Pluralism Turkish Architecture Scene Today
The Social Context
The social state affects current archeological ideologies implicitly
The military invention of 1960 led to reformist and new democratic institutions
Cities urbanized,
emerging industries had limited capacity. Efficiency within the democratic framework was needed, intellectual elite's stance and influence have all played a role in creating a big dilemma. New models and solutions were being searched.
Between 1960 - 1980 the growth of industry and business, and a pluralistic worldview pervaded the current thought was seen.
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Problems, Concepts and Ideologies
In 1960 competitions were organized for architectural works such as hospitals and university campuses.
In 1970, large hotels or holiday villages produced interesting examples reflecting the consumer ideals of the period.
In an educational sense, there were reforms in the programs, the first being at Istanbul Technical University.
By the mid-1970's unemployment became a problem.
An Overview of Architecture*
Important Pioneers in Architecture between the years 1950 - 1960:
Sheraton Hotel
The Karatepe Open Air Museum
The Middle East Technical University
The Turkish Historical Society Building
Hukukçular Apartments and MTA Buildings, with their International Style, also introduced new concepts.
The Distortion of the Right Angular System
Organic concepts were introduced with Sheraton Hotel in Turkey.
A similar example was the Ministry of Defense Srtudent Dormitories
The Disaggregation of the Prism: Articulated Small Blocks Scheme and the New Brutalist Ethics
The prism was divided into parts while perpetuating the geometric order of the whole and establishing a hierarchy of the size of the new volumes thus constituted.
Composition of simple geometrical masses in order to create a small and piecemeal order. This tendency allows for free forms while remaining rationalist.
Two examples with the articulated small blocks scheme: Manifaturaccılar Çarşısı and Antalya Museum.
Other designs of the same basic scheme:
The Agricultural Products Office
The Directorate of State Highways
The METU Faculty of Architecture
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Regionalism, considered to be the expression of an environment that is determined by economic, historical, and cultural factors was advocated by Kuban, however, criticized by Özer to be imprecise, eclectic, utopian, etc.
Conceptual terminology as well as the operational criteria of architectural criticism were ambiguous.
large number of buildings, but no critical texts.
The Ministry of National Education in Ankara is an example of irrational architecture. Yet, it has an articulated small block scheme and a right angular system.
The School for Technical Teachers: Irrational
Sheraton Hotel in Istanbul: Irrational
The analysis of architectural criticism and ideologies of these two decades (60s-70s) explains the intellectual atmosphere of the architectural elite yet, it is deceptive and cannot give an understanding of architectural works.
Brutalist characteristics became obvious in buildings such as The METU which allowed for other sources of inspiration.
The use of raw cement can be seen in METU Faculty of Architecture, Karadeniz Technical University Sports Hall and Auditorium and the Stad Hotel
Another expressive system: Extreme articulation of parts
Th best example: Istanbul Reklam Building.
New Monumentality and Symbolism
Monumentality and symbolism appeared in architeture:
İş Bankası Tower
Odakule
State Highways Buildings
Lassa Tire Factory
Search for a Historical Basis
the third tendency emerged. The basis for a series of buildings succesfully integrated into existing urban fabrics.
The apartmen house
The Central Bank in Bursa
Pamukbank / Hisarbank
The Cenral Bank in Denizli
The Government Offices in Afyon
New regionalism was contemporaneous against 'passeism.' Examples are:
Karatepe Open Air Museum
Cafeteria Building in Büyükada
Articulated apartment blocs in Çiftehavuzlar
More sophisticated examples are:
The Turkish Historical Society in Ankara
The Social Security Complex in İstanbul