The Facade Language in the Apartment Designs of Melih Koray, a Productive Figure of 1960-1980 Period

Abstract

This study covers an analysis of the dwelling culture of Kadikoy, Istanbul in 1960-1980 through apartment typology in the context of a neglected prominent figure, Melih Koray's designs. Apartment dwelling type which was observed in late 19th century is one of the primary spatial reflections of Turkish architectural practice in the context of dwelling culture. Due to new construction materials, techniques and introducing optimum comfort for many families through different units, apartment buildings were differentiated from the precursor dwelling types. Due to several reasons -the transformation of the national and international policies of the country, migration from the rural areas to Istanbul, the urban property ownership law, etc.-, this building type especially effects the architectural practice of the 1960-1980 period, and it rapidly becomes important and pervasive. When a literature analysis is conducted through Turkish architectural literature, it is observed that only the dwelling designs of the popular architectural figures of the era such as Emin Onat, Utarit Izgi, Sedad Hakki Eldem are underlined and only a part of these dwellings are apartments. So, a gap in the literature of Turkish Architecture in the context of the specific era's architectural figures, architectural practice, apartment as a dwelling unit is realized. Authors believe that it is important to bridge this gap and document selective examples of these apartments since the ongoing urban transformation process caused a demolishment of the representatives of 1960-1980 apartment buildings. In order to decipher the apartments of Kadikoy -one of the oldest dwelling settlements of Istanbul- built in 1960-1980, several site visits are conducted. Then a list of apartments that were selected by the authors according to their noteworthy facade language are prepared. After, an archival research in Kadikoy Municipality is employed to find additional information about these apartments and their designers. Authors figured out that there were numerous examples of apartments that were designed by various, anonymous architects. Melih Koray, who takes attention with his design language of apartments where a distinguished plan organization, facade design and aesthetical details are realized, is one of these figures. He designed more than 145 apartments in Kadikoy in the specific era. Since he is a neglected figure in the architectural literature, this research aims to concentrate on his apartment designs in 1960-1980 period through his facade design language. In order to analyze his apartment designs, authors reached the personal archive of the architect. They contacted Melih Koray's son and an in-depth interview is conducted. Here, a personal notebook that Koray documented his designs of 1960-1980 period is found. Authors used this notebook to check if the apartments of Koray in the notebook which are mostly located in Kadikoy do still exist or not, through field study. When they figured out the existing ones -99 of them- they made a comparative analysis between the notebook and the Kadikoy Municipality Archives. After confirming that the existing apartments are his designs, authors listed these apartments, their names, construction dates and locations. Authors realized that the existing apartments of Koray had different facade organizations. Through the facades of apartments of Koray, authors also noticed that there are some common important notions that the architect used in his facade language. These notions can be classified as creating a facade language by the help of gridal elements, creating a rhythmic frame by the reflection of the structure, integrating functional elements to the facade, giving dynamism to the facade through three-dimensional elements, designing canopies to emphasize the entrances. Therefore, in the context of the study, Koray is emphasized with his various apartment designs in between 1960-1980 and with his facade language in these designs. The notions that he used in his apartment facades are discussed through selected samples and these designs are analyzed through the facade organizations. So, this study put emphasis to a neglected figure of Turkish architecture, Melih Koray and his apartment design language and aims to contribute to the architectural literature with the facade language of the apartment designs of Koray. Since Melih Koray is among a group of neglected architectural figures of the era, authors suggest concentrating on the other figures in the upcoming studies in order to contribute to architectural literature.