An Analysis of Rural Housing Architecture in Anatolia: Traditional Arapgir Village Houses

Abstract

This study examines the rural housing architecture of Anatolia through the example of Arapgir village houses, highlighting the spatial formations of the structures as well as the characteristics of their construction systems and materials. Arapgir is located in the Upper Euphrates Basin in the Eastern Anatolia region, and it has hosted many civilisations throughout history. The region’s geographical and cultural structure has influenced Arapgir’s civil architectural heritage, resulting in numerous examples of traditional Anatolian housing in which local materials such as stone, adobe, and wood are used together. Within the scope of this study, the architectural features and construction techniques of traditional village houses in the villages of Ormansırtı (Cücügen), Koru (Tebte), Onar, and Selamlı, were analysed. The documented village houses were generally two-story structures, with basements and ground floors built from thick stone walls reinforced with wooden beams. The upper floors, often with bay windows or projections, are constructed using timber framing with adobe infill. These structures were designed with both static requirements and aesthetic considerations in mind. Adapted to sloping terrain, the houses are situated on basement or semi-basement levels and include service spaces like stables, barns, and storage rooms opening into the courtyard. The upper f loors feature winter and summer rooms, central halls, and guest rooms designed to suit the climate. This study examines the plan typologies, construction techniques, and architectural details of Arapgir village houses, documenting the region’s unique architectural heritage. This study makes significant contributions to understanding and documenting the traditional village architecture of Anatolia.