The Sign of Historicist Architecture in 21th Century Turkey: University Main Gates (original) (raw)

2020, EUROASIA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES

Although architecture is related to the practice of producing built environments, it also has a political character that shapes the social structure. In this respect, architecture is a structure that makes ideologies visible and concrete. Architecture is a powerful tool and representation in the process of creating an idealized society. In this context, recent architectural practice that gives references to historical items in Turkey; revives the historical styles. Such an architectural environment must be discussed, not only in terms of architectural form and style production but also in the triplet of ideology, political power, and architecture. In this context, initially, "historicist architecture" being a prominent subject; related to the steering of sovereign authority, historical items and, the conservative character was discussed. Majorly, followed on public and educational buildings in Turkey, traces of historicist architecture was examined by the "main univercity gates" those are considered as representative architectural pieces of this kind of structures. When the examples of main university gates throughout Turkey investigated, it can be determined that many of those are fed from the same conservative ideology and comprising a homogenous appearance. By idealizing "historicism", this architectural approach creates a problem of similarity for universities while each having a potential of strong representational quality for the cities. Moreover prevents universities, essential public science centers, to achieve their own unique identity. Lastly, it can be concluded that as it was seen on the public buildings, this "neo" style also main university gates is a part of new initiative historiography.