BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE: EXAMINING THE TASHKENT MODERNISM PROJECT AND DEVELOPING A CONSERVATION MODEL FOR TÜRKİYE

Brutalist architecture emerged as a significant architectural movement between the 1960s and 1980s, characterized by the expressive use of exposed concrete, monumental forms, and structural clarity. Although many Brutalist buildings were constructed during the mid-twentieth century, in recent decades these structures have increasingly been recognized as an important component of modern architectural heritage. However, rapid urban transformation processes and changing urban policies have led to the demolition or alteration of many Brutalist buildings, particularly in large metropolitan cities. This study examines Brutalist architecture through a comparative analysis of selected buildings in Tashkent and Istanbul within the framework of the Tashkent Modernism Project. Buildings such as the Alisher Navoi Cinema and Chorsu Hotel in Tashkent, and the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) and the former Tercüman Newspaper Building in Istanbul, are analyzed in order to identify common architectural characteristics and contextual differences. The architectural features observed in the Tashkent examples are used as analytical criteria to evaluate the Istanbul cases. In this context, the study does not propose Brutalism as a design model for new developments, but rather highlights its value as an important layer of twentieth-century architectural heritage that requires documentation and conservation.