The Academy of Fine Arts Graduate (1925) Architect: Huseyin Husnu Tumer // Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi 1925 Mezunu Bir Mimar: Hüseyin Hüsnü Tümer

The present study aims to investigate educational processes, architectural projects, professional activities and design methodology of the revered Architect Huseyin Husnu Tumer. Tumer was born in Istanbul in 1900 and graduated from Sanayi-i Nefise-i Şahane Mektebi (Academy of Fine Arts) in 1925. In this research, Huseyin Husnu Tumer’s professional career is analyzed in five phases. The first phase begins with his education and covers the time period between his graduation and returning from Jerusalem in 1927. In the academy, Tumer completed his education as a student of another well-known and respected architect, Giulio Mongeri. After his graduation, as a young architect, Tumer was commissioned in a team headed by Mimar Kemalettin, which included architect Mehmet Nihat Nigizberk, Engineer Ruştu, Cemal and Mimar Kemalettin’s son, architect Sinan Mimaroğlu, with the task of restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The second phase includes the short time period after the Jerusalem years and a general outlook of Republican architecture. After returning to Turkey around 1927, he continued to work as a project architect for a while and participated in several architectural competitions. During this period, he worked as a project manager in Bursa Spa Hotel Project which designed by his mentor, Giulio Mongeri and he designed some parts of the Project all by himself. Also, he achieved the first place awards in two project competitions, these being Bursa Municipality Tuz Pazarı Market Hall Building competition and Ankara Sanayi and Maadin Bank project competitions. The third phase includes production of several apartment buildings and his professional activities at the beginning of 1930’s. In this period, Tumer completed apartments such as Istanbul Ayazpasa Engineer İbrahim Galip B. Apartment, Istanbul Munip B. House and Istanbul Nisantası Husnu B. Apartment, and Istanbul Taksim Talimhane Istiklal Apartment with Torkum Cubukcıyan. Also in 1933, he designed a gas station in Eminonu for an American Oil Company Socony Vacuum. Following this period, in 1934, Tumer, participated in few architectural competitions. He achieved the first prize in Ankara Child Protection Agency Apartment (Cocuk Esirgeme Kurumu Himaye-i Etfal Apartmanı) project competition, the second prize in Yalova Thermal Hotel project competition, the third prize in Ministry of Customs and Exclusivity (Gumruk ve Inhisarlar Vekaleti) building project competition and the fourth prize in Ankara Sumerbank