Gendarmerie Building - Sivas

Jandarma Building is a historical public structure located within the Government Square complex in the city center of Sivas, constructed in 1908 (Hijri 1326) by Governor Reşit Akif Paşa as the “Gendarmerie Directorate.” This stone building, serving military-administrative functions during the Ottoman period, is currently protected as a registered cultural heritage asset.

The building is situated in the administrative core of Sivas city, surrounding Government Square. Local administrative sources emphasize that the structure serves as a visual and historical focal point within the square’s overall composition.

^{Jandarma Building} (Culture Portal)

The construction date of the Jandarma Building is recorded in sources as 1908 (H. 1326). It is stated that the building was commissioned by Sivas Governor Reşit Akif Paşa at this time. Upon completion, the structure was put into service as the Gendarmerie Directorate / Gendarmerie Barracks.

Originally designed to serve the gendarmerie organization, the building is referred to in sources as the “Gendarmerie Directorate” or “Gendarmerie Barracks.” Following the cessation of active gendarmerie operations, it was repurposed for social uses, and its conservation and evaluation have since become subjects of local administrative initiatives.

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According to sources, the building’s plan is described as having an L-shaped massing. At the junction of the two arms of the L rises an octagonal-plan, three-story corner tower, which serves as the primary architectural element, providing vertical emphasis and establishing a clear relationship between the entrance and the central focus of the building.

Based on source descriptions, the corner tower and its connecting arms are organized as follows: the ground floor contains numerous rooms distributed along both arms of the L; the second floor features two rooms on each side, connected to the main space within the tower; the third floor contains a single upper chamber above the tower section. This arrangement indicates a centralized distribution pattern oriented around the tower within the building’s internal organization.

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Sources record a main entrance on the southern facade of the octagonal corner block, accessed via a stone staircase. It is noted that this entrance was later sealed, and access to the building today is now made through an interior corner connection. On the same corner facade, within a framed niche marked by erasures, lies the construction inscription, which contains information regarding the year of construction and the authority responsible for its commission.

The Jandarma Building was constructed using cut stone. The roof structure employs a wooden framework, with the upper covering completed in sheet metal cladding. Interior spaces feature wooden ceilings and flooring, particularly evident in the tower floors. Some rooms also include ornamental or carved ceiling details, as noted in the sources.

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The façades feature narrow and vertically elongated windows, the upper portions of which are crowned with flat arches in stone. Iron grilles are also recorded on the windows. Openings in the shape of eight-segmented arches are noted on the southern and eastern sides of the tower. Historical records also indicate the presence of former entrance openings on certain façades that were later sealed.

The Jandarma Building was officially registered as a cultural heritage asset on 22 July 1983, with a registration code of A-4468 as recorded in official sources. Its preservation is carried out in accordance with relevant cultural heritage legislation.

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According to statements by the Sivas Governorship, the historical Jandarma Building is expected to be integrated into ongoing urban square redevelopment efforts. Restoration and repurposing works are anticipated to contribute to the “Unique Square” project. The building’s cultural heritage value is being reevaluated within this framework.