Proceedings of The 7th International Conference on Modern Research in Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/7th.icmrss.2023.06.105
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A Modern Social Space of the 1930s in Turkey: Çubuk Dam and Its Buildings
Asst. Prof. Dr. Gizem Yakupoğlu
ABSTRACT:
One of the most significant and iconic spaces of Turkey during the early years of the republic was the Çubuk Dam and its surroundings. The Çubuk Dam, which opened in 1936, was built to provide water for Ankara. However, Çubuk Dam did not only address a functional need, rather it was envisioned as a social space for the new capital that was being shaped with modern, rational, and secular approaches in line with the ideology of the state. This study aims to examine the Çubuk Dam and its two significant buildings positioned in the area to highlight its iconic value as a modern and social environment. While one of those two buildings, the Atatürk House was restored and is currently open to visits; the other one, the Casino and Restaurant building was demolished in 2016, which is a significant alteration in the area. In this research, archival documents such as photographs and newspaper clippings were utilized to understand significant changes that occurred over the years in the area and compare the current state of the Çubuk Dam and its buildings. Even though Çubuk Dam and its surroundings are open to visits as a social space today, some changes, specifically the demolition of the Casino and Restaurant building and the removal of the island on the dam lake, can be seen to have a significant impact on the social and cultural experience of the area.
keywords: Çubuk Dam, Early Republican Architecture, Çubuk Casino and Restaurant, Çubuk Atatürk House, Modern Architecture