Evaluation of the Artvin Government House (1974) in the Context of Modern Architectural Heritage

Abstract

The traditional character of Artvin, a rural town during the first years of the Turkish Republic, had long been preserved. However, over time, a major transformation common to many Anatolian towns took place in the city's residential and urban areas, as an increasing number of public buildings were been built, due to the central position of Artvin within the province. The most important of these buildings, the Artvin Government House, was built in 1974, after the design of Aslaner, Gungoren, and Gurel won a competition of the Ministry of Public Works in 1968. An important emblem of the city's history, the design of the former government house was reflected in the new building in abstract modulation, while the former building was demolished in the 1980s. Discussed in the present study was the conservation of modern architectural heritage, recently a more popular subject in conservation science circles. The focus of the present study was the Artvin Government House, which still bears traces of its ancestor. The preservation of the Artvin Government House is of crucial importance, not only because the building reflects the architectural style of the period, but because it has also witnessed the past 40 years of the town's history. The preservation of the 20th century modern architectural heritage of Artvin will ensure its transference to future generations, as the number of intact buildings from the 19th century or earlier are increasingly few.