Cihangir District and Art Deco

Within the scope of the thesis, Cihangir residence examples have been discoursed within the context of Art Deco being one of the architectural styles. During the residence examination, it has not been only aimed to compare the residences in Cihangir Quarter with the examples in Europe and in the USA and it has been researched whether these residences really represent this style. It has been desired to draw attention to the dilemma whether the examples of the period were created only by being inspired from the social lifestyle in Europe or whether the style was really adopted and the examples representing it were designed. During the examination, the examples have been given mostly from the façades. Setting its first examples upon 1925 Paris fair, Art Deco style started giving its other examples in a very short time in Europe as well as in the USA. Becoming popular in many fields such as residence, skyscraper, public space, furniture, accessories, fashion and graphics in 1930s, the style lived on the predecessor periods and took a leading part for the future art movements. It is speculated that the style starting appearing in Turkey and particularly in Istanbul simultaneously with the USA and Europe was brought to the country with the contribution of the rich families of the period. Starting giving examples in many branches of art also in Turkey in a short time, Art Deco had impact also on the residence designs. Most of the residences constructed in many districts, where the upper class families lived in that period, of Istanbul such as Ayazpasa, Sisli, Nisantasi, Talimhane, Suadiye, Erenkoy and Kalamis cannot continue their existence today due to various reasons. Most of the survivor structures are situated in Nisantasi, Sisli and Cihangir districts. Although the exact construction dates of the residences examined within the scope of the thesis research are not known; when they are approximately taken into consideration, it is very interesting that this style started appearing in Turkey and particularly in Istanbul at that time when it started in fact becoming popular in Europe and in the USA. The other architectural styles coming into existence particularly in Europe and having impact on Turkey generally have effect on Turkey a few years later. However, Art Deco style succeeded in manifesting itself within a short period of time. As stated before, there are many reasons for the style to become popular in such a short time. When the Turkish rich, who lived especially in the USA and Europe, came back to the country, they continued living the lifestyle they experienced there. In particular, the opera and the theatre were closely followed in 1930s in Turkey as well as in Europe. The performing arts had also significant effect on the popularization of the style in Turkey. Within the scope of the thesis, the examination has been conducted on the residences in Cihangir district. Discussed particularly with their façades, the residences have been examined also by considering the social life of Cihangir Quarter from past to present. The examples in Europe and in the USA have been compared with the residences considered of having Art Deco style characteristics in Cihangir Quarter and the examinations have been conducted on to what extent Cihangir structures were identified with the style at that time and to what extent the residences represent the main characteristics of the style. The typological characteristics of the buildings or the structural characteristics of the façades have not been discoursed, but the similarities and the differences have been examined when the façade designs and the building forms are compared with the examples in the USA and in Europe. The first chapter of the thesis is the introduction section. This section is formed by three main titles as the purpose and the scope of the study, the literature research, and the methodology. The title of the purpose and the scope of the study includes the purpose of the thesis study, the limitations of the regions examined and the time interval of the examination. Under the title of the literature research, the examinations conducted during the thesis study on the thesis and the articles related to Art Deco style have been explained in detail. The title of the methodology includes the references used and the libraries, municipalities and archives utilized during the thesis study. The second chapter of the thesis comprises of seven titles. Starting with the examination on the art environment of 19. century in Europe, the chapter continues with the general characteristics of Art Deco style and with the fair ''Exposition International des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes'' held in 1925 in France and the detailed explanation of the indoor and the furniture examples exhibited in the fair. Becoming popular in a short time in Europe as well as in the USA, the style has been examined under the title of the reflections of Art Deco style in the USA. The detailed information has been provided on how the style reached to the USA and by which means it was introduced to the Americans. The industry where the reflections of Art Deco style are observed most is, beyond doubt, Hollywood film industry. The movies made in this period had a significant role for the country-wide popularization of the style. This section includes the scenes of Gibbons, the famous director of the period. The residence design of Art Deco style has been examined in general and then the furniture design of the style has been discussed. The final title of this chapter is formed by the introduction of Art Deco style to Turkey, being a significant topic of the thesis, and the first years and the examples of the style in Turkey have been discussed. Within the scope of this section examined in detail, it has been researched by which means and with whose contribution the style became popular in Turkey. This section includes the first examples in Istanbul during the years when Art Deco style was popular. These examples are not limited only with the residences but includes also the scenery works and the stained glass works. The third chapter of the thesis includes three main titles. As the study involves the research conducted over the residences in Cihangir Quarter, it has been aimed to provide general information about the historical development of Cihangir Quarter under the first title. This section includes the formation of Cihangir Quarter, many great fires affected the social life, and various historical information on the quarter. Under the second title; the social characteristics of Cihangir Quarter, the daily lives of the people resident in the quarter and the journey of the quarter from past to present have been examined in detail, and the section has been concluded with the information about by which means and during which periods Art Deco had impact on Cihangir Quarter and with the opinions of the different references. Being the milestone of the thesis study, the final title includes the examination conducted on the reflection of Art Deco style on the residences, of which photos were taken upon detailed research in Cihangir Quarter, and on the representation of the style by these residences. The architecture examples in the USA and in Europe have been utilized while conducting the study in this chapter. This chapter has not been prepared only with the purpose to compare the residences in those regions and the residence structures in Cihangir, and the structures in Europe and in the USA have been provided also to be supporting examples for the residences discussed. The effect of Art Deco style on the residences in Cihangir Quarter and the level of the residences to represent the style have been revealed as a result of the studies conducted in this chapter. In the conclusion chapter, the purpose of the thesis study has been resulted and the results have been discussed in detail in the light of the information obtained.