Türkiye’s Architecture Panorama at the 100th Anniversary of the Republic
The 100th anniversary of the Republic was an important milestone for assessing not only Türkiye’s political, economic and social development but also its transformation in architecture and urbanization. In her article for Yapı magazine, architect Yasemin Şener examined the architectural journey from the founding of the Republic to the present day and the leading works of each period.
Şener emphasizes that, in the founding years of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk set out a vision for urbanization and architecture that was modern, democratic and grounded in science and reason. She notes that, with this approach, Türkiye’s rich architectural culture entered a new era.
A 100-Year Look at the Republic’s Architectural Heritage
The dossier, titled “Türkiye’s Architecture Panorama at the 100th Anniversary of the Republic”, evaluates the major turning points in Turkish architecture from the founding of the Republic to the present day.
Examining the impact of political, economic, cultural and social transformations on architecture, the study also reviews significant architectural works from different periods through the assessments of today’s architects and academics.
The aim is not only to recall the works of the past, but to reassess Türkiye’s experience in urbanization and architecture under today’s conditions and to draw lessons for the future.
The Revival of Hatay and Adıyaman
One of the dossier’s highlights is the revival work carried out in Hatay and Adıyaman following the February 6 earthquakes.
In an interview with Mehmet Kalyoncu, Chairman of the Board of the Türkiye Design Foundation, Cem Yılmaz, Co-Founder of the Urban Renewal Center, and Bünyamin Derman, Co-Founder of DB Architecture, the work to restore the earthquake-affected cities is discussed in depth.
At the heart of this work lies not only the physical reconstruction of Hatay and Adıyaman, but also the preservation of the cities’ cultural heritage and distinctive identity.
A Reconstruction That Protects Urban Identity
The interview with Mehmet Kalyoncu, Cem Yılmaz and Bünyamin Derman covers the scope of the projects and their core planning approaches, as well as the partnerships formed with national and international stakeholders.
Lessons learned from past planning mistakes are another key theme in the post-earthquake reconstruction process. The discussion focuses on the measures needed against risks such as speculative development and gentrification when planning the future of these cities.
This approach turns reconstruction from a process of simply erecting new buildings into a holistic planning vision that addresses urban memory, cultural heritage, social life and city identity together.
A Perspective on the Future of Architecture
The Republic’s 100 years of architectural accumulation is also an important reflection of the social changes Türkiye has gone through. Alongside the preservation of past architectural heritage, the relationship that new cities and buildings establish with their surroundings is among the fundamental issues of architecture today.
Yasemin Şener’s assessment and the works featured in the dossier once again highlight the importance of carrying the experience gained in architecture, urbanization and design into the future as Türkiye enters the second century of the Republic.