Tiles in architect Vedat Tek's Istanbul buildings

In the works of Architect Vedat Tek, one of the most important architects of the First National Architecture movement and in his understanding of national architecture, modernised innovations towards national architecture stand out. Vedat Tek prioritised the tiles he used in different areas of architecture. In contrast to the limited use of tiles on the facades of Ottoman architecture, Architect Vedat Tek applied the art of tile decoration in the foreground on the facades of contemporary Ottoman buildings constructed according to the new urbanisation order due to social requirements in the changing age, and created a contemporary Ottoman synthesis between the old and the new. He blended the education he received from the West with his own unique style and reflected it in his architectural works. He prioritised tile in the decoration of his works. He had his tiles made by the famous Kütahya tile master Hafız Mehmed Emin Efendi. In this study, the Post and Telegraph Nezaret (Grand Post Office), Hobyar Masjid, Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate Building (Defter-i Hakani Nezzi), which were designed by Architect Vedat Tek and applied tile ornamentation on their interior and exterior facades, all of which were seen in the Turkish Neo Classical art movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Ottoman Empire. The Post and Telegraph Nezareti (Grand Post Office), Hobyar Masjid, Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate Building (Defter-i Hakani Nezareti), Akaretler National Real Estate Shop, Vedat Bey House (Governor's Mansion), Sabit Bey Muradiye Han, Liman Han (Mes'adet Han), Haydarpaşa Ferry Pier, Moda Pier Building were taken into consideration and the characteristics of tile art in this last period of the Ottoman period were revealed by analysing the patterns of tile ornaments in these buildings. After obtaining permission from the relevant authorities, the tiles used by Architect Vedat Tek in his works have been identified by making use of today's technology, the typologies of the patterns on them have been made, and in this way, the characteristics of the tile art in the last period of the Ottoman period and at the same time in the style called Turkish Neo Classical have been illuminated and future generations have been enabled to understand and evaluate this issue. The thesis consists of two chapters. In the first part, the life and buildings of Architect Vedat Tek were researched. The tiles in the buildings were made by Hafız Mehmed Emin Efendi and information about 20th century Kütahya tile making is given. In the second part, the history of the structures of the nine buildings and their descriptions with photographs are classified as a catalogue. The thesis ends with applications, evaluation, conclusion, bibliography and curriculum vitae. Keywords: Vedat Tek, Architect, Tile, Pattern