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"Armenian Architects of Istanbul" exhibit showcased online
February 15, 2014 - 13:58 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Istanbul Modern's 2010 exhibition"Armenian
Architects of Istanbul" featuring photos of architectural structures
made by Armenian architects during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, can
now be seen online on the Turkish Museum of Architecture's website,
Today's Zaman reported.
A joint effort between the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture
Agency, the International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Solidarity
Association of Architects and Engineers (HAYCAR), the exhibition was
on display at the Istanbul Modern from Dec. 9, 2010, to Jan. 9, 2011,
as part of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program.
Now, art lovers who missed the exhibition can visit the virtual museum
to have a look -- www.archmuseum.org in English and
www.mimarlikmuzesi.org in Turkish. The show is on the website under
the heading "Armenian Architects of Istanbul in the Era of
Westernization."
Curated by architect Hasan Kuruyazici, the exhibition highlights the
role of Armenian architects in shaping Ottoman Istanbul during a
Westernization process that took place from the 19th century to the
beginning of the 20th century. Photos of more than 100 buildings by 40
Armenian architects, from churches to mosques and hospitals to
municipal buildings, are being showcased.
The architecture of Istanbul would be unimaginable without the Balian
family - a dynasty of famous Ottoman imperial architects of Armenian
ethnicity.
For five generations in the 18th and 19th centuries, they designed and
constructed numerous major buildings, including palaces, kiosks,
mosques, churches and various public buildings, mostly in Istanbul.
The nine well-known members of the family served six sultans in the
course of almost a century and were responsible for the westernization
of the architecture of the then-capital city.
The Balians used Western architectural techniques and designs; they
did not, however, disregard traditional Ottoman elements. The most
important and largest construction built by members of the family was
Dolmabahce Palace, which is considered to be one of the world's finest
palaces of the 19th century.
Most of their buildings are still in use and registered as historical monuments.
Another illustrious architect of Istanbul was Mimar Sinan (15 April
1489 - 17 July 1588) the chief Armenian Ottoman architect and civil
engineer for sultans Suleiman I, Selim II, and Murad III. He was,
during a period of fifty years, responsible for the construction or
the supervision of every major building in the Ottoman Empire. More
than three hundred structures are credited to his name. He is also
considered one of the world's first earthquake engineers.
Sinan's masterpiece is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, although his
most famous work is the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul. He headed an
extensive governmental department and trained many assistants who, in
turn, distinguished themselves, including Sedefkar Mehmed Agha,
architect of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. He is considered the greatest
architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, and has
been compared to Michelangelo, his contemporary in the West.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/175916/
http://archmuseum.org/Gallery/Photo_62_1_armenian-architects-of-istanbul-in-the-era-of-westernization.html?Page=2#
From: A. Papazian
February 15, 2014 - 13:58 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Istanbul Modern's 2010 exhibition"Armenian
Architects of Istanbul" featuring photos of architectural structures
made by Armenian architects during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, can
now be seen online on the Turkish Museum of Architecture's website,
Today's Zaman reported.
A joint effort between the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture
Agency, the International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Solidarity
Association of Architects and Engineers (HAYCAR), the exhibition was
on display at the Istanbul Modern from Dec. 9, 2010, to Jan. 9, 2011,
as part of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program.
Now, art lovers who missed the exhibition can visit the virtual museum
to have a look -- www.archmuseum.org in English and
www.mimarlikmuzesi.org in Turkish. The show is on the website under
the heading "Armenian Architects of Istanbul in the Era of
Westernization."
Curated by architect Hasan Kuruyazici, the exhibition highlights the
role of Armenian architects in shaping Ottoman Istanbul during a
Westernization process that took place from the 19th century to the
beginning of the 20th century. Photos of more than 100 buildings by 40
Armenian architects, from churches to mosques and hospitals to
municipal buildings, are being showcased.
The architecture of Istanbul would be unimaginable without the Balian
family - a dynasty of famous Ottoman imperial architects of Armenian
ethnicity.
For five generations in the 18th and 19th centuries, they designed and
constructed numerous major buildings, including palaces, kiosks,
mosques, churches and various public buildings, mostly in Istanbul.
The nine well-known members of the family served six sultans in the
course of almost a century and were responsible for the westernization
of the architecture of the then-capital city.
The Balians used Western architectural techniques and designs; they
did not, however, disregard traditional Ottoman elements. The most
important and largest construction built by members of the family was
Dolmabahce Palace, which is considered to be one of the world's finest
palaces of the 19th century.
Most of their buildings are still in use and registered as historical monuments.
Another illustrious architect of Istanbul was Mimar Sinan (15 April
1489 - 17 July 1588) the chief Armenian Ottoman architect and civil
engineer for sultans Suleiman I, Selim II, and Murad III. He was,
during a period of fifty years, responsible for the construction or
the supervision of every major building in the Ottoman Empire. More
than three hundred structures are credited to his name. He is also
considered one of the world's first earthquake engineers.
Sinan's masterpiece is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, although his
most famous work is the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul. He headed an
extensive governmental department and trained many assistants who, in
turn, distinguished themselves, including Sedefkar Mehmed Agha,
architect of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. He is considered the greatest
architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, and has
been compared to Michelangelo, his contemporary in the West.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/175916/
http://archmuseum.org/Gallery/Photo_62_1_armenian-architects-of-istanbul-in-the-era-of-westernization.html?Page=2#
From: A. Papazian