Beyond being the capital of Turkey, Ankara holds a unique representational power in the field of architecture. The foundations of modern Turkish architecture were laid in this city; every street, every façade hides a story of a specific era, an ideological choice, or a timeless form. When the words "Ankara" and "architecture" come together, we speak not only of structures, but also of a nation’s transformation, its aesthetic pursuit, and its vision of planned urbanization.
Ankara's architectural history offers a multi-layered narrative from the foundation of the Republic to the present day. Walking through its streets, one can observe the minimalist lines of modernism on one side, and the intricate details of traditional Turkish architecture on the other. Ankara’s architecture carries both the ideals of the past and the vision of the future.
1. The Architectural Memory of the Republic: A New Capital
With the proclamation of the Republic in 1923, Ankara was declared the capital of the new state. This decision represented not only a political but also an architectural revolution. Formerly an Ottoman town, Ankara was quickly transformed into a planned and modern capital. City planners and architects brought from Germany and Austria played an active role in shaping the city's master plan.
The First National Architectural Movement left a strong imprint on this period. Elements of traditional Ottoman and Seljuk architecture were blended with modern lines. Classical arches, simple columns, and symmetrical plans symbolized a vision rooted in the past but looking to the future.
Notable buildings:
- The Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey (now the Republic Museum)
- Ethnography Museum
- Ankara Train Station
These structures were not only functional, but also served as symbols reflecting the representational power of the Republic. Ankara’s architectural identity during this period was shaped by ideology.
2. The Contribution of Foreign Architects and the Modernist Period
In the 1930s, Ankara became a design laboratory for architects arriving from Europe. Like many intellectuals fleeing Nazi Germany, a number of prominent architects also sought refuge in Turkey. Among them were Bruno Taut, Ernst Egli, and Clemens Holzmeister.
The buildings constructed during this time stood out with their functional and minimalist designs. With the rise of reinforced concrete systems, new types of public buildings, schools, hospitals, and administrative offices were constructed. These structures mirrored the Bauhaus and modernist movements in the West.
- Taut’s Faculty of Language, History and Geography and Cebeci İnönü High School
- Holzmeister’s Ministry of National Defense and Grand National Assembly projects
- Gazi High School (Ernst Egli)
- Cebeci İnönü High School (Bruno Taut)
- Ministry of National Defense (Clemens Holzmeister)
- Grand National Assembly Building (Holzmeister)
During this period, minimalist lines combined with a functional urban planning approach. Ankara’s architectural history gained an international dimension.
3. 1950–1980: Apartment Blocks and New Residential Typologies
The public-oriented architecture of the early Republic years gradually gave way to a structure focused on housing production. With a rapidly growing population from the 1950s onwards, apartment architecture became widespread in Ankara. Neighborhoods like Bahçelievler, Emek, Küçükesat, and Cebeci still host numerous apartment buildings bearing the marks of the era.
Architectural features that stand out in these buildings include:
- Large balconies and flowerbeds
- Wooden window frames and shutters
- Marble-floored entrance halls
- Mosaic façade decorations
Additionally, state-sponsored cooperative housing provided middle-class families with affordable comfort. This period emphasized collective living models over individual architectural solutions.
4. Ankara Today: Technology, Simplicity, and Vertical Living
Today, Ankara is a city marked by increasing architectural diversity in both public and private projects. University campuses, next-generation housing developments, and urban transformation zones draw particular attention.
Notable examples of modern architecture:
- TOBB University of Economics and Technology Campus
- Bilkent University Faculty of Architecture
- METU Technopolis Campus
- Luxury residential complexes in Oran, İncek, and Yaşamkent
Moreover, the rise of architectural offices has turned Ankara into not just an implementing city, but also a center where architectural thought is produced.
5. Architectural Heritage at the Street Scale: The Hidden Ankara
In Ankara, there are architectural beauties hidden in backstreets that are just as significant as large-scale projects.
- Apartment façades built between 1950–1970
- Balcony railing motifs of garden apartments
- Staircases, entry doors, and mosaic details with collectible value
The alleyways and backstreets of Ankara are filled with architectural value that remains in the shadows of official buildings. Especially the original apartment buildings constructed between 1950 and 1970 make up Ankara’s everyday architectural memory. Façade details, stairwells, and balcony railings display a unique “small-scale architectural language.”
The surroundings of Bahçelievler 7th Avenue, the two- to three-story apartments in Ayrancı, and the Kolej district are enriched with these local architectural examples. Although many of these buildings face demolition today, if preserved, they could become essential elements of urban memory for future generations.
The Key to Understanding Architecture in Ankara
The relationship between "Ankara and architecture" is the key to understanding how a state is shaped, how it is represented, and how it offers living spaces. Every building in this city is not only a functional space, but also a narrative of its time. In Ankara, architecture is not just something to see—it is a language that is lived and felt.
In the future, Ankara’s architecture must move toward a more sustainable, more accessible, and more inclusive direction. Because this city is one of the best examples showing that architecture is not only an aesthetic form, but also a cultural, social, and ideological expression.
