Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Monument

Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Monument, as a result of limited competition in 1998, High. Eng. Mime. Levent AKSÜT and Asst. Eng. Mime. Won and made by Yaşar MARULYALI.

Atatürk's words  "TO SEE ME IS NOT TO SEE MY FACE. THAT IS ENOUGH IF YOU UNDERSTAND MY IDEAS."  based on his word; This monument, which symbolizes him with his ideas that surrounds the world like a flame, was designed as an outward expression of his steel will.

The location of the monument has been chosen by prioritizing the idea of ​​reconciling the monument with nature and the sky, rather than the silhouette of the building behind it. The monument was built with stainless steel blades, the modern material of our age. Considered as a living object rather than a stagnant symbol, it has been turned into a living symbol with the highlights of the moving and shining water in the sunlight during the day and the moving lighting made from inside the monument at night. The two exposed concrete walls behind the monument represent the Anatolian and Rumelian sides, and the waterfall that springs from between them expresses the ideas and source of Atatürk, and that his ideas surround the Island of Cyprus. Atatürk's laconic words are on the concrete blocks at the back.

The monument is the joint work of H. Levent Aksüt and Yaşar Marulyalı.

H. LEVENT AKSÜT  Senior Engineer Architect

He was born in 1930 in Istanbul. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1953. Together with his classmate Yaşar Marulyalı, UMO Architecture Engineering Contracting and Consulting Ltd. Şti. was founded. He won many competitions at home and abroad. He worked at the Istanbul Municipality Planning Directorate in 1960-61. He prepared the document exercise and had it implemented in Istanbul Municipality. In 1969, he won the 2nd prize in the International London Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque competition. He worked as ITU Consultant Architect between 1972-82. In 1979, USKON Space System Constructions San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. and brought the steel prefabricated space cage system to Turkey for the first time. Between 1979-2000, steel prefabricated space systems were produced in our country and in Singapore from the USA. It has been designed and implemented in many foreign countries until today. His name was published in "Who's Who in the World", which was published in the USA in 1984. UMO Architecture Engineering Contracting and Consulting Ltd. Şti., he undertook the construction, management and consultancy of many projects in Turkey and abroad by establishing the construction site management department (Umo Teknik). Antalya Cam Pyramid Sabancı Congress and Fair Center project received the European Steel Association Award in 1999. In 2000, USKON EUROPE Structures Spatiales and Çelik Yapı Proje, İmalat, Erection, San. ve Tic. A.Ş. was founded. He undertook the construction, management and consultancy of many projects in Turkey and abroad by establishing the construction site management department (Umo Teknik) in Istanbul. Antalya Cam Pyramid Sabancı Congress and Fair Center project received the European Steel Association Award in 1999. In 2000, USKON EUROPE Structures Spatiales and Çelik Yapı Proje, İmalat, Erection, San. ve Tic. A.Ş. was founded. He undertook the construction, management and consultancy of many projects in Turkey and abroad by establishing the construction site management department (Umo Teknik) in Istanbul. Antalya Cam Pyramid Sabancı Congress and Fair Center project received the European Steel Association Award in 1999. In 2000, USKON EUROPE Structures Spatiales and Çelik Yapı Proje, İmalat, Erection, San. ve Tic. A.Ş. was founded.

He won many degrees and honorable mentions in architectural project competitions and was a member of the jury. It pioneered new technologies (glass curtain walls, structural glass facades, fully automatic parking systems) entering the country. He won the Dumlupınar Monument, the Cyprus Freedom and Peace Monument in Kyrenia, and the Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Monument in Famagusta. All three monuments brought innovations to the understanding of monuments.

Between 1962-69, he held various positions in the Chamber of Architects. He was awarded the 30th Year Honorary Certificate of the Chamber of Architects in 1983, and the 40th Year Honorary Certificate of the ITU 40th and the Chamber of Architects' Chamber of Architects in 1993. In 1995, he became a member of TODEV Turkey Autistic Association, and in 1997 he established the TODEV Foundation, and as a trustee member of the foundation, he made the project of the TODEV school of 2900 m² as a grant and ensured its construction. In 1998, he established the Istanbul branch of the Turkish Freelance Architects Association and was elected as its chairman. He was the President of Istanbul Swimming Specialization Club and TODEV Foundation at various times.

YAŞAR MARULYALI  M.Sc. Engineer Architect

Born in Mersin in 1931, Yaşar Marulyalı graduated from Ankara Atatürk High School with the first rank and entered ITU Faculty of Architecture in 1948, graduating in 1953. After completing his military service, he founded the UMO Architecture and Engineering Partnership with his classmate Levent Aksüt. In 1982, UMO Architecture Engineering Contracting and Consulting Ltd. Sti. The company still continues its business life.

In his 49-year working life, he built many important buildings, won many awards, including 16 first prizes in architectural competitions, and was a member of the jury.

He designed many important structures and made them come true. It was a pioneer in the application of new technologies (Glass curtain walls, structural glass facades, fully automatic parking systems) entering the country. Between 1979 and 2000, steel prefabricated space systems were designed and implemented in our country and in many foreign countries from America to Singapore. He founded Uskon Europe Structures Spatiales in 2000. In 2000, Çelik Yapı Project, Manufacturing, Installation Industry. ve Tic. He founded A.Ş. He is currently the vice president of the Turkish Structural Steel Association and has been the President of the Architecture Foundation since 2005. He is a member of IASS (The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures). He is a member of the architectural consultancy committee of ECCS (European Convention for Constructional Steelwork).

He developed new concepts with the Dumlupınar Victory Monument, the Cyprus Freedom Monument, and the Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Monument, which were won in the competitions. It became a pioneer by using new material technologies in its structures for the first time.

Between 1965 and 1972, he worked as a project lecturer at Yıldız Technical School, Department of Architecture. He has been a faculty member at Yeditepe University Faculty of Architecture since 2001.

For his contributions to this page, Mr.  Y. Eng. Mime. We would like to thank Levent Aksüt .

Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean University Ataturk Monument