Historical bank buildings in Aegean zone (1915-1930)

IX ABSTRACT In this study, the architectural characteristics of historical bank buildings built in Eagean Zone between 1915 - 1930 are reviewed and the affect of I. National Architecture Trend on this period's architecture is taken into consideration. Ottoman Empire's economical and political regress related with foreign capital in 18th and 19th century had negatively affected the social and cultural values. Especially when III. Selim was emperor, renewal in the military area and western culture had also effects on architecture. In 19th century in Istanbul, big buildings like school, train station, barrack had been constructed. It's also observed that there are different buildings under the trend of eclectism. From the period's important architects, Alexandre Vallaury designed; Haydarpaşa High School, Archeology Museum (Figure 2.4), Galata (Figure 2.5) and Eminönü Ottoman Bank buildings. Architect Jachmund had composed the western architecture and local affects together in his buildings like Sirkeci Train Station (Figure 2.6). Nationalist Trend which resisted against western sovereignly showed its reflections in every platform with the speech of 'İttihat ve Terakki' Organization. At 1908, Nationalist actions got together under the organization of 'Türk Ocakları' by Ziya Gökalp and his friends' studies. After that; a few number of period's architectural applications had tracks all around Turkey. Architect Kemalettin Bey and architect Vedat Tek who had education in western countries, had a great influence on I. National Architecture Period to become widespread and designed a lot of buildings in especially Istanbul and Ankara. Laleli Harikzedegan Apartment (Figure 2.9), Gazi Education Institute (Figure 2.8), Ankara Vakıf Apartment are taking important places in Kemalettin Bey's designs. Vedat Beyhad designed; Sirkeci Grand Post Office (Figure 2.12), Ankara Palace (Figure 2.10) and Haydarpaşa Port (Figure 2.1 1). The period architecture's main objective was; to bring Ottoman - Turk architecture into life and to protect it's values. The designs in this concept let Ottoman and Seljuk architectural constituents to be used in every type of buildings. The clearest properties are; corner towers, cantilevers, simetric facade order, common use of arch and ornament, stone coating and wide fringes. The period's facade characteristics are no different than eclectic style. The national banking policy had started between 1909 - 1930 when Ottoman economy was developing by the power of western capital. At 1863, Ziraat Bank was founded to decrease the affects of foreign banks like Ottoman Bank, which was founded at 1856 by French capital. In these years, many small local banks started to work in different parts of Turkey. Many of them disapperaed regardless a few remains under different names as of today. Although many local banks founded in the reviewed period in Eagean Zone and many banks from Istanbul had established branches, only ten historical bank buildings exists from that period today. The reviewed bank buildings in five different cities of Eagean Zone are as follows with their codes and foundation years: İzmir:. ÎZM-0 1 : Ottoman Bank, 1 926. İZM-02: Banca di Roma ve American Consulate - today's Vakıflar Bank building, 1931. İZM-03 : Ziraat Bank, 1 93 1. İZM-04: Banca Commerciale Italiana - T.E.B. building, 1 927. İZM-05: İş Bank -not existing today, 1925;XI Manisa:. MAN-0 1 : Ziraat Bank Zirai Krediler Building, 1 929; Aydın:. AYD-0 1 : Ziraat Bank, 1 929. AYD-02: National Aydın Bank - Tarişbank, 1 93 1 ; Kütahya:. KÜT-0 1 : Ziraat Bank, 1 929; Balıkesir, Edremit:. ED-01: İş Bank, 1929. The historical informations, architectural analysis and explanations about the reviewed bank buildings are given in section four. Although these buildings are founded at national architecture period, it's observed that most of them have simple styles. But there are also properties in common like; corner expressions, entrance location, skylight of customer halls and different type of affective formal search at symetric facade orders. Apart from these observations, another aim of this study is to figure out the ways of protecting these historical buildings' originalities. The development in banking system caused the need of different units which damaged these buildings' plan properties. Restoration application's first phase should be to analyze the building's historical values and existing situation. The most effective way to protect the buildings' cultural values is to give this protective way of thinking to the architects and users. This study shows the reflections of social and economical affects of a long term period's architecture on historical bank buildings which has a limited search record in Eagean Zone. These bank buildings keep the historical values that has to be protected and they are symbolic signs of a period which is a bridge between nationalist and modern architecture. tf.û' it»