Adorned with patterns from the Seljuk Empire, the facade of the Turkey Pavilion attracted guests with aesthetic, aural, and kinetic lures. From a distance, visitors' eyes were drawn to the juxtaposition of CNC-cut aluminum composite panels and .6-inch-thick glass painted with a gradient of blue tones reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea. Nearing the pavilion, attendees were greeted with the calming sounds of rushing water, as two circular structures – inspired by the historic water mills that brought clean energy to the Anatolian Peninsula – slowly spun in opposite directions atop a small pond, scooping up water before sending it cascading back to its origin. After traversing the slight incline of a wooden ramp, which represented a metaphorical bridge between the past and the future, attendees made their way through the portal-like entrance and into the pavilion itself.

"This pavilion had me at the entrance gate," said one Expo 2017 Awards judge. "It's tranquil, pure, inviting, distinctive, and historically on point."