General Staff Building, Military headquarters in Çankaya, Turkey.
The General Staff Building is a military administrative facility in Ankara with a distinctive H-shaped layout and evenly spaced square windows across its facade. The entrance features a half-cylinder formation supported by a grand staircase that creates a formal approach to the structure.
Construction began in 1929 under Marshal Fevzi Çakmak's direction as the Turkish Republic expanded its military administration. The building was designed to serve as a central hub for coordinating military operations and administrative functions.
The structure, designed by architect Clemens Holzmeister, represents early Turkish Republic architecture with its neoclassical elements and modern military design principles.
The building serves as a connecting point between General Staff Headquarters and the National Defense Headquarters, facilitating coordination between military departments. Access to this active military facility is restricted, so visitors should view it from outside the perimeter.
The facade displays flat roofs as a visual design element while concealing functional sloping roofs behind the structure. This architectural detail reveals how the building balances aesthetic principles with practical engineering requirements.
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