Behruz Çinici: A Silent Revolution in Turkish Architecture
Behruz Çinici: A Silent Revolution in Turkish Architecture
Behruz Çinici is considered a pioneer of brutalist architecture in Turkey, playing a key role in transforming modern architecture into a collective social memory. He began his architectural career in 1958 with the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) building in Ankara. He achieved a major breakthrough in his career in 1961 with the design of the METU Campus, which he created together with his wife, Altuğ Çinici.
'TBMM CAMİİ'
'ODTU MİMARLIK FAKÜLTESİ'
'ODTU MİMARLIK FAKÜLTESİ'
The METU project has gone down in history as one of the first examples of exposed concrete application in Turkey and its first brutalist architecture. Çinici adopted a simple yet powerful language that did not conceal the natural state of the concrete. The "alle" (pedestrian path), positioned at the center of the campus, connected the buildings like a spine and continues to be the heart of social life today.
Viewing architecture not merely as designing structures but as creating a human-oriented experience, Çinici deeply embraced the idea of transforming spaces into areas of social interaction. Over time, he evolved his architectural understanding, enriching his modernist lines with details inspired by traditional Turkish architecture.
One of the most remarkable projects bearing Behruz Çinici’s signature was the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) additional buildings and, in particular, the TBMM Mosque, which he designed without a minaret. Following long-standing debates with members of parliament, he chose to place a poplar tree instead of a minaret for the mosque. This bold approach won him and his son, Can Çinici, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1995.
Having dedicated his life to architecture, Çinici viewed architecture not as a commercial tool but as a social responsibility. He was honored with many awards throughout his career; he was presented with the "Sir Robert Matthew" award by the Chamber of French Architects in 1981, and in 2004, he was deemed worthy of the Sinan Grand Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in Turkish architecture.
'DSİ BİNASI - BEHRUZ ÇİNİCİ'
Today, Behruz Çinici’s works are not merely architectural structures; they are remembered as living spaces designed on a human scale that bear witness to Turkey’s modernization process. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of architects.