A graduate of Faculty of Architecture of Near East University, Architect Çağatay Tekin, is carrying out the restoration project of the ancient Karamanoğlu Turkish Bath, which is estimated to be built in 1302 during the Karamanoğlu Beylic period in Ermenek, a district of Karaman which is a province in Turkey.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, Architect Çağatay Tekin graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of Near East University in 2010 and has recently begun to run the restoration project of the historical constructions of Karamanoğlu Turkish Bath in Ermenek- an area regarded as natural beauty near the Göksu river, a touristic destination.

The restored building will add value to tourism in Ermenek…
Architect Çağatay Tekin made a statement regarding the matter and stated that he won the bid of the restoration project offered bythe General Directorate for Foundations and that he meticulously worked on the required processes regarding the pre-excavation, examination and the building survey, restitution and restoration projects.

He added that the location was left abandoned for many years and that during the restoration, many documents were expected to be found that could shed light on the Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey’s jurisdiction period and to the history of Ermenek. Furthermore, he expressed that the restoration of the historical places constructed by Karamanids in Ermenek was a significant task and stated that once the restoration of the historical Turkish bath is completed, including the environmental planning, it will add to the value to tourism in Ermenek.

He longed for his days as a student at Near East University and remembered Near East family with love…
Çağatay Tekin stated that he had established close relations with the locals in Ermenek and that he resembled the accent of the locals to the accent to the Turkish Cypriots` accent; pointing out that there were many shared words. Moreover, Çağatay Tekin expressed how he longed for his days as a student at Near East University and pointed out that as a result of an accident he had in Nicosia in 2009, he had to spend a month and a half at the at the state hospital-Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu. He emphasized that he and his family were not left alone and were supported by the Near East family. He emphasised that he had not forgotten Near East University authorities and academic members who trained him at NEU Faculty of Architecture and expressed that he was very grateful to his teachers.

In addition, Çağatay Tekin stated that as soon as he graduated, he initiated his career life by preparing projects of aqueducts in Aydın- Çine, building survey, restitution and restoration projects. Later, he continued his career by working on building survey, restitution and restoration projects of Akköprü bridge in Muğla-Dalaman.

An Emotional and Honouring Moment…
It was pointed out that the Academic Member of Faculty of Pharmacy of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli went on a trip to Ermenek to see the current status of the area, which was her family heritage, and came across Çağatay Tekin unexpectedly. Making a statement regarding the matter, Academic Member of the Near East University, Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli stated that as a living member of the Karamanids dynasty, it was a very nice coincidence for a Near East University graduate to work on the restoration project of a historical site in Karaman, a city where she was born herself. She added that although the house that she was born in had collapsed, it was an emotional and honouring moment when she found out that a Near East University graduate was running this project.