Survive the Saracoglu District - Saving the Architectural Heritage of Ankara

Today, urban and architectural heritage of metropolitan cities have been transformed by urban renewal projects in Turkey. Ankara is one of the cities that have been exposed to this rebuild process. Actually, the city, which is at the center of Anatolia was well planned when it was chosen as the capital of new Republic. In other words, Ankara located in the middle of Anatolian steppe was planned and built from scratch together with the establishment of the Republic. In the formation period, Saracoglu district (Namik Kemal District) built for the settlement of state employees is one of the most significant areas that stenghtens the new plan of Ankara. This district as one of the outstanding urban heritages of the Republican era is attempted to be destroyed by the way of urban renewal projects which are very popular attempts to shape the cities in nowadays construction industry in Turkey. At this point, the aim of this study is to emphasize the value of Saracoglu district for Turkish civil architecture and the city of Ankara. District is a treasure right in the center of the city with its fauna, natural environment, historical, cultural and architectural values. The objective is to ensure the preservation of the district by pointing to the several suggestions of social and professional organizations to keep the settlement alive and to prevent the destruction of collective memory.