Research Article

Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings

Volume: 7 Number: 1 March 30, 2026
TR EN

Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings

Abstract

The First National Architecture Period emerged during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey, in a period when the search for national identity, which significantly affected the field of architecture, intensified. The architectural understanding of this period stands out especially in the facade designs of public buildings. Architect Kemalettin is recognised as one of the leading figures of this movement, which synthesised Seljuk and Classical Ottoman architectural elements with Neo-Classical design principles. This research aims to comparatively analyse the similarities and differences in the facade designs of eighteen educational buildings to which Architect Kemalettin is known to have contributed. In this research, educational buildings are divided into three categories: primary schools, madrasas and higher education institutions. The average visual complexity values of the facade drawings were calculated by applying fractal analysis method. The results were evaluated comparatively according to these three classifications. As a result of the evaluations, when the average visual complexity values of the constructed educational buildings known to have been contributed by Architect Kemalettin and those remaining at the design stage are compared, it is determined that primary schools and madrasas show “similar”, madrasa and higher education institution buildings show “dissimilar”, primary school and higher education institution buildings show “dissimilar” features. It was also observed that educational buildings in the higher education institution category exhibit more complex facade characteristics. These findings show that Architect Kemalettin adopted a differentiated design approach according to the level of education.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The research was conducted with the necessary permits granted by the Fırat University Presidency (E-80802877-622.99-510319, dated July 29, 2024) and the Ministry of National Education (MEB.MT.2024.000011, dated September 11, 2024).

Thanks

We would like to thank the Istanbul Investment Monitoring and Coordination Directorate (YIKOB), the Ministry of National Education (MEB), and the Istanbul and Ankara Ministry of National Education, Construction and Real Estate Directorates for sharing the relevant documents that contributed to the development of this study.

References

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  7. Bovill, C. (1996). Fractal Geometry in Architecture and Design. In Fractal Geometry in Architecture and Design. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0843-3
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Architectural Science and Technology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

June 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 1

APA
Köksalan, Z. İ., & Şahin, M. (2026). Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings. Journal of Computational Design, 7(1), 153-178. https://doi.org/10.53710/jcode.1713219
AMA
1.Köksalan Zİ, Şahin M. Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings. JCoDe. 2026;7(1):153-178. doi:10.53710/jcode.1713219
Chicago
Köksalan, Zeynep İldeniz, and Murat Şahin. 2026. “Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings”. Journal of Computational Design 7 (1): 153-78. https://doi.org/10.53710/jcode.1713219.
EndNote
Köksalan Zİ, Şahin M (March 1, 2026) Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings. Journal of Computational Design 7 1 153–178.
IEEE
[1]Z. İ. Köksalan and M. Şahin, “Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings”, JCoDe, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 153–178, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.53710/jcode.1713219.
ISNAD
Köksalan, Zeynep İldeniz - Şahin, Murat. “Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings”. Journal of Computational Design 7/1 (March 1, 2026): 153-178. https://doi.org/10.53710/jcode.1713219.
JAMA
1.Köksalan Zİ, Şahin M. Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings. JCoDe. 2026;7:153–178.
MLA
Köksalan, Zeynep İldeniz, and Murat Şahin. “Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings”. Journal of Computational Design, vol. 7, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 153-78, doi:10.53710/jcode.1713219.
Vancouver
1.Zeynep İldeniz Köksalan, Murat Şahin. Visual Complexity Analysis of Mimar Kemalettin’s Educational Buildings. JCoDe. 2026 Mar. 1;7(1):153-78. doi:10.53710/jcode.1713219

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