Günay Çilingiroğlu

Çilingiroğlu, reflecting his principles of usefulness, robustness and beauty in his original designs, carried out with an easily comprehensible, pure and simple approach, was famous for his building designs such as İstanbul Reklam Sitesi and Tercüman Newspaper & Printing Press Facilities. He was known for his works which had brave structural interpretations that aimed to improve the value of space. Before graduating from Galatasaray High School in 1956, while he was a student, Çilingiroğlu traveled to Antalya with a scholarship he received from the Italian government. In 1961, upon graduating from İstanbul Technical University, School of Architecture, he once again was given a scholarship by the Italian government to further travel to Italy for an internship between 1961 and ‘62. Between 1963 and ‘67, he worked as an assistant in the Chair of Architectural Project at the İstanbul State Academy of Engineering and Architecture (aka. Yıldız Technical University), meanwhile, continuing his private practice in his own office. Participating in several architectural competitions between 1962 and ‘75, Çilingiroğlu holds numerous 1st Prizes. Some of his winning designs that were later built are as follows: İstanbul Reklam Sitesi (w/ Muhlis Tunca), İzmit Petrochemical Facilities Administration Building and Campus (w/ Emin Necip Uzman & İsmet Turhal), İstanbul Demirciler Sitesi (w/ M.Tunca), Bebek-Etiler Urban Plan (w/ M.Tunca) and Ortaköy Esma Sultan Külliyesi.Some of Çilingiroğlu’s built designs are as such: İstanbul Reklam Sitesi (between 1963-72, in Cağaloğlu), Dragos Hotel (between 1970-72, w/ Muhlis Tunca, Erdal Erkut, Bilge Kıray, Mutlu Çilingiroğlu, İlhan Gültan), Tercüman Newspaper & Printing Press Facilities (between 1972-74, in Topkapı, w/ M.Tunca), Pensoy House (between 1976-78, in Yeniköy), Karaköy Trade Center (between 1976-78, w/ M. Tunca, B. Kıray, M. Çilingiroğlu), Machinery & Chemical Industry Exhibition and Accommodation Building (between 1978-80, in Gümüşsuyu), Gürsel House (between 1982-84, in Bebek), Tümen House (between 1987-89, in Yeniköy) and Erg Industry Exhibition Space and Headquarters in Ankara (between 1983-89, in Çankaya, w/ Davran Eşkinat). Çilingiroğlu passed away on August 18th, 2010.