In Turkey, the organization of architects started during the Ottoman era. The functions of the first organization named Hassa Architects’ Guild (architects affiliated with the Palace) included technical services such as preparing the designs of all new public buildings, conducting their survey, running their construction and undertaking the repair of old buildings. Outside İstanbul, there were State Architects, who worked in connection with the guild.

PIONEER SCHOOLS

There were two pioneer schools of modern architectural education in the Ottoman Empire. Imperial School of Naval Engineering (Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Hümayun) was founded in 1776 and Imperial School of Military Engineering (Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümayun) known as School of Cannoneers and Architects (Topçu ve Mimar Mektebi) was founded in 1795. Approximately one century later, in 1883, Higher School of Fine Arts (Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi Âlisi) with the departments of architecture, art, writing and decoration was established. Subsequently, in 1914, School of Fine Arts for Girls (İnas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi) was established, though this institution did not last long. Hence, architecture was started to be taught within a modern educational system, and with the Westernization trend Hassa Architects’ Guild lost its influence.

FIRST ASSOCIATIONS

The Second Constitutional Monarchy, declared in 1908, provided the freedom of associations. The same year architects and engineers pursued the summons of Architect Kemalettin and established Association of Ottoman Engineers and Architects (Osmanlı Mühendis ve Mimar Cemiyeti). The association continued its work in spite of interruptions from time to time during World War I and Turkish National War of Independence and published a journal of 12 issues in the years 1909-1910.

The Association of Ottoman Painters (Osmanlı Ressamlar Cemiyeti), established mainly by graduates of the Higher School of Fine Arts in 1909, was reorganized on March 9, 1927 to include the departments of architecture, painting, sculpture and decoration under the name of Union of Fine Arts (Güzel Sanatlar Birliği); and architects locates in İstanbul gathered under the umbrella of Architecture Branch of Union of Fine Arts (Güzel Sanatlar Birliği Mimari Branch).

However, once the Republic of Turkey was established, architects wanted to have their own independent organization. On February 18, 1927, Association of Turkish Architects (Türk Mimarlar Cemiyeti) was established in Ankara. This was the first and only independent organization of architects until the Chamber of Architects of Turkey was founded. After the proclamation of the Republic following a struggle of independence, the establishment and institutionalization of the Republic and its architecture were interconnected and identical.

In 1934, administrators of Association of Turkish Architects and representatives of architects from İstanbul and İzmir came together and decided that the organization should be structured into several branches so as to cover the entire country and that its name be changed to Union of Turkish Senior Architects (Türk Yüksek Mimarlar Birliği). They participated in the first congress of UIA held in Lausanne in 1948 and became one of the founding members of this organization. In 1956 CAT took over this mission from the Union of Turkish Senior Architects and functions as a national section of the UIA since then..

After a struggle of nearly 25 years which architects and engineers carried out together, Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects Code, numbered 6235 (Türk Mühendis ve Mimar Odaları Birliği Kanunu) was finally legislated on January 27, 1954. As a result, İstanbul and İzmir Branches of the Union of Turkish Senior Architects transferred most of its authority and facilities to Chamber of Architects and closed down. The Union still continues its activities in Ankara under the name of Architects’ Association 1927 (Mimarlar Derneği 1927).

FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY and ORGANIZATION

The founding General Assembly of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (UCTEA) convened at the Faculty of Languages, History and Geography in Ankara, on October 18, 1954, and UCTEA was officially established. Chamber of Architects of Turkey (CAT), on the other hand, was established by CAT Founding General Assembly held at the İstanbul Fine Arts Academy on December 15, 1954. Initially, Turkey was divided into three regions forming the Branches in Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir. In 1960s, new representative offices were opened, and professional auditing practices spread even wider around the country reaching even towns. By the second half of the 1980s, most of these representative offices acquired the status of Branches.

As of 2011, The Chamber of Architects operates with its 26 Branches and 85 Representative Offices.