Middle-East To İstanbul: Architectural Change Throughout the Baghdad-Haydarpasha Railway Station

ABSTRACT

Baghdad railway, the initiative to connect Berlin with the then Ottoman city of Baghdad, was initially started construction in 1903 and completely constructed in 1940. (Mc murray 2001, p.2). The funding, engineering and construction was mainly provided by the German Empire, thus the German architectural influence on the main headquarter stations of the railway can be seen, especially on Haydarpasa station.

This research paper examines and explores this influence by observing two ends of the railway that connects Baghdad with Istanbul through Anatolia: Haydarpasha station in Istanbul and Baghdad station, and comparing them to the stations that are built in the rural parts of Anatolia. The contrast will be observed by comparing the main elements, construction styles and techniques used in both buildings constructed by Germans and typial station types the Ottoman Empire used to have in Anatolia back then.

Keywords: Baghdad Railway, Haydarpasa Station, Baghdad Station, Urban Shift, Architectural Transformation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Reasons Behind Baghdad railway Construction

The Berlin–Baghdad railway was initially started in 1903 but was not completed until 1940 to connect Berlin with the then Ottoman city of Baghdad, from where the Germans wanted to establish a port on the Persian Gulf, with a 1,600 kilometres line through modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The idea of Baghdad Railway’s constructuion solidified when the German Emperor Wilhelm the Second visited Sultan Abdulhamid II. in Istanbul. II. Abdulhamid requesting that the railway should be made by the Germans, gave the building privilage right to a German bank called “Deutsche Bank” since the Ottoman Empire’s economy could not afford the budget, thus the German Empire assumed the patronage of the Baghdad railway.

1.2. The Importance of Baghdad Railway

The railway network was the result of the Ottoman Empire’s modernizing impulses, although it was actually predominantly engineered by Germans and built with the support of Deutsche Bank. While it employed local builders and craftsmen as well as the combination of both old and new style the Turks have used in architecture, and advanced Ottoman goals of imperial strenghtening and modernization, and it also accelerated German influence in the region. In accordance with this idea, they had to furnish a line between Baghdad and Istanbul. This project called for 400 million liras, however, Ottomans could not afford this budget, and they needed to be cooperated with Germany in order to fulfill their economical, military and political expectations.

Even though Ottoman Empire had rich underground and overground sources, they could not enhance the production because of the transportation and trade impossibilities. Also, the increasing number of military failures caused important economical losts and it shaked people’s faith to the government. At the same time, lack of the transportation caused military failures.

The Germans also had high expectations and outcomes from this railway project. Industry of Germany was growing and their population was increasing, hence they needed new raw materials and markets. That was why they consider the railway project as a raw material source. Connecting the Persian Gulf and assuming the patronage over the Anatolia would ensure this idea. Having the Germans make this project, in many new stations and the old but renovated stations are influenced by the German culture and the prominent styles and architectural styles used in Europe.

1.3. The Route of Baghdad Railway

Figure 1: Baghdad Railway Route

The consttruction process of the rail line from Istanbul to Baghdad began in 1888, after the Managing Director of Deutsche Bank created a syndicate and acquired a concession from the Turkish government to extend Haydarpasa - Izmit railway to Ankara. After the Ankara line connection was completed, railway constructions were also started in Eskisehir and another concession of permission was obtained to construct a railway line from Eskisehir to Konya (see fig. 1).

These railway conncetions were the first two sections of the Baghdad railway, locating in Anatolia, the less influences of Europe is seen in comparison to Istanbul, the heart of the culture exchange back then in Ottoman Empire. The Stations that will be examined and in this paper are chosen from Anatolia to compare & contrast with one of the main stations, Haydarpasa Station, located in Kadiköy, Istanbul.

2. THE COMPARISON OF THE STATIONS ALONG THE RAILWAY

2.1. Adana Train Station

In 1911, the Yenice-Adana section of the Mersin-Adana railway line was merged with the Berlin-Baghdad railway project. This renewal brought the necessity for a new building that provides a bigger volume.

2.1.1. Architectural Elements of Adana Station

Adana train station is the one of the most remarkable train stations through the Baghdad Railway, in terms of size and volume. It is an example of First National Architectural Movement. As a result of this movement, symmetrical and axial organization of masses, especially on the facades, draws the attention. It is a 3-floored structure with wide eaves and a triangular roof. 12 buttresses are located for the supporting the roof. The building was made of stone masonry. Wooden slabs are connected with joists. Trusses were used in the roof.

There is a symmetrical organization on the facade unlike the plans. Ottoman-style geometrical ornaments are placed on the canopies, Reflecting the first national architectural movement in this sense, and also sculpted stones on facades and stone workmanship on windows are seen, as it is common for this style. Tripartite monumental entrance facade that has solid effect and symmetrical mass organization (see fig. 2) can be seen as a result of the National Movement.

Figure 2: Adana Station by Night

2.1.2. Architectural Organization of Adana Station

The location of Adana Train Station and the relation between the city of it and the station affected the shaping of the city on the Early Republic Period. The location of the building, created the central theme of the city planning. U-plan which creates the courtyard of the building faces the square. This courtyard was designed as a gathering place that hosts the ceremonial organizations and celebrations.

2.2. Ulukışla Train Station

Currently at a Niğde province, Ulukışla Station was originally opened on July 1st 1911, by the Baghdad Railway. Ulukışla was used as a staging point to help further construction through the mountains, storing material, help locomotives and workers, one of the small but cannot be underestimated train stations along the Baghdad Railway. It is the last station area on the south side and provided an ease in order to pass throuch the high montains of the region.

Figure 3: Niğde Ulukışla Çiftehan Train Station construction, 1910

2.2.1. Structure & Construction of Ulukışla Train Station

The building extends in an east-west direction with a rectangular plan of three adjacent masses. The main mass is located in the middle with a position dominating the building, and the structure has a two-storey establishment. The lower floor is divided into three sections, each of which has a rectangular plan in the north-south direction and approximately equal in size, and the covering systems are provided with a flat ceiling.

The second floor was used as a lodging consisting of three rooms: a toilet, a bathroom and a kitchen. It has a flat ceiling from the inside and a pointed gable roof covered with Marseille tiles from the outside. The mass on both sides has a smaller and flatter body than the main mass. The unit on the east side has a rectangular plan in the north-south direction, but the north and south walls are built a little inward. The unit on the west side, on the other hand, extends in an east-west direction with a rectangular plan and its northern wall is 40 cm indented and its south wall is 2 m indented. Both units are covered with a wooden framed pointed gable roof and covered with Marseille tiles (see figure 4).

Figure 4: Niğde Ulukışla Çiftehan Train Station, North Façade

2.2.2. Elements & Materials Used in Construction of Ulukışla Train Station

As construction materials, bricks along with rough cut and smooth cut stone was used on the walls, and wood and tile were used in the cover system. Doors and windows are made of wood as, observed in the days Ottoman. The arch and jamb stones of all the door and window openings on the façades were partially protruded from the wall surface, and the keystones were emphasized even more. The floor is covered with ceramic tiles.

2.2.3. German Influence on the Design of the Ulukışla Train Station

Çiftehan Station is a typical building group that exhibits the general characteristics of its period in terms of plan, material and architectural features, but it can be considered as an eclectic work in line with the integration of the German architectural order it reflects, and local styles used during the Ottoman Empire’s reign. With said properties, the station building shows close similarities with the station facilities commonly used in Central Anatolia and the Eastern Mediterranean, which were built on the same line and in the same period, in terms of architecture and facade setup.

2.3. Haydarpasa Train Station

The starting point of the Anatolian railways is Haydarpaşa Train Station, located at the bay in Kadıköy, at the Marmara exit. Construction began on May 30, 1906, during the reign of Abdülhamit. It was completed and put into service on May 19, 1908, after two years of work of two German architects and 1500 Italian stonemasons. It was completed and put into service on 19 May 1908, after two years of work by two German architects Otto Ritter and Helmuth Cuno and 1500 Italian stonemasons.

2.3.1. Architecture of the Haydarpasa Railway Station

The station building is located in the north-west and south-east directions, facing the Marmara Sea. The building is a structure that shows the stylistic diversity of the period. Although its architectural language is not in harmony with the society it is in, it contains important architectural details regarding its own period. The structure is an eclectic example of Central European Baroque architecture, German Renaissance and Neo-Classical architecture.

2.3.2. Construction of Haydarpasa Railway Station

In the architecture of the building, the architectural styles that dominated the Germany of that time can be examined. II. Abdülhamid wanted the building to attract attention when viewed from afar, and as a result, a structure with imperial decorations and symbols of the Ottoman Empire, but with the same traces of Germans, to which railway constructions were delivered, emerged.

As an expression of the Neo-Renaissance style, the building is divided into three horizontal planes of different heights, and the window and door openings in these sections are designed in different shapes and heights. A masonry system supported by steel beams was used in the construction of the building. The building is built on 1,100 wooden piles, each 21 meters long. These piles were driven with the technology of the early 1900s, with a steam hammer.

From a bird's eye view, the building is shaped like a letter "U" with one long leg and a short leg on the other (see fig 5.). Inside the building, there are rooms with large and high ceilings. both branches of the corridors are on the land side. The space left inside forms the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard of the "U" planned building, whose two arms are of different lengths, faces north. The sea front, which is raised on the stairs and has the corner towers, faces south.

Figure 5: Haydarpasa Station U-shaped ground floor plan

On the other constrary, on the second floor, a facade decorated with columns with composite capitals and neoclassical window pediments, garlands, acanthus leaves and cartridges alludes to classical period structures. However, the relief crescent-stars and tugras on the inside of the medallions on the side facades emphasize the Ottoman character.

2.3.3. Elements & Materials Used in Construction

The facade is revetted in textured sandstone. The roof of the building is wooden and made in the form of a “steep roof”, a style very often used in German architecture. It is seen that the roof was built with hipped roofs that cover each arm separately, except for the towers. The clock on the roof of the station was completed in 1908, together with the building itself, unlike many similar roof and facade clocks in Anatolia. (see fig 6.)

Figure 6: Haydarpasa Station from bay, and the clock is seen on the roof

In the corner towers, there are circular planned spaces that shrink towards the upper floors. In the hall, which is entered from the raised platform with the stairs on the south façade and opens to the inner courtyard where the platforms are located, decorated furshes, plaster relief baroque decorations on the arch legs and colored stained glasses are located where the ceilings and walls meet. The facade of the building, which has a steel-structured platform section in the courtyard on the north side, is covered with yellow-gray “lefye” stone brought from Bilecik. The material selection exhibits the desire to continue some of the Anatolian effects on this building, although it was mostly built under the influence of European architectural styles.

The interior is decorated with trailing foliage cartouches and garlands, and stained glass windows. The base of the southeast tower has ribbed vaults, and the upper landings have groin vaults. Flights of marble steps lead up from the quay to the monumental facade flanked by circular turrets with conical mofs, clock tower rising in the form of crest at the center, baroque decoration, balconies, molded cornices, and pilasters.

3. Comparison & Similarities Between These Stations

These threee buildings’ foremost common feature are their rectangular floor plan, and the plans’ definition of a courtyard created by these floor plans. All three buildings contain the turkic building materials while using the most technologic construction systems and technologies. Being constructed by German government, the design is influenced by the architectural movements featured in Europe at that time, which make their style eclectic in this sence.

4. CONCLUSION

Although being funded and constructed by Germans, the Anatolian elements and the turkic influences on these buildings are seen as common elements. The eclectic styles are created by the combination of various architectural movements that were prominent at the time and Anatolian construction styles. This constructions inspired other buildings when they were constructed, since not many office & communal buildings existed in these styles at that time in Ottoman Empire, rather the society were just starting to understand and develop a style of their own. These stations, being the center of these Anatolian cities, being rather the point of culture exchane, helped shaping of the city on the Early Republic Period.In the end these buildings are still used to this day.

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