felt like a part of its cultural undercurrent.”

Showrooms, Quarries, Production Facilities and More

On the official start to the tour, the first stop was to the beautiful showroom owned by Marble Systems/Tureks, who is currently the largest Turkish stone exporter to the U.S. The showroom is one of seven that the company owns.

The group then moved on to Efesus Stone, who also had an impressive selection of natural stone. The third visit of the day was to the slab warehouse of Alimoglu Marble. The evening rounded out with an enjoyable and festive dinner cruise on the Bosphorus -- a natural strait in Turkey that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, dividing the city of Istanbul and forming part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. The cruise allowed everyone to get a taste of Turkish culture and cuisine.

“The next morning, we went to see a wonderful project clad in natural stone in Istanbul and then visited a quarry where we learned about how to evaluate blocks,” said Wood. The stone for the project was supplied and fabricated by Alimoglu and the quarry was operated by Sayin A.Ş., which has grown into one of Turkey’s prominent construction firms -- specializing in industrial, commercial and residential projects. In 2018, Sayin launched the Mabella Marble brand -- producing marble blocks, finished products and custom-cut stone elements.

“After that, we toured an innovative laminated panel and mosaics production operation [owned by Silkar Stone],” said Wood. “Amazing!” 

Silkar Stone was founded by Erdoğan Akbulak, who is the company’s CEO. Akbulak’s brother Hakki Akbulak is the CEO of a “brother” company, AKDO, which is based in Connecticut and has a flagship showroom in New York City. The architects were privileged to observe the handcraftsmanship and the stringent quality-control process in place to produce AKDO’s custom mosaic lines, as well as receiving a guided tour of Silkar Stone’s entire production facility.

Inaugural Marble Block Fair and the Afyon Region

After a full day, the group boarded the bus and traveled several hours to Afyon – the heart of the Turkish stone industry. That evening, they met with the Afyon Chamber of Commerce and were treated to a delicious dinner by Tureks. The start of the Afyonkarahiser Block Marble Expo was the next morning. 

“We arrived at the inaugural Marble and Block Fair on the opening day where we were recognized, and over the next two days, we walked the fair, attended B2B meetings and visited nine operations, as well as the largest quarry in Afyon,” explained Wood. “Each night, we were treated to sumptuous dinners by generous companies.”

Afyonkarahisar is one of the regions with the largest natural stone reserves in Turkey, and with the launch of the stone exhibition, it is becoming an international center for block producers. “The Block and Marble Fair in Afyon was central to the trip,” said Jon Bernard, architect/senior partner at Swaback Partners in Scottsdale, AZ. “Afyon is the location of many of Turkey's quarries and factories. Sufficient time was allocated at the fair to visit the various booths/vendor displays and exhibits -- including a display of large exquisitely carved stone sculptures. Our delegation was welcomed and formally recognized at the Afyon Chamber of Commerce, at the Opening Ceremony of the fair and at the fair's premier banquet dinner.”  

Among the production facilities visited in Afyon, was one operated by Tureks. The company explained that it secures long-term contracts with Turkish quarries to ensure it is a reliable source of stone material. “If we can’t have a long-term commitment, we won’t agree,” said Emrah Kösem, area sales manager. 

“Recent investments and advancements in new facilities and technologies by multi-generational family businesses were great to see, and new introductions to stones that I had not known well before the trip were inspiring,” said Jackson.

Before leaving Afyon and heading to Denizli, the group shared a truly unique experience when it visited another location of Efesus Stone. The company renovated the Reisoğlu Mansion and Selçuk Turkish Bath, and the buildings are now used as a marketing office and showroom. A special dinner was held for the group on the outdoor grounds, featuring traditional Turkish food.

Denizli and Historic Sites

In Denizli, the group went to the travertine quarries and to the production facility of Basaranlar. “They are the best producers in the area who demonstrated some of their new cutting-edge technology for block sawing and mosaics,” said Wood. That evening, Basaranlar treated the group to a wonderful dinner. 

“It was a true pleasure to host the group of architects at our factory,” said Mert Serter, export manager. “For us, welcoming professionals from around the world is more than just a visit -- it's an opportunity to share the rich heritage, craftsmanship and innovation that define the Turkish natural stone industry. Our hope was that the architects gained a deeper understanding of the journey each stone takes -- from the raw block to the refined project-ready product. We wanted to highlight not only the technical precision behind our processes, but also the natural beauty and versatility of Turkish marble, travertine, limestone and onyx.

“Hosting this group was also a meaningful exchange for us,” Serter went on to say. “It gave us insight into the vision and expectations of designers and architects, helping us grow and adapt as a supplier. We’re always proud to be part of projects that value authenticity, durability and artistry -- and we hope the visit inspired confidence in Turkey’s ability to deliver exactly that.”

“I'm not sure whether I enjoyed the recent trip to Turkey more because the country is so beautiful; or because of the range of exceptional natural Turkish stone that I had the opportunity to see; or due to the skilled sources that I had the opportunity to meet and experience their craft first-hand; or from the relationships that were created traveling with the delegation of like-minded participants and organizers,” said Bernard. 

The trip was also filled with visits to historical sites and ruins. “In addition, we spent time at Pamukkale Hot Springs and Hieropolis Historic City,” said Wood. “The hotel that we stayed at [in Denizli] even had natural hot thermal springs onsite.

“As we wound down the trip, we toured two iconic archeological sites -- Aphrodisias and Ephesus -- and saw how natural stone was used historically in those sites,” Wood continued. “When you see natural stone still in place and functioning superbly after 2,000+ years, you see how durable and sustainable it is. Combining that with the knowledge of its low-embodied energy, there can be no doubt that we should be using a lot more natural stone in the built environment.”

Jackson, as well as all those in the group, were in awe of the historic sites and their enduring stonework. “While the experience of Hagia Sophia was amazing, I found our morning walking through the ancient city of Aphrodisias surprisingly powerful and other-worldly,” said Jackson. “The story of the village that lived among the ruins for years is incredible and part of me wishes that it was allowed to/encouraged to remain. The ruinous city didn’t suffer from being overly staged for tourists, but instead, was generally authentic to the extent that I could feel the soul of its origins and imagine its early and vibrant past life.” 

The voyage concluded in the beautiful Mediterranean-style city of Izmir, located on the Aegean, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea – between Turkey and Greece. “We had magical meals on the water, visited the diverse Kemeralti market and walked the waterfront and the city,” said Wood. “Lastly, we were extremely impressed with the natural stone industry in Turkey, especially with how many varieties of stone they have, the depth of those resources and the huge amount of technological investment into production capability they have put forth. If you have not used natural stone from Turkey, I strongly suggest that you consider it in the future!”

“I am grateful for the insight acquired first-hand through this tour, the new contacts that have been made allow direct communication for acquiring materials and for facilitating fabrications of virtually any natural stone installation,” said Bernard. “Many long-term relationships with fellow participants have been established, making the trip especially enjoyable and rewarding.”

“The small group of interested and accomplished professionals that attended the trip, along with Gokalb who created the connections with all of the Turkish companies, began as travel mates and are now a group that I can call friends and future collaborators,” said Jackson.