A Building Witness to Two Eras: The History of the Isparta İdadi / Middle School Building
The historic school building, completed in 1912 as the Isparta İdadi (imperial high school), remains a central architectural and educational landmark in the city of Isparta. As a continuation of the educational structures that emerged during the Tanzimat period’s reformist agenda, this building maintained its educational function through both the Second Constitu> tional Era and the Republican period. According to archival records, the building was constructed on the site of the former Isparta Rüşdiye (secondary school) and served successively as the Isparta İdadi, the Isparta Middle School, and the Isparta High School. It held a prominent role as the most prestigious educational institution in the city and the surrounding region well into the mid>20th century. Given its significant impact on the historical development and transformation of Isparta, as well as its lasting influence on the city’s educational and cultural life, a comprehensive investigation of the building’s history is of considerable importance. Although it has undergone restorations and functional changes over time, the historic Isparta İdadi building continues to serve as a vessel of the city’s cultural memory. A detailed analysis of its architectural features and spatial functions may also serve as a valuable reference for similar structures in other cities.
İki Dönemin Tanığı Bir Bina: Isparta İdadisi/Orta Mektebi Binasının Tarihi
Isparta İdadisi olarak 1912’de inşaatı tamamlanan ve günümüzde hala Isparta şehrinin merkezindeki konumunu koruyan tarihi okul binası Tanzimat döneminde başlayan eğitim reformlarıyla şehir merkezinde varlık gösteren eğitim yapılarının devamı olarak İkinci Meşrutiyet ve Cumhuriyet döneminde de işlevini sürdürmüştür. Arşiv kayıtlarından elde edilen bilgilere göre eski Isparta Rüştiyesi’nin bulunduğu yerde inşa edilen tarihi bina sırasıyla Isparta İdadisi, Isparta Orta Mektebi ve Isparta Lisesi olarak şehrin ve bölgenin en fazla rağbet gören eğitim kurumu olmuş, 20. yüzyılın ortalarına kadar bu özelliği devam etmiştir. Bu anlamda Isparta şehrinin tarihi gelişim ve değişiminde etkili olan, aynı zamanda eğitim ve kültür hayatında iz bırakan bu binanın her yönüyle incelenerek günümüze kadarki tarihini aydınlatmak önem arz etmektedir. Tarihi Isparta İdadisi binası farklı amaçlar için kullanılıyor olsa da geçirdiği restorasyon ve değişimlerle şehrin kültürel hafızasını barındırmaya hala devam etmektedir. Binanın fiziki özellikleri ve mekânsal işlevinin kapsamlı bir şekilde ele alınması farklı şehirlerdeki benzerleri için örnek teşkil edecektir.
The historic Idadi building, which holds a significant place in the educational history and socio>cultural fabric of the Isparta region, has served as a witness to both the late Ottoman and Republican periods. The study of historical educational structures and the spatial cultures that emerge around them > as well as documenting and interpreting the transformations they have undergone > contributes not only to the urban memory of the cities in which they are located but also to a broader understanding of the socio>cultural evolution of the country.
This study aims to analyze the transformations experienced by the historic Isparta Idadi, which has continuously served as an educational institution from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Türkiye. It further seeks to explore how these transformations correspond to broader educational reforms and reflect the cultural history of the city. In addition to the limited secondary literature available on the subject, the study draws upon personal memoirs and original data obtained from archival documents pertaining to both historical periods.
Constructed in 1912 as the Isparta (Hamidabad) Idadi during the Second Constitutional Era, the building also carries the legacy of the former Isparta Rüştiye School, originally built in 1861 during the Tanzimat period. As such, the building represents a critical node in the educational and socio>cultural development of the city, bridging two major eras in Turkish history.
Following its construction in 1912, the building underwent its first major transformation as a result of damage sustained during the 1914 earthquake. The original third floor was removed and replaced by a cihannüma > an architectural feature that constitutes the only substantial alteration to the building’s original structure. Designed in accordance with the standardized Idadi school plans implemented in provincial centers during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, the building closely resembles the typological characteristics of similar structures in cities such as Kastamonu and Balıkesir. Initially constructed as a three>storey building, the Isparta Idadi featured a prominent third floor with a columned portico that projected outward. After the earthquake, this upper storey was replaced in 1914>1915 with a hipped roof and an attic, accompanied by a balcony built above the original portico. While this addition was meant to emulate the function of a cihannüma, it lacked its formal architectural qualities and instead created a new focal point in the building’s external appearance.
By 1925, the building was functioning as the Isparta Secondary School. Following a nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in 1926, several modifications were made in the 1926>1927 academic year. These included the division of classrooms to accommodate increased enrollment, concreting of the floors, replacement of hall ceilings, and the expropriation of adjacent land > currently the site of the Isparta Teachers’ Lodge > to expand the schoolyard. Additionally, a four>classroom pavilion was erected in the courtyard, though it no longer survives today. In 1952, the institution was reconstituted as Isparta High School, and in 1960, it was renamed Şehit Ali İhsan Kalmaz High School. The following year, the school was relocated to a newly constructed building situated in the rear courtyard. From 1961 onwards, the historic Idadi building was repurposed to serve various public institutions. Between 1986 and 1990, the building underwent a major restoration. While the external facade was largely preserved to maintain historical authenticity, the interior was significantly altered. The internal walls were reconstructed using reinforced concrete, new supporting columns were added, and the roof slab was replaced to ensure structural integrity. Following this restoration, the building housed the Provincial Directorate of National Education until approximately 5>6 years ago. In 2019, a government decision repurposed the building as a Millet Kıraathanesi (Public Reading Hall), a function it continues to fulfill today.
