The 2025 HD Awards Project Winners

WELLNESS + WELLBEING
Argos Spa, Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is drenched in hues of brown and beige, and Argos Spa pulls that peaceful palette into its interiors bedecked in linen and wrought iron. Centered on four key pillars—energize, harmonize, cleanse, and indulge—the dramatic cave sanctuary was built on a complex site: Five heritage mansions couldn’t be disturbed; construction required navigating steep slopes; and arches and vaults were carefully added to protect against collapse. In true Cappadocia tradition, Argos Spa embraces native yellow Avanos and gray Kayseri stones, as well as limba wood and Anatolian mosaics, while richly detailed surfaces point to külünk, a centuries-old handcarving technique. “We had the chance to spend a lot of time in the region. Local producers, ceramic artists, stonemasons, and surrounding archaeological sites allowed us to approach the design from a different perspective,” explains Rana Karadoğan Akın, chief design and construction officer at Doğuş Hospitality & Retail. “We wanted to design a project where time stands still and reflects the spirit of ancient times—from the bird sounds heard in the valley every morning and the snow falling in winter to the all-around magic of Cappadocia.”

Architecture, Interior Design Firm, Purchasing, and Operator: Doğuş Hospitality & Retail (in house), Istanbul | Owner: Argos