The Italian architect who brought the ArtNouveau style to Turkey: Who is Raimondo d'Aronco?

(1857-1932) Italian architect. He became the most important practitioner of the ArtNouveau style in Turkey. Born in Gemona in Udine, died in Naples. He studied at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts. However, his interest was directed toward emerging trends in Europe and the artists who were their pioneers, rather than the classical education he received at school. In particular, he felt close to Art Nouveau, which sought entirely new, modern forms without emulating any period. Some of the exhibition pavilions he built with this understanding attracted attention with their projects and applications. His work at the Venice Exhibition in 1887 brought him recognition in Europe.

Raimondo Tommaso D’Aronco (1857–1932) was an Italian architect renowned for his building designs in the style of Art Nouveau. He was the chief palace architect to the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II in Istanbul for 16 years.

Beginning in the mid-1890s, he also worked in Turkey. The event that led to the beginning of this relationship was most likely his participation in the preparation of the projects for the Ottoman Exhibition in 1894. Admiring D'Aronco's work, Abdülhamid II appointed him as chief architect in 1896. The artist was active both in Turkey and Italy until 1908 when the sultan was overthrown. The pavilion he made at the Turin Exhibition in 1902 is considered his most important achievement in Europe. This was followed by the pavilions of the Udine Exhibition in 1903.

In addition to these studies, d'Aronco was a lecturer at Massa Academy in Italy and Palermo Kingdom Institute.

D'Aronco came to Turkey at a time when foreign architects began to undertake the main educational tasks and projects. Western influence, primarily seen in military buildings and palaces, gained weight on Ottoman architecture. Together with Alexander Valaury, who taught architecture at Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi, he realized the projects and applications of some important buildings in Istanbul. The Şeyh Zafir Complex in Beşiktaş, consisting of a tomb, library, and fountain, is one of the most typical works of the artist that has survived to this day.

It is seen that D'Aronco complies with the architectural understanding of the period in his buildings, and tries to integrate Western influences and local-traditional elements with a selective attitude. He became the most important practitioner of the Art Nouveau style, which predominates in the formation of his buildings, in Turkey.

WORKS (mainly):

Düyûn-ı Umumiye Building (with Valaury), 1899, Cağaloğlu/Istanbul, today Istanbul Boys' High School;

Haydarpaşa Military Medical Academy (with Valaury), 1903, Haydarpaşa/İstanbul, then Haydarpaşa High School, today Marmara University Faculty of Medicine;

Nazime Sultan mansion, 1905, Kuruçeşme/Istanbul, demolished;

Sheikh Zafir Complex, 1905-1906, Beşiktaş/Istanbul;

Karaköy Mosque, Istanbul, was demolished in 1958;

Italian Embassy, Tarabya/Istanbul;

Botter Apartments, Tunel/Istanbul.

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Raimondo D’Aronco – an Italian Architect in Istanbul

https://bosphorusreview.com/raimondo-darcono-an-italian-architect-in-istanbul