LEMAN CEVAT TOMSU: A Pioneer in Turkish Architecture, 1913-1988
1 of 1
Leman Tomsu1913-1988Türkiye
Leman Tomsu, one of the first women architects of the Republic of Turkey (with Münevver Belen), graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul in 1934 with a degree in architecture. After obtaining her degree, she was appointed to the Provincial Directorate in Istanbul in February of 1935 and began to work with Martin Wagner, a German architect and city planner.
She traveled to Germany between 1937-1938. After returning to Turkey, she began to work in 1941 as the assistant to Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat, the founding professor and the first dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University, at the High School of Engineering in Istanbul, which was incorporated into Istanbul Technical University in 1944. In February of 1942, she was appointed as an associate professor at Istanbul Technical University with her thesis entitled Bursa Evleri (Bursa Houses), and became a professor at the same university in May of 1960.
In addition to her teaching position, she conducted her research in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, France and Italy in 1950 (two months), and Germany and the United Kingdom in 1958. In 1965, she visited Paris and attended a conference of the International Union of Architects (UIA). As a visiting professor, she gave a lecture on the Bursa Houses. In 1966 she organized an exhibition on architectural works from Istanbul Technical University at the University of California at Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture. At the same university, she attended seminars and project juries as well. In 1972, she made research trips to the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Swiss and Norway (three months). In 1978 she came to the United States to conduct her studies. In addition to the duties of her post at Istanbul Technical University, she worked on various architectural projects with Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat between 1936 and 1959. In addition, she participated many architectural design competitions and won several awards.
She traveled to Germany between 1937-1938. After returning to Turkey, she began to work in 1941 as the assistant to Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat, the founding professor and the first dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University, at the High School of Engineering in Istanbul, which was incorporated into Istanbul Technical University in 1944. In February of 1942, she was appointed as an associate professor at Istanbul Technical University with her thesis entitled Bursa Evleri (Bursa Houses), and became a professor at the same university in May of 1960.
In addition to her teaching position, she conducted her research in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, France and Italy in 1950 (two months), and Germany and the United Kingdom in 1958. In 1965, she visited Paris and attended a conference of the International Union of Architects (UIA). As a visiting professor, she gave a lecture on the Bursa Houses. In 1966 she organized an exhibition on architectural works from Istanbul Technical University at the University of California at Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture. At the same university, she attended seminars and project juries as well. In 1972, she made research trips to the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Swiss and Norway (three months). In 1978 she came to the United States to conduct her studies. In addition to the duties of her post at Istanbul Technical University, she worked on various architectural projects with Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat between 1936 and 1959. In addition, she participated many architectural design competitions and won several awards.
As a pioneering woman in the early Republic period, Leman Tomsu worked on design commissions for public buildings rather than on housing projects. With rational programmatic solutions, the formal articulations of her works usually reflect the Second National Architectural Style characterized by a traditional and regional vocabulary under the influence of Emin Halit Onat and Sedad Hakkı Eldem. She retired from Istanbul Technical University in 1981, and passed away in Istanbul in 1988.
--Meral Ekincioglu, Ph.D.
15 September 2015
Sources:
Her career opened up new opportunities for women in Turkey, and her work in the fields of teaching and practice greatly influenced the next generation of women architects.
Architectural Design Competition Projects:
- Kadikoy People’s House Istanbul, Turkey, 1938, 3rd prize.
- Eskisehir Hamidiye and Mahmudiye Village Institutes, Eskisehir, Turkey, 1941, 1st prize.
- Trakya Kepirtepe Village Institute, Edirne, Turkey, 1942, 1st prize.
- Canakkale People’s House, Canakkale, Turkey, 1943, 3rd prize.
- Ankara Telephone Exchange Building, Ankara, Turkey, 1944, honorable mention.
- Zonguldak City Hotel, Zonguldak, Turkey, 1945, 1st prize.
- Erzurum-Turkish State Railways, Meeting Buildings and its Employee Houses, Erzurum, Turkey, 1945, honorable mention.
- Eskisehir Station Building, Eskisehir, Turkey, 1946, honorable mention.
- Istanbul Palace of Justice, Istanbul, Turkey, 1947, honorable mention.
- Ankara Single-storey Cooperative Houses, Ankara, Turkey, 1948, 1st prize.
- Ankara, Neighborhood of General Directorate of Nursery, Ankara, Turkey, 1949, 2nd prize.
- Municipality and Hotel Building, Izmit, Turkey, 1949, honorable mention.
- Sanatorium for Maltepe Workers Insurance Institute, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey, 1951, honorable mention.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1954, 1st prize.
Architectural Projects:
- Karamursel People’s House, Turkey, 1936.
- Gerede People’s House, Turkey, 1937.
- Sehremini People’s House, 1938.
- Kayseri People’s House, Turkey, 1938.
- A House, Ankara, Turkey, 1938.
- Various projects at Istanbul Municipality, Provincial Directorate and working with Martin Wagner, 1935-1940.
- Arab Culture Institute, Baghdad, Iraq, 1940.
- Cerrahpasa Polyclinic Building, Istanbul, Turkey, 1941.
- Garage Building, Sutluce, Istanbul, Turkey, 1941.
- Housing Projects with Emin Onat, 1942.
- Cinema, Club and Department Store Projects with Emin Onat, 1944.
- Uludag Sanatorium with Emin Onat, Bursa, Turkey, 1946-1949.
- Leman Tomsu House, Istanbul, Turkey, 1953.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1952-1955.
- Villa Ahmet Karamanci, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey, 1956.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, renovation project, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1959.
Publications, 1931-2015:
Publications by Leman Tomsu, in chronological order, 1931-1950:
- Cevad, Leman. “Gerede ve Emirdağ C. H. Partisi Evleri.” Arkitekt 52 (1935): 110-111. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/46/379.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman and Münevver Belen. “Gerede Halkevi Projesi.” Arkitekt 72 (1936): 330-332. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/140/1703.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman and Münevver Belen. “Kayseri Halkevi Binası Projesi.” Arkitekt 76 (1937): 107-109. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/29/212.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Leman and Münevver Belen. “Ev Projesi.” Arkitekt 76 (1937): 110-111. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/29/213.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Tozkoparan'da Bir Gazino Projesi.” Arkitekt 99-100 (1939): 73-75. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/100/1087.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Samsun Merkez Bankası Proje Müsabakası.” Arkitekt 105-106 (1939): 195-197. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/104/1141.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Poliklinik Binası.” Arkitekt 123-124 (1941): 49-52. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/107/1180.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. Bursa Evleri. Istanbul: Istanbul Matbaacılık T.A.O, 1950.
Publications on Leman Tomsu:
- Dostoğlu, Neslihan T., and Özlem Erdoğdu Erkaslan. Leman Cevat Tomsu, Türk Mimarlığında Bir Öncü, 1913-1988. Ankara: Mimarlığa Emek Verenler Dizisi No: 6, 2013.
15 September 2015
Sources:
Dostoğlu, Neslihan T., and Özlem Erdoğdu Erkaslan. Leman Cevat Tomsu, Türk Mimarlığında Bir Öncü, 1913-1988. Ankara: Mimarlığa Emek Verenler Dizisi No: 6, 2013.
Documents
Collections
Variant Names
Leman Cevat Tomsu
Leman Tomsu
1913-1988
Türkiye
Leman Tomsu, one of the first women architects of the Republic of Turkey (with Münevver Belen), graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul in 1934 with a degree in architecture. After obtaining her degree, she was appointed to the Provincial Directorate in Istanbul in February of 1935 and began to work with Martin Wagner, a German architect and city planner.
She traveled to Germany between 1937-1938. After returning to Turkey, she began to work in 1941 as the assistant to Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat, the founding professor and the first dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University, at the High School of Engineering in Istanbul, which was incorporated into Istanbul Technical University in 1944. In February of 1942, she was appointed as an associate professor at Istanbul Technical University with her thesis entitled Bursa Evleri (Bursa Houses), and became a professor at the same university in May of 1960.
In addition to her teaching position, she conducted her research in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, France and Italy in 1950 (two months), and Germany and the United Kingdom in 1958. In 1965, she visited Paris and attended a conference of the International Union of Architects (UIA). As a visiting professor, she gave a lecture on the Bursa Houses. In 1966 she organized an exhibition on architectural works from Istanbul Technical University at the University of California at Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture. At the same university, she attended seminars and project juries as well. In 1972, she made research trips to the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Swiss and Norway (three months). In 1978 she came to the United States to conduct her studies. In addition to the duties of her post at Istanbul Technical University, she worked on various architectural projects with Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat between 1936 and 1959. In addition, she participated many architectural design competitions and won several awards.
She traveled to Germany between 1937-1938. After returning to Turkey, she began to work in 1941 as the assistant to Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat, the founding professor and the first dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University, at the High School of Engineering in Istanbul, which was incorporated into Istanbul Technical University in 1944. In February of 1942, she was appointed as an associate professor at Istanbul Technical University with her thesis entitled Bursa Evleri (Bursa Houses), and became a professor at the same university in May of 1960.
In addition to her teaching position, she conducted her research in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, France and Italy in 1950 (two months), and Germany and the United Kingdom in 1958. In 1965, she visited Paris and attended a conference of the International Union of Architects (UIA). As a visiting professor, she gave a lecture on the Bursa Houses. In 1966 she organized an exhibition on architectural works from Istanbul Technical University at the University of California at Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture. At the same university, she attended seminars and project juries as well. In 1972, she made research trips to the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Swiss and Norway (three months). In 1978 she came to the United States to conduct her studies. In addition to the duties of her post at Istanbul Technical University, she worked on various architectural projects with Professor Dr. Emin Halit Onat between 1936 and 1959. In addition, she participated many architectural design competitions and won several awards.
As a pioneering woman in the early Republic period, Leman Tomsu worked on design commissions for public buildings rather than on housing projects. With rational programmatic solutions, the formal articulations of her works usually reflect the Second National Architectural Style characterized by a traditional and regional vocabulary under the influence of Emin Halit Onat and Sedad Hakkı Eldem. She retired from Istanbul Technical University in 1981, and passed away in Istanbul in 1988.
--Meral Ekincioglu, Ph.D.
15 September 2015
Sources:
Her career opened up new opportunities for women in Turkey, and her work in the fields of teaching and practice greatly influenced the next generation of women architects.
Architectural Design Competition Projects:
- Kadikoy People’s House Istanbul, Turkey, 1938, 3rd prize.
- Eskisehir Hamidiye and Mahmudiye Village Institutes, Eskisehir, Turkey, 1941, 1st prize.
- Trakya Kepirtepe Village Institute, Edirne, Turkey, 1942, 1st prize.
- Canakkale People’s House, Canakkale, Turkey, 1943, 3rd prize.
- Ankara Telephone Exchange Building, Ankara, Turkey, 1944, honorable mention.
- Zonguldak City Hotel, Zonguldak, Turkey, 1945, 1st prize.
- Erzurum-Turkish State Railways, Meeting Buildings and its Employee Houses, Erzurum, Turkey, 1945, honorable mention.
- Eskisehir Station Building, Eskisehir, Turkey, 1946, honorable mention.
- Istanbul Palace of Justice, Istanbul, Turkey, 1947, honorable mention.
- Ankara Single-storey Cooperative Houses, Ankara, Turkey, 1948, 1st prize.
- Ankara, Neighborhood of General Directorate of Nursery, Ankara, Turkey, 1949, 2nd prize.
- Municipality and Hotel Building, Izmit, Turkey, 1949, honorable mention.
- Sanatorium for Maltepe Workers Insurance Institute, Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey, 1951, honorable mention.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1954, 1st prize.
Architectural Projects:
- Karamursel People’s House, Turkey, 1936.
- Gerede People’s House, Turkey, 1937.
- Sehremini People’s House, 1938.
- Kayseri People’s House, Turkey, 1938.
- A House, Ankara, Turkey, 1938.
- Various projects at Istanbul Municipality, Provincial Directorate and working with Martin Wagner, 1935-1940.
- Arab Culture Institute, Baghdad, Iraq, 1940.
- Cerrahpasa Polyclinic Building, Istanbul, Turkey, 1941.
- Garage Building, Sutluce, Istanbul, Turkey, 1941.
- Housing Projects with Emin Onat, 1942.
- Cinema, Club and Department Store Projects with Emin Onat, 1944.
- Uludag Sanatorium with Emin Onat, Bursa, Turkey, 1946-1949.
- Leman Tomsu House, Istanbul, Turkey, 1953.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1952-1955.
- Villa Ahmet Karamanci, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey, 1956.
- Iskenderun Tradesmen Club, Chamber of Commerce, Stock Exchange Building, renovation project, Iskenderun, Turkey, 1959.
Publications, 1931-2015:
Publications by Leman Tomsu, in chronological order, 1931-1950:
- Cevad, Leman. “Gerede ve Emirdağ C. H. Partisi Evleri.” Arkitekt 52 (1935): 110-111. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/46/379.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman and Münevver Belen. “Gerede Halkevi Projesi.” Arkitekt 72 (1936): 330-332. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/140/1703.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman and Münevver Belen. “Kayseri Halkevi Binası Projesi.” Arkitekt 76 (1937): 107-109. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/29/212.pdf [Accessed February 28, 2016.]
- Leman and Münevver Belen. “Ev Projesi.” Arkitekt 76 (1937): 110-111. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/29/213.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Tozkoparan'da Bir Gazino Projesi.” Arkitekt 99-100 (1939): 73-75. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/100/1087.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Samsun Merkez Bankası Proje Müsabakası.” Arkitekt 105-106 (1939): 195-197. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/104/1141.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. “Poliklinik Binası.” Arkitekt 123-124 (1941): 49-52. http://dergi.mo.org.tr/dergiler/2/107/1180.pdf [Accessed on February 28, 2016.]
- Tomsu, Leman. Bursa Evleri. Istanbul: Istanbul Matbaacılık T.A.O, 1950.
Publications on Leman Tomsu:
- Dostoğlu, Neslihan T., and Özlem Erdoğdu Erkaslan. Leman Cevat Tomsu, Türk Mimarlığında Bir Öncü, 1913-1988. Ankara: Mimarlığa Emek Verenler Dizisi No: 6, 2013.
15 September 2015
Sources:
Dostoğlu, Neslihan T., and Özlem Erdoğdu Erkaslan. Leman Cevat Tomsu, Türk Mimarlığında Bir Öncü, 1913-1988. Ankara: Mimarlığa Emek Verenler Dizisi No: 6, 2013.
Documents
Images & Videos
Collections
Variant Names
Leman Cevat Tomsu