​A MONUMENTAL DESIGN OF THE AUSTRIAN ARCHITECT, CLEMENS HOLZMEISTER: MILITARY ACADEMY BUILDING

Abstract

Buildings reflect not only the sense of architecture of the period they were erected, but also the political, social, and economical features thereof, with which they interacted. In view of the architecture of the Early Republican Period, it provides significant data, shedding light on the historical readings thereon, thanks to its features involving consistency and change. Post-Reform Era Tanzimat experiences were particularly drawn upon in the establishment of Turkish Republic. However, in spite of the absolute rejection of the Ottoman Empire during the first years of the Republican Era, the Republic's structure which even imitated the Ottoman Empire in a sense of continuity should not be disregarded. Buildings in Capitol Ankara from the 1st National Architecture Period 1908-1927 are among the prominent tokens of such continuity. This sense of architecture, which undertook critical duties in the course of forming a national awareness throughout the foundation stage, gave way to the Movement of International Architecture in 1930’s. These architectural examples which came to the fore in Europe, and applied in USA, consist of cubical forms with a rational functionalist sense, free from ornamentation. Capitol Ankara attained a contemporary plan by the mediation of German urban planner, Hermann Jansen, following various planning experiences. Nearly all of the structures built in the capitol throughout this period were designed and applied by architects coming from German-speaking countries, namely in particular E.Egli, B.Taut, C.Holzmeister. Military Academy Building, as being the subject matter of this study, on the other hand, was created by Clemens Holzmeister, who also made the designs of numerous public administration buildings, including Atatürk’s Çankaya Mansion, and 3rd Turkish Grand National Assembly.