Architectural production of the capital: competitions, direct commissions and state power in Republican Ankara

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine the production processes of public buildings in Ankara following the proclamation of the Republic; to reveal how architectural competitions and direct commission methods shape the spatial production of the capital, and how the state's modernization ideology and institutional authority are represented through architecture. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. In this context, a dataset of 182 state-supported public buildings was compiled in Ankara between 1920 and 1990. Buildings are classified by function, period and production method; the quantitative data obtained were supported by historical and interpretive analyses. In addition, the selection, planning and spatial development of Ankara as the capital have been evaluated within the framework of the relations of architecture, power and representation. Findings The findings show that architectural competitions are the dominant method in the production of public buildings in the capital. However, it is understood that the competitions are not only design selection processes but also operate as institutional mechanisms that direct the architectural representation of the state. The positions, scales and modes of production of public buildings played an important role in making Ankara's modern nation-state ideology spatially visible. Originality/value The study examines the construction of Ankara as the capital through architectural production mechanisms rather than singular building analyses, evaluates the relationship among state architecture, capital construction and modernization within a holistic framework, and makes a unique contribution to the literature.