In the city of Mersin, Türkiye, music enthusiasts have the unique opportunity to reside in buildings named after iconic rock bands – Metallica and Nirvana. The adjacent apartment complexes have garnered attention for their distinctive theme, with the Metallica building featuring the band’s classic wordmark illuminated in blue.
This Musical Architectural Project Is The Brainchild Of Mosbah Drav, A 56-Year-Old Contractor And Devoted Rock And Metal Fan Who Immigrated From Syria To Türkiye In 2012.
In an interview with Voice of Turkey, Drav explained the inspiration behind naming the Metallica building.
“When I started this building, this construction, I planned to give it the name Metallica,” shared Drav. “Why? Because I like this music band, I like this music — hard rock, speed metal, Megadeth, Def Leppard.”
The Nirvana apartment building, situated adjacent to Metallica, shares its name with the grunge band, but it seems to be purely coincidental. Drav clarified that the company responsible for the Nirvana structure was unaware of the musical significance of the name.
“They gave it the name, but they don’t know the meaning of Nirvana,” Drav explained. “They’re one company, but I am another company.”
📍Turkey#metallica pic.twitter.com/JhG9hVUeTb
— Hetfield (@papahetfield81) December 12, 2023
Intriguingly, Drav Has Ambitious Plans For Future Constructions, Each Paying Homage To A Renowned Rock Band.
Revealing his next project, he said,
“I will give Guns N’ Roses the other construction, and I will put the logo in the entrance and I will sign it, ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’”
The Metallica and Nirvana apartments have become a viral sensation this month, capturing the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide. Drav’s unique tribute to his favorite bands through architectural design adds a distinctive and harmonious touch to the Türkiye skyline.
VOA Türkçe Mersin’deki #Metallica apartmanının müteahhitiyle görüştü.
2012’de Suriye’den Türkiye’ye göç eden 56 yaşındaki Mosbah Drav neden bu ismi seçtiğini anlattı, bir sonraki binasına hangi ismi vereceğini de açıkladı:
"Guns N’ Roses"#gunsnroses #welcometothejungle pic.twitter.com/RpMqWmy3ye— VOA Türkçe (@VOATurkce) December 15, 2023