Architecture of Turkey

Architecture of Turkey or Turkish Architecture in the Republican Period refers to the architecture practised in the territory of present-day Turkey since the foundation of the republic in 1923. In the first years of the republic, Turkish architecture was influenced by Ottoman architecture, in particular during the First National Architectural Movement. However, from the 1930s, architectural styles started to differ from traditional architecture, also as a result of an increasing number of foreign architects being invited to work in the country, mostly from Germany and Austria.^[1] The Second World War was a period of isolation, during which the Second National Architectural Movement emerged. Similar to Fascist architecture, the movement aimed to create modern but nationalistic architecture.^[2]

Starting from the 1950s, isolation from the rest of the world started to diminish, leading to Turkish architects being increasingly inspired by their counterparts in the rest of the world. However they were constrained by the lack of technological infrastructure or insufficient financial resources till the 1980s.^[3] Thereafter, the liberalization of the economy and the shift towards export-led growth,^[4] paved the way for the private sector to become the leading influence on architecture.

1920s and 1930s: First national architectural movement and Modernism

First National Architectural Movement (in Turkish: Birinci Ulusal Mimarlik Akimi) was an architectural movement led by Turkish architects Vedat Tek and Mimar Kemaleddin Bey. Followers of the movement wanted to create a new architecture which was based on motifs from Ottoman architecture but without Arabic or Islamic references. The movement was also labelled Turkish Neoclassical or the National Architectural Renaissance.^[5] The other followers of this movement were Arif Hikmet Koyunoglu and Giulio Mongeri.^[6] Buildings from this era are the State Art and Sculpture Museum (1927-30)^[7], Ethnography Museum of Ankara (1925-28)^[8], Bebek Mosque^[9], Kamer Hatun Mosque^[10] and Tayyare Apartment Building.^[11][12]

There were various architectural experiments in the 1920s and 1930s as well. Ankara Central Station (1937) and Florya Atatürk Marine Mansion (1935) are considered as more contemporary architectural examples of the era.^[13][14]

• 

  First Ziraat Bank Headquarters (1925-29) in Ankara designed by Giulio Mongeri is an important symbol of the First National Architectural Movement.

• 

  State Art and Sculpture Museum designed by Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu (1927-30)

• 

  Designed by Şekip Akalın, Ankara Central Station (1937) is a notable art deco design of its era.

1940s and influence of foreign architects

As there were not enough architects in Turkey until the 1950s, various architects were invited by the government from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, in order to manage the rapid construction of the new capital Ankara. About 40 architects and urban planners designed and oversaw various projects (mostly in Ankara) between 1924 and 1942. Among them were Gudrun Baudisch, Rudolf Belling, Paul Bonatz, Ernst Arnold Egli, Martin Elsaesser, Anton Hanak, Franz Hillinger, Clemens Holzmeister, Werner Issel, Hermann Jansen, Theodor Jost, Heinrich Krippel, Carl Christoph Lörcher, Robert Oerley, Bernhard Pfau, Bruno Taut and Josef Thorak.^[1][2]

Selected examples of buildings from this era are Ankara Opera House (Renovation by Paul Bonatz, 1946–47), Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Clemens Holzmeister, 1938–63), Court of Cassation Building (Clemens Holzmeister, 1933–35).^[13]

• 

  Ankara Opera House, designed by Şevki Balmumcu (1933-34) and renovation by Paul Bonatz (1946–47).

• 

  Grand National Assembly of Turkey designed by Clemens Holzmeister (1939-61)

Second national architectural movement

Related to the rise of Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany, there was a trend towards creating a new national architecture in Turkey around the 1940s.^[2] The movement was called the Second National Architectural Movement (Turkish: Ikinci Ulusal Mimarlik Akimi). The pioneers of this movement were Sedat Hakki Eldem and Emin Onat. Similar to Nazi architecture and Fascist architecture, the movement aimed to create modern but nationalistic architecture.^[15][16] In order to lead this movement Sedad Hakkı Eldem, who was a professor, held National Architecture seminars at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts focusing on the traditional Turkish house styles.^[17]

Some of the buildings related to this style are Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial (1954-60), Şişli Mosque (1945-49), Anıtkabir (1944-53), Istanbul University Faculty of Science and Faculty of Literature buildings (1944-52) and Istanbul Radio Headquarters (1945-49). The movement was most influential between 1935 and 1950. From the 1950s, the influence of this style started to diminish due to the next wave of influences, especially International style and Rationalism.^[17]

• 

  Mersin Halkevi designed by Ertuğrul Menteşe (1944-46)

• 

  Anıtkabir designed by Emin Halid Onat and Ahmet Orhan Arda (1944-53)

• 

  Istanbul University Faculty of Science and Faculty of Literature Buildings (1944-52) designed by Sedad Hakkı Eldem and Emin Onat

• 

  İstanbul Radio Hall (1945) designed by Doğan Erginbaş, Ömer Güney and İsmail Utkular

• 

  Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial designed by Feridun Kip, Doğan Erginbaş and İsmail Utkular (1954-60)

1950s and more Western influence

At the beginning of the 1950s, a new generation of architects such as Nevzat Erol, Turgut Cansever, Abdurrahman Hancı, Cengiz Bektaş and Hayati Tabanlıoğlu became more influential in the architectural arena. These were architects who either studied in Europe or had information of the modernist architecture of the time. Their quest for modernist architecture was in line with the International style and Rationalism. However the development of the Turkish economy was an important factor as well. Even though Turkish architects were able to follow up on the modern design of important architects of the time, they were constrained by the lack of technological infrastructure or insufficient financial resources.^[3][12]

Selected examples of buildings from this era are Kızılay Emek Business Center (1959-65), Istanbul Municipality Headquarters (1953), Istanbul Hilton Hotel (1955), Büyükada Anadolu Club (1951-57) and Tekel Headquarters (1959).^[3]

One of the most important developments of the times was the establishment of the Chamber of Architects of Turkey in 1954. Various professional organizations for architects had existed beforehand but there were no laws for the architectural profession until 1954.^[18]

1960s and 1970s

After with the 1960 coup d'état, Turkey endured various kinds of political and economic crises which affected the construction industry as well as the architectural sector. Despite these hardships, architects were able to design some important buildings. Abandoning Rationalism, Turkish architects tried to design their buildings in more flexible and fragmented forms. Important works from this period are Istanbul Vakıflar Hotel (1968, today as Ceylan Intercontinental), Middle East Technical University Campuses (1961), Istanbul Manufacturers' Market (1959), Turkish Historical Society Building (1967), Grand Ankara Hotel (1960, today as Rixos Grand Ankara) and Atatürk Cultural Center (1969).^[19][20]

As a result of economic and social turbulence, Turkish architecture of Turkey suffered in the 1970s as well. There were no significant breakthroughs during the period. Some important designs from the 1970s are Turkish Language Association Building (1972), Ataturk Library (1973) and Abdi İpekçi Arena (1979).^[21]

1980s to present

View from Maslak district in Istanbul. Istanbul's skyline has changed especially since 2000s.^[22][23]

In January 1980, the government of Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel began implementing a far-reaching reform program designed by then Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry Turgut Özal to shift Turkey's economy toward export-led growth. These reforms had a positive effect on the construction industry and architecture.^[4] New methods such as prefabrication and curtain wall systems were introduced to Turkish architects and contractors in the 1980s. In addition, steel, aluminum, plastic and glass production increased which allowed architects to free themselves from rigid forms.

Until the 1980's, the government sector was the leading client when it came to architecture and construction. But liberalization of the economy paved the way for the private sector to become the leading influence. Notable architects from this period are Behruz Çinici, Merih Karaaslan, Sevinç Hadi, Şandor Hadi, Ersen Gürsel, Mehmet Çubuk, Doğan Tekeli, Sami Sisa, Emre Arolat, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Melkan Tabanlıoğlu, Hüsrev Tayla, Doğan Hasol, Atilla Yücel and Kaya Arıkoğlu.^[21][20]

• 

  Skycrapers in Levent district of Istanbul

• 

  Isbank Tower 1 (1995-2000) in Levent district of Istanbul^[24]

• 

  Istanbul Sapphire (2006-2011) is the tallest building in Turkey and 4th in Europe.^[25]

• 

  Esenboğa International Airport, Ankara

• 

  Şakirin Mosque (2005-2009)^[26]

See also

• Ottoman architecture
• List of Turkish architects
• List of tallest buildings in Turkey
• Gecekondu

Notes

References

• Holod, Renata (2005). Modern Turkish architecture. Ankara: Chamber of Architects of Turkey. 
• Bozdogan, Sibel (2002). Modernism and Nation Building: Turkish Architectural Culture in the Early Republic. University of Washington Press. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Architecture of Turkey

• Turkish Architecture in the Republican Period

v t e Turkey topics People Turkish people (list) Ottoman Sultans Atatürk History (timeline) Early Sultanate of Rum Anatolian Turkish Beyliks Ottoman Foundation Interregnum Rise Growth Stagnation Decline Dissolution Partitioning Republic War of Independence Single-party period Multi-party period By topic Constitutional Economic Military Politics / Government President Prime Minister Parliament Council of Ministers Political parties Elections EU accession Foreign relations Military Human rights LGBT rights Secularism Ottomanism Kemalism Neo-Ottomanism Deep state Legal system Constitution Constitutional Court Official Gazette Crime Law enforcement Geography Anatolia Thrace Regions Provinces Districts Cities Metropolitan centers Environmental issues Mountains Islands Rivers Lakes Peninsulas Capes Bays Turkish Riviera Economy / Transport Industries Companies Stock Exchange Central Bank Other banks EU Customs Union Southeastern Anatolia Project Tourism Currency Railways Aviation Demographics / Religion Turkish language Languages of Turkey Education Religion Islam Turkish population Turkish diaspora Immigration Culture / Media Names Architecture of Turkey Ottoman architecture Art Cinema Cuisine Dance Festivals Folklore Public holidays Literature Music Smoking Sport Theatre Wine Newspapers Radio stations Television Symbols Emblem Flag Presidential Seal National Anthem Turkey portal