Rising before us, the Presidential Complex stands as a testament to modern Turkey. What stories do these walls hold?
The Presidential Complex is the presidential residence of the Republic of Turkey. It is located in Ankara’s Beştepe neighborhood. The complex sits inside the Atatürk Forest Farm. This location reflects President Erdoğan’s vision for a “New Turkey”. It was formally inaugurated on Republic Day, October 29, 2014.
President Erdoğan wanted to call the new residence Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi. This refers to a traditional complex centered on a mosque. The name was officially adopted on July 3, 2015. The building’s cost was twice the initial estimate. It ended up costing more than US$600 million. The Presidential Complex houses Turkey’s largest library. It boasts five million books.
Ground plans for the Presidential Complex began in 2011. In 2012, the Council of Ministers decided to transform the Gazi compound. It would become an “Urban Transformation and Development Project Area”. The goal was constructing a Prime Ministry Building. Construction involved several ministries and administrations.
On September 2, 2014, it was announced that the complex would serve as the President’s official residence. The Çankaya Mansion, the previous presidential residence, would become the Prime Minister’s residence.
The complex was bombed on July 15, 2016. This happened during the failed coup d’état attempt.
The buildings blend Seljuk and Ottoman architectural styles. Some say one office’s design is based on the White House’s Oval Office.
The Presidential Complex was built on the Atatürk Forest Farm. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established it in 1925. In 1937, Atatürk donated the farm to the state. In 1992, the farm became a protected site. This meant no construction should occur there. However, in 2014, an administrative court ordered the palace’s construction suspended. Erdoğan ignored the decision.
Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated the construction cost would be 1.37 billion TL. That was about $615 million. In December 2014, the Housing Development Administration refused to reveal the actual cost. They claimed it could hurt Turkey’s economy. Critics estimated the final cost could exceed 5 billion lira.
The government faced criticism for the palace’s high cost and lavish furnishings. Opposition parties derisively called it Ak Saray, meaning “White Palace”. Others called it Kaçak Saray, meaning “Illegal Palace”. This was due to the court-barred construction and alleged corruption.
According to architects, the imported window glass cost over TL 700 million. Imported Italian Bizassa marble was used for pools and spas. The palace’s natural gas bill reached TL 2.4 million between October 2014 and May 2015. Gold-inlaid glasses reportedly cost TL 1000 each. Critics deemed the lavishness wasteful. Erdoğan defended the palace. He insisted it boosted Turkey’s reputation. In the first six months of 2023, the complex spent 1.08 billion liras on public procurement.
In July 2015, the Turkish Council of State ruled the construction illegal. They ordered it vacated. The Presidency claimed the decision was ultra-vires.
Pope Francis was the first head of state hosted at the Presidential Palace in November 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin followed in December 2014.
In 2016, the palace displayed Erdoğan’s collection of over 215 cigarette boxes. These were collected from people he persuaded to quit smoking. The “Presidency’s Scissors Collection” became the world’s largest in 2022. It featured about 800 scissors Erdoğan used in inaugurations.
The complex includes the main building and two support buildings. It covers 300,000 square meters. Inspired by Seljuk architecture, it has guesthouses and a botanical garden. A situation room, bunkers, a park, and a congress center are also present. The complex has high security.
Şefik Birkiye was the lead architect. The Presidential Palace has at least 1,150 rooms. It includes a laboratory to detect nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards.
The Beştepe Millet Mosque opened in 2015. It can accommodate roughly 3,000 worshippers. The Presidential Library holds over four million books in 134 languages. The 15 July Martyrs’ Monument symbolizes the July 15 Military Coup attempt. It consists of four parts.
The Presidential Complex is more than just a building. It represents Turkey’s evolving identity and aspirations. Its history is intertwined with political events and cultural influences. It stands as a symbol of modern Turkey’s leadership.