I wanted to share this building for some time now, but I couldn’t quite wor…

I wanted to share this building for some time now, but I couldn’t quite work out what was holding me back. I visited Urla in the summer, a lovely coastal town in İzmir, Türkiye. It’s calm, close to the sea, and easy to walk through without ever feeling rushed. I was walking around when I noticed this building. It stood out without trying to. Solid, balanced, and familiar in a way that felt deliberate. It was Urla Devlet Tiyatrosu, the State Theatre.

At first, what caught my attention was the exterior. Simple, dignified, and clear about its purpose. I went inside and realised there was an exhibition on. Paintings were spread throughout the space, and the building felt active rather than preserved.

I started talking to one of the artists. She was a retired teacher who now paints. We spoke for a while, and I ended up buying one of her paintings. It felt less like a purchase and more like taking part in the moment. After some time, I think she noticed that I was more interested in the building than the exhibition. Being a teacher probably gives you a good sense for that. You can see her photo in the dump actually!

I told her that I studied architecture, and that the building gave me a strong modernist feeling. That led me to explain what modernist architecture is and why I’m drawn to it. Even though the building appears relatively new, or at least refurbished, it still holds onto strong characteristics associated with modernism. I haven’t been able to find the name of the architect, but I imagine it was designed by council architects, which is often the case with state buildings in Turkey.

The staircase is curved and carefully considered. You don’t see many like this in newer buildings anymore. It isn’t designed for speed or efficiency, but for movement and presence. Going upstairs wasn’t allowed, but she kindly let me go anyway. From upstairs, the building felt even more thought through. Light coming in through the windows, red seating areas, paintings placed without overwhelming the space. Everything felt balanced and intentional.