Turkish Architecture of the Republican Era

First National Architectural Movement and Architect Kemalettin Bey

First National Architectural Movement

Turkish architecture experienced development with the Second Constitutional Period. The Second Constitutional Period, announced in 1908, strengthened the concept of nationalism, and its effects were evident in Turkish architecture. The most influential architects of this period, which could be called the National Architectural Renaissance, were Kemalettin Bey and Vedat Bey. These architects played an important role not only in the final period of the Ottoman Empire but also in Turkish architecture during the early years of the Republic. The First National Architectural Movement is an architectural style that was predominantly common between 1908 and 1930. Although it was a style that began during the Ottoman Empire period, it showed its main impact during the Turkish Republic period. The architectural style pioneered by Architect Kemalettin Bey and Vedat Tek, initially called Neoclassical Turkish Style or National Architectural Renaissance but later named the First National Architectural Movement, aimed to create a Turkish national style. Although this movement pursued a nationalist objective, architectural elements and decorations found in classical Ottoman structures were frequently used. Architectural elements such as domes and eaves, formerly used only in religious buildings, were more frequently used in public buildings during the First National Architectural Movement period.

Architect Kemalettin Bey (1870 - 1927)

Architect Kemalettin Bey, born in 1870, studied at Henedese-i Mülkiye school (Istanbul Technical University) between 1887-1891. During his studies, Kemalettin Bey showed great interest in the lectures given by German architect Jachmund, who designed Sirkeci Station, and after graduation he served as Prof. Jachmund's assistant at the same school. After serving in this capacity for four years, Kemalettin Bey went to Berlin in 1895 with a state scholarship and received two years of architectural education at Charlottenburg Technische Hochschule. In 1900, Kemalettin Bey resumed his position at Hendese-i Mülkiye and one year later was assigned as an additional duty as an architect in the Ministry of War's Military Buildings department. One of the pioneers of the First Turkish National Architectural Movement, Architect Kemalettin Bey sought to create a new style by combining the different characteristics of German and Ottoman architecture while drawing inspiration from Ottoman classical architecture. In his designs, he was careful to present the characteristics of Ottoman and Islamic structures in a way that reflected Turkish national identity. In this article, we will examine some of Architect Kemalettin Bey's works.

Ahmet Ratıp Paşa Mansion

The large mansion designed by Kemalettin Bey for Ahmet Ratip Paşa in Çamlıca is one of Istanbul's iconic structures. This mansion, later used as Çamlıca Girls' High School, is distinguished by its grand and magnificent staircase hall. It bears traces of the Art Nouveau architectural movement popular in the period. This four-story, white-painted mansion attracted attention with its wonderful garden and magnificent view. It is also said to resemble an eagle ready to take flight when viewed from a distance. The construction of the building incorporated many precious materials, and cut and extremely valuable Bohemian crystal was used on the stair railings. The tops of doors and windows were worked with carved shapes by expert craftsmen. Crystal chandeliers were positioned at the stair landings, and elegant, delicate architectural ornamentations were preferred where walls and ceilings met.

Gazi Primary Teachers' School

The foundation of the structure was laid on 8 August 1927 and is one of Architect Kemalettin Bey's final works. Construction of the school was completed in the 1930s and classes began that same year. Architect Kemalettin Bey, who died in 1927, unfortunately did not see the completion of this structure. Today this structure is used as the Gazi University Rectorate Building. This building, which has the classical characteristics of the First National Architectural Period, features first-floor windows with pointed arches. The other windows feature large rectangular or square openings. The central axis was emphasized by projecting outward from the general building surface on the front and rear elevations. The rooms adjacent to the entrance and the stairwells are visibly more projecting than the general eave surface. Through the barrel vaults placed above these volumes, a symmetrical twin tower appearance was achieved. The main entrance features a high entrance portico. This portico, supported by white marble columns, is defined by five pointed arch openings. In the closed balcony above the portico, openings were preferred as squares. An open terrace is located above the balcony. Gazi Primary Teachers' School is a structure built with a reinforced concrete skeleton system. Architect Kemalettin Bey used the columns in the building more for visual effect than for function, observing the principles of national architecture.

II. Vakıf Apartment Building

The II. Vakıf Han, designed by Architect Kemalettin Bey in 1926, is a magnificent structure that carries the characteristics of the First National Architectural Period. Located in the Ulus district of Ankara, this building is now the home of the Ankara State Theatre and hosts the Small Theatre stage. It was constructed according to the reinforced concrete skeleton system that began to be intensively applied in the Republican period. In this structure, which has a large air void in its center, the stairs connecting the floors are positioned at the middle point of each facade. On the long facades, the central section and the two axes on the sides, on the narrow facades, the side sections project outward and are elevated, covered with wide-eave roofs. In this way, the mass formation appearance of the First National Architectural Period was realized. However, the windows, which are mostly square in shape and without arches, as well as the relatively sparse ornamentation, stand out as fundamental differences from the style. Only semicircular arches connecting the feet equally spaced on the ground floor were preferred.

Karaağaç Train Station

This structure, built as Edirne Train Station, is now used as the Trakya University Rectorate Building. The Karaağaç Train Station, designed by Architect Kemalettin Bey, is regarded as one of the renowned architect's finest works. This 80 m long structure is built on a rectangular plan. It was constructed with brick according to the masonry wall system. The Karaağaç Train Station, which has a large hall in its center, features cut stone on its exterior walls, windows, door arches, and towers on both sides of the entrance. Pointed arch windows stand out in the structure. An asphalt-clad steel truss hipped roof covers the station building. Round towers of cut stone are located at both ends of the structure. Karaağaç Train Station is distinguished by its bands, half caps, hourglass motifs, eaves, and Turkish triangles. Prepared by: B.Serhat Cengiz

References: • Architect Kemalettin Bey (1870-1927), Yıldırım Yavuz. M.E.T.U. Faculty of Architecture Journal Volume 7, Issue 1, Spring 1981. • http://www.mimarlarodasiankara.org/ • http://kentvedemiryolu.com/bir-garip-istasyon-karaagac/ • https://www.uskudar.bel.tr • Architect Kemalettin and His Era: Architecture, Social Life, Politics Symposium. Ali Cengizkan. Assoc. Prof., M.E.T.U. Department of Architecture; Architect Kemalettin and His Era Symposium Coordinator. http://www.mimarlikdergisi.com/index.cfm?sayfa=mimarlik&DergiSayi=289&RecID=1669