Architect, poet and
writer (b. 26 November 1934 - d. 22 March 2020, ıstanbul). He graduated from 56th
Primary School (Saraçhane), Istanbul Boys’ High School (1953), State Fine Arts
Academy Department of Architecture (1956), Munich Technical University
Department of Architecture (1959). He worked as a lecturer at Mimar Sinan
University Department of Urban Planning and Architecture (1961-1962,
1999-2000), Zafer Architecture and Engineering Academy (1967-1969) and Trakya
University (1998-1999). He worked as an architect in Munich (1959-1961), in
Ankara and Istanbul (1962-2000) and as a consultant at Antalya Metropolitan
Municipality (1999-2000). Bektaş continued with his work as an independent
architect since 1959 and he was a visiting lecturer in Macedonia, Germany and
USA. He has also worked as the general president of Writers’ Union of Turkey
and Turkey-Greece Friendship Association. His architectural designs have a
functional approach.
Architect Cengiz Bektaş
has received 1978 National Architecture Exhibition Award with his project of
Turkish Linguistic Association building and 2001 Aga Khan Architecture Award
with his project “Akdeniz University Olbia Social Center”. Among other
architectural projects he completed, we see “International Industry and Trade
Bank” in Istanbul (1985-1986) and “Aphrodisias Additional Museum” in Aydın
(2006-2007).
As an architect Cengiz
Bektaş says: “The buildings constructed
by those people who have no idea about their own culture and tradition brings
into our minds the question “Could these people be the children of such a
past?”.
According to me, an architect, especially a Turkish
architect has to be aware of the cultural heritage. Architecture is for people
and it should be done in a way to provide them humanitarian dimensions; this
means to work for their requirements, happiness and health.”
He has won several
prizes; 1968 Turkish Linguistic Association Research Award with his book Criticism in Architecture (1967), and
TRT 1970 Art Awards Contest Single Poem Success Prize with one of his poems. He
has also received Trojan Poetry Award and Romania Contribution to Balkan
Culture Award (2003), and 2007 Ceyhun Atıf Kansu Poetry Award with his poem Dün Bugün (2007). He has also received
several architectural awards from different urban planning and architecture
institutions. Some of his poems and stories were translated into several
languages. His poem named Akdeniz was
composed and sang by Aylin Livaneli.
Cengiz Bektaş began with
his writing career in 1950 at a local newspaper in Denizli. His poems and
articles were published in several journals such as Fazil Hüsnü Dağlarca’s Türkçe
(1960), Dost (1963), Sanat Sanatçılar (1965), Türk Dili
(TDK, 1968-83), Yazko Edebiyat, Varlık, İnsancıl, Güzel Yazılar, Evrensel
Kültür, Kıyı. He is known with his
poems, essays and reviews; and also with his writings and speeches on
architecture.
“Cengiz
Bektaş is a sophisticated individual. Although he was educated in Europe; he
was made from the Anatolian culture; a combination of Hittite, Frig, and
Lydian….he is the son of a mother from Caria, son of Cybele….He holds the magic
of art in his fingertips, he brings beauty wherever he touches, the building he
touches becomes alive, the stone he touches starts to breathe. He harvests from
the whole world, not only from his own country.
“Architect and poet
combine traditional and modern, and they construct buildings with this
combination, apart from imitations. His Architectural Diary is also Poet’s
Diary: “I draw my houses on savories”. Then he places friendship, love, human
breath and life into those houses. His architect hand knows where to put a
stone, a brick. That is how Bektaş constructs his poetry. He places the words
in daily language, especially those not included to poetry so far, with a small
touch; and he adds new yarn from fairy tales and iterations.”
(Mehmet Başaran)
WORKS:
POETRY: Kişi (1964), Akdeniz (1970), Mor (1974; new edition, all poems, 1998), Dört Kişiydiler Bir de Ben
(1975), Yeryüzünün Yüreği (1978), Yerdeli Gökdeli (1980), Zeytinli Fırın Sokağı (1981), Güz Ey (1983), Dört Kişiydiler Bir de Ben + Ustalarım (1984), Fide (1987), On’u Birden
(1992), Ustalarım, Dışların İçi
(1994), Su Belleği (1998), Su Gölgesi (2002), Sevgi Alnımın Teri
(2003).
ESSAY-RESEARCH: Mimarlıkta Eleştiri (1967), Bedri
Rahmi Nakışlı Bir Deneme (1975), Benim Oğlum Bina Okur (1980), Duvarların
Dışı da Senin (1982), Yuva mı Mal mı (1983), Kimin Bu Sokaklar
Alanlar Kentler (1987), Hoşgörünün Öteki Adı: Kuzguncuk (1996),
Kültür Kirlenmesi (1996), Kent (1996), Ev Alma Komşu Al (1996), Yaşama
Kültürü, Bak Bak Desinler (1998), Barış Sofrası (2001), Kentli
Olmak ya da Olmamak (1999-2004).
COMPILATION: Kocasinan (1968), Halk Yapı
Sanatından Bir Örnek: Bodrum (1977), Antalya (1980), Babadağ
Evleri (1987), Şirinköy Evleri (1987), Akşehir Evleri (1987),
Koruma Onarım (1992), Kuşadası Evleri (1992), Mimarca Merme (1993),
Kuş Evleri (1994), Türk Evi (1996), Selçuklu Kervansarayları
(1999), Halk Yapı Sanatı (2001).
CHILDREN’S BOOK: Koca Rıza (1981), Usta ile Çırak
(1989), Ebemevi (1989), Sevgiyle Yap (1990), Çağıl Nasıl Mavi
Oldu? (1995), Kitap Bahçesi I-II (2005).
TRANSLATION: Çizmeli Kedi (1981), Sappho
(poetry, with Azra Erhat , 1978).
ARCHITECTURE: Toprak
Mahsulleri Ofisi Genel Müdürlüğü ( with O. Vural and V. Özsan, 1964), Türkiye Büyükelçiliği (with Bonn, O.
Vural and V. Özsan,1964), Etimesgut
Camisi (1965), Merkez Bankası Şubesi
(Denizli, 1971), Silivri Toplu Konutları (İstanbul, 1972), Babadağlılar Çarşısı (Denizli,1973-75), Türk Dil Kurumu Binası (Ankara, 1977), Binevler Toplu Konut Yerleşmesi (Edirne,
1978), Demir Çelik Fabrikası (İzmir,
1983).
REFERENCE: Yurt
Ansiklopedisi (c. III, 1982), Atilla Özkırımlı / Türk Edebiyatı Ansiklopedisi
(c. 1, s. 212, 1982), Büyük Larousse (c. 3, s. 1462, 1986), Ana Britannica (c.
3, s. 534, 1987), Memet Fuat / Çağdaş Türk Şiiri Antolojisi (1999), Behçet
Necatigil / Edebiyatımızda İsimler Sözlüğü (18. bas. 1999), Şükran Kurdakul /
Şairler ve Yazarlar Sözlüğü (gen. 6. bas. 1999), TBE Ansiklopedisi (c. 1, s,
204, 2001), Mehmet Başaran / Sevgi
Alnımın Teri (2003), Cengiz Bektaş: "Mimar Yalan Söylememeli" (mimarizm.com, erişim
16.04.2012), İhsan Işık / Türkiye
Yazarlar Ansiklopedisi (2001) - Encyclopedia of Turkish Authors (2005) - Resimli
ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006,
2007) – Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Fomous People (2013).
