On the Uses and Meanings of Architectural Preservation in Early Republican Istanbul (1923–1950)

This article offers an analysis of the ways in which architectural monuments were represented in early republican Istanbul (1923–1950). By examining how architectural preservation was organized, practiced, and contested, it seeks to understand diverse meanings of history, heritage, and urban modernization during the first few decades following the end of the Ottoman Empire. The conflict between modernizing the largely irregular urban fabric of Istanbul and preserving its historical patrimony is an important theme of this article. In this respect, the arguments for protecting historical monuments provide significant insights into the early republican perceptions of the “nation” and its “proper heritage.” The archives of the former Committee of the Protection of Old Monuments (Eski Eserleri Koruma Encümeni) constitute a major resource for the article.