Gülhane Park in Istanbul, Türkiye, is home to numerous monuments, but the installation of Gülhane’s Alphabet has created a distinct landmark within it to newly connect with residents and visitors. Celebrating the history and culture of the nation in a way that enables audiences to experience each, Gülhane’s Alphabet highlights what it can look like to spur additional engagement that attracts the attention of audiences of all types.
Celebrating the Alphabet Reform
Gülhane’s Alphabet was designed to commemorate the Alphabet Reform that redefined the letters of the Turkish alphabet to support the literacy of the entire nation. Introduced by the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1928 at Gülhane Park, it was designed to help express “our beautiful language” and increase literacy across the nation, which was less than 10% when it was introduced.
Individaul letters of the Turkish alphabet are represented on markers that detail cultural anecdotes, historical events and important individuals. Various established monuments like the Atatürk statue and the Saint George Sistern are connected to relevant letters, providing audiences with additional ways to experience these landmarks.
Mostly scattered across the main thoroughfare of Gülhane Park, audiences are encouraged to go from one letter to the next but also find ones that are not positioned on the main path. This layout exposes them to additional elements of the park, creating a further sense of engagement that attracts residents and visitors for very different reasons.
A Historical Identity
By celebrating the history associated with the Alphabet Reform as well as the cultural impact that it has enabled, Gülhane’s Alphabet connects with multiple eras and audiences of Istanbul. In doing so, it has created a monument within a landmark that cultivates engagement with both residents and visitors in a way that connects the past to the future of the city and nation.
