The Life and Works of Architect Kemaleddin
Architect Kemaleddin Bey, the architect of the Legacy Ottoman Hotel is one of the most important architect of the Republic of Turkey. Architect Kemaleddin, who lived between 1870 and 1927, created many important works and became the most important representative of the national architectural understanding.
Ahmed Kemaleddin was born in 1870 in Kadıköy, Istanbul. His interest in engineering was also reflected in his education life and he enrolled in the current Istanbul Technical University (Hendese-i Mülkiye Mektebi). He finished this school with a first degree. Later, he went to Germany to improve his architectural education.
He founded the Ottoman Architects and Engineers Association in 1908. It was the first professional chamber of architects and engineers.
Architect Kemaleddin, who worked intensely throughout his life, produced many works and carried out architectural works, mostly in Istanbul. After staying in Jerusalem for the restoration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he returned to Ankara and made many works for the new capital.
There is the portrait of Architect Kemaleddin and Gazi University Rectorate Building, which is one of his most important works, with more than 20 Turkish Liras, which was put into circulation in 2009.
Works of Architect Kemaleddin Bey
Istanbul First, Second, Third and Fourth Vakıf Han
Fourth Vakıf Han, the masterpiece of the great architect; although it was started to be built in 1912, it was completed in 1926 due to the war. The building, which has been renovated by carefully preserving all the architectural details in the building, currently provides 5-star accommodation service as Legacy Ottoman Hotel.
Ankara Evkaf Apartment
Ankara Evkaf Apartment is a blended example of Western and Ottoman architectural approaches. Today, the building is used as the center of the Ankara State Theater.
Atilim Gunes Baydin – Yükleyenin kendi çalışması, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2369616
Sultan Resad Tomb
It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed Reşad the 5th, by the Architect Kemaleddin. He was buried in this shrine when he passed away with heart failure. It is located in Eyüp Sultan, close to the beach.
Nidayi – Yükleyenin kendi çalışması, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55450951
Tayyare Apartments
Tayyare Apartments or Harikzedegân Apartments are located in Laleli. It was built to accommodate people who were victims of the fire in 1918. There are a total of 124 apartments in the building. The building currently serves as a hotel.
A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) – Yükleyenin kendi çalışması, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91982206
Gazi Education Institute Building
The building, whose foundations were laid as “Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha Teacher’s School”, is the last work of Architect Kemaleddin. It is currently used as the Gazi University Rectorate Building.
Çapa Science High School
The building, which was built in 1900, is the building that was built as the Boys’ Teacher School. It is located in Fatih district of Istanbul.
Çamlıca Girls High School
It was built as a summer mansion by Ahmet Ratip Pasha, an Ottoman statesman. The Ministry of Education acquired the four-storey, 54-room building in 1908. In 1939, it started to serve under the name of “Çamlıca Girls High School”.
Hababam Sınıfı, the unforgettable comedy films of Turkish cinema, were shot in this historical building.
Other works and works of Architect Kemaleddin;
- Edirne Station Building repair
- Former Cukurcuma Inn, now Corinne Hotel (1911)
- Eyüp Anatolian High School
- Restoration of Fethiye Mosque Koca Sinan Pasha Madrasa
- Plovdiv Station Building
- Gazi Osman Pasha Tomb
- Gazi University Rectorate Building
- Hüsnü Pasha Tomb
- Istanbul University Faculty of Letters library
- Kamerhatun Mosque
- Jerusalem Masjid al-Aqsa restoration project (1922-1926)
- Mahmut Şevket Pasha Tomb
- Reşadiye Mektebi (now Eyüpsultan Secondary School)
- Şemsipaşa Elementary School
- The Republic of Turkey State Railways Directorate building
- Completing the Ankara Palas project started by Vedat Tek in its final shape.
- Yesilkoy Mosque
- Ahmet Cevat Pasha Tomb
- Ali Riza Pasha Tomb
- Reconstruction of Bandırma Haydar Çavuş Mosque
- Bebek Mosque
- Bostanci Mosque
Death and Tomb
This great architect, who designed and implemented many important works, died on 13 July 1927 in Ankara as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. His grave is in the treasury of Bayezid Mosque.
