The last court architect of the Ottoman Empire, Vedat Tek was one of two leading figures of the First Turkish National Architectural Movement, alongside Mimar Kemaleddin.

Of Cretan Muslim origin, Vedat Tek was born in Istanbul to the governor of Baghdad Province Giritli Sırrı Pasha and composer Leyla Saz as their second son.

[citation needed] Vedat Tek became popular as an architect because of his project for the Kastamonu Governor's Office (1902).

[citation needed] After the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, Vedat Tek was called to Ankara.

The buildings all over the country designed in that style had a sweeping overhanging roof, tiled panels on the façade, large arched windows and jutting semi-circular ornaments in common.