Ankara Araştırmaları Dergisi (Dec 2019)
A Public Sphere in the Early Republican Period Ankara: Millet Bahçesi
Abstract
Millet Bahçesi, located in Ulus Square, Ankara, is used in the article to analyze the projections of the Turkish modernization process in the fields of architecture and urbanism. The article draws an analogy with the chronological development of the city during that era. Ankara, which rapidly started to regain importance after the extension of the railroad in 1892, expanded during that period through the road which connected the railroad with the historical city, namely the modern district of Ulus, that contained public buildings. As a part of this development, Ankara Millet Bahçesi was built in the last quarter of the 19th century at the junction of the road from the station (İstasyon Caddesi), and the road that lead to the southern vineyards (Atatürk Bulvarı). Due to the development of the district as the administrative center in the period of the Turkish War of Independence, Millet Bahçesi gained prominence and became one of the few recreational areas of the city. After the proclamation of the Republic, the garden was modernized under the name of “The City Garden and Market” and rows of single-storey shops were erected on the side of the garden facing Atatürk Bulvarı. However, as the garden-market complex had become neglected and lost its relevance over time, a multi-storey shopping center and office block was built between 1967 and 1981 following an architectural project competition. In conclusion, through the consideration of the process of transformation of Ankara from a city of the Empire to becoming the modern capital of the new Republic, it is possible to state that Millet Bahçesi has, in its relatively short lifespan, become an example of a public space worthy of examination. By doing so, one can objectively analyze the concept of “Millet Bahçesi” in today’s political context in terms of an electoral pledge.
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