THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE IN THE FORMATION OF TRADITIONAL TURKISH HOUSES

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE IN THE FORMATION OF TRADITIONAL TURKISH HOUSES A. Er Akan, F. Z. Cakici Department of Architecture, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, 06531 E-mail: erasli@arch.metu.edu.tr ABSTRACT: Magnificent structures have been built by our ancestors, as part of our historic heritage. Traditional Turkish houses constitute an important part of these structures. Unfortunately, traditional housing patterns have been disappeared and the Turkish house has lost its original character. There are several factors, which determine the design of houses such as traditions, way of life, material, economy and climate. Traditional Turkish houses in Turkey are produced under the influence of regional characteristics of the Western-Northern- Southern and Central and the Marmara regions that have significant climatic differences due to their varied geographies. Hence climate types of these regions play a dominant role in the design of the Traditional Turkish house. This study represents a brief historical background of the Turkish house and explains how the different climatic conditions have influenced the home environment and plan types. In order to make a comparison, three cases have been selected from different regions of Turkey. Keywords Climate; Planning; Traditional Turkish Houses; Turkey 1. INTRODUCTION Dwellings are built to serve a variety of functions. One of the most important functions is to create living conditions that are acceptable to their occupants, particularly in relation to the climate of the region. Buildings do not control the climate; they can only provide protection from such elements of nature as the wind, rain or sun etc. However, they can passively modify the internal climate, even though they are affected by the external conditions. The materials that are used for constructing a building, its orientation and form, the volumes it encloses and the services that are installed, may all contribute to the micro-climate that a house generates. Building materials selected from natural resources may be considered in terms of their climatic suitability and performance, and the means by which cultures have utilized thermal properties of these materials (Oliver, 2003). Although the regions where the Turkish House is common are generally within the moderate climate zones, significant differences can be noted in the microclimate, temperature and precipitation rates, both between the north and the south and between the coasts and inlands, due also to the variation in local topographies. Generally, the plan of houses is formed with the arrangement of the rooms around a sofa. Plan types of sofas are shown below. The open- sofa plan type, which is one of the most important plan types of the Turkish House, can be seen both along the Mediterranean coast in Antalya, which has mild winters and in Central Anatolia in Ankara, which in turn has very harsh winters (Gunay, 1998). Traditional houses have been designed to provide suitable spaces for winter and summer conditions. 338

Figure 1.1 Plan Types of Sofas (Gunay, 1998) 2. FORMATION OF TRADITIONAL TURKISH HOUSES It can be said that Traditional Turkish houses are the products of man s direct relations and experiences with the environment. The form is modified until it satisfies most of the cultural, physical and maintenance requirements. These buildings are flexible enough to withstand alterations and they resist environmental forces like microclimate and site (Onat, 1992). According to Tosun (1983) general characteristics of traditional houses in Turkey are: lack of theoretical presentations; working with the site and microclimate; respect for other people and their houses and hence for the total environment, man-made as well as natural. Onat (1992) classifies the factors that determine traditional construction in this country as follows: Geographical factors: Geographical factors include climate, site, geology (abundance or shortage of specific building materials), the potential of soil for agriculture and appropriate way of farming etc. Climatic solution can be analyzed in terms of orientation, structure, plan layout, settlement form and use of materials. Site is evaluated in terms of slope, type of rock, soil, vegetation etc. Historical Factors: By historical factors it is meant that traditional architecture is influenced in one way or another by the past. Existing buildings are references for craftsmen in their works. Technological and constructional factors: Technological and constructional factors are the availability and choice of materials and construction techniques. These factors influence and modify the form of the buildings in a settlement. Socio- Cultural Factors: Safety, religion and economics are the determinants of sociocultural factors in traditional construction. Some basic needs and beliefs, family size and structure, position of women, privacy and social organization and relations are also some of the important aspects of social and cultural factors that affect the built form. Among the factors mentioned above, climate is a dominant factor in the formation of traditional houses in Turkey. According to Ceylan (1983) climatic variables that influence architecture can be listed as follows: Wind: Desirable or undesirable and hence whether it should be encouraged or discouraged. Rain: Comes mostly under construction, but involves climate by the need to keep out rain while retaining ventilation, especially in hot, humid areas. 339

Radiation and Light: Desirable or undesirable, and hence whether it should be encouraged or discouraged. 3. CASE STUDIES There are four climatic regions in Turkey as shown on the map (Figure 3.1). In this study three traditional house types from three different climatic regions of Turkey are examined and compared in terms of climatic effects on the formation of these houses. The regions and the cities selected for the study are: 2. region-urfa, 3. region-safranbolu and 4. region- Kayseri. Figure 3.1 Climatic Regions of Turkey (Turkish Standard TS 825, 1998) 3.1. Traditional Houses in Urfa The city of Urfa is situated in south-eastern Turkey, which has an arid climate. The climate in arid zones is characterized by high day-time and low night-time temperatures, low humidity little precipitation and a relentless sun which shines from a cloudless sky. The air temperatures for 7-8 months of the year are quite high in Urfa. Climatic values of the city are seen in Table 3.4.1. The courtyard house with a small pool and a planting section as microclimatic elements is the ideal type of dwelling in this region (Figure 3.1.1). Depending upon the land on which they were built, they either have a square, rectangular or trapezoid plan. The eyvan is the principal unit of the main plan with rooms on both sides, rectangular in shape with windows at the sides, closed at the rear and has an arched facade facing the courtyard. It is an important element acting as a determinant of the plan layout of traditional dwellings in arid regions of Turkey, while sofa is the important element of other regions. According to Oren (1996) eyvan is the space providing a passageway inside the house and where interfamilial and intrafamilial relations took place. Traditional houses in Urfa have generally two eyvan s for summer and winter use (Figure 3.1.2). 340

Figure 3.1.1 A courtyard house with a small pool and a planting section (Oren, 1996) Figure 3.1.2 Eyvan s in traditional Urfa houses (Oren, 1996) The eyvan, kitchen, barn and storerooms and stairs are located around the courtyard, where the fountain, well and flowerbeds from an indoor garden. The rooms opening onto the courtyard have smaller windows, which have not glass and are used to illuminate and ventilate the rooms. Due to the arid climate, the roofs are flat and either covered by earth or paved with stone. These structures are generally planned to be above the courtyard. Three or five steps lead to the eyvan s on the lower- floors. On the upper floors there is a rectangular, open space with arcades overlooking the courtyard. On the rear walls of eyvan which is used mostly during hot summer days, there is a wide high niche in the middle with two lower narrow niches at the sides with ducts leading to the roof for providing ventilation. The building material used in Urfa is light coloured calcerous stone. Stone is an appropriate material to be used in arid regions; since it has a high thermal capacity. This particular type of stone is soft when it is brought from the quarry, therefore it can easily be shaped. However, it hardens after it is used in construction, and exposed to the climatic conditions. This material works climatically and provides a pleasing atmosphere in all seasons (Figure 3.1.3). In order to create a better microclimate and decrease the stressful effect of the sun in summer, the streets in Urfa are designed with a width of 2.00-2.50 m, and high walls, which shade the streets all day, surround courtyards. Kabaalti (vaulted passageways) which is a part of the street, are constructed to creat a cool spot on hot summer days (Oren, 1996) (Figure 3.1.4). Comparing Urfa houses to others built in areas on the same 341

latitude and with similar climatic conditions, it can be said that the same architectural characteristics prevail with respect to planning; the Urfa houses are similar to those in Diyarbakir and Mardin in the same region. Figure 3.1.3 Material Works in Urfa Houses Figure 3.1.4 A Kabaalti from Urfa (Vaulted passageway) Source: Oren (1996) 3.2. Traditional Houses in Safranbolu Safranbolu, which is located in the north-west Black Sea Region, is surrounded by mountains on its north and west. Being only 400-600 metres above sea level, the city is on a transitional belt between the climate of the Black Sea region and that of Central Anatolia. It rains during all seasons, however, due to the influence of the climate in the Central Anatolia, there is much more rainfall in the first half of the year. Summer starts at the beginning of July and lasts till the end of September. Because of its location, Safranbolu is not exposed to the winds. There are four factors, which help shape the houses in Safranbolu: family structure, climate, culture and economy. Being three storied in general, these houses are surrounded by a courtyard. Rooms are arranged around a sofa in the house, which are generally made of stone and timber (Figure 3.2.1). The excessive rainfall was taken into consideration during the design phase of the roofs. Climatic properties of Safranbolu are shown in Table 3.4.1. Another important characteristic of these houses is that they can respond to the environment, as they do not block the view of each other. The courtyard surrounding each house is separated from the street by means of a stone wall (Figure 3.2.2). There is a hayat next to the entrance of the house, which is called as taslik (stony place) where the floor is cladded with round pebbles. There is also a stable, a furnace and a granary on the ground floor. The second floor is usually lower in height than the other floors. As it is easier to keep this floor warm, daily activities are shifted to the second floor during winters. 342

Figure 3.2.1 A Traditional house in Safranbolu Source: http://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20daybyday/020105%20beirut/ott07.jpg 3.3. Traditional Houses in Kayseri Figure 3.2.2 A Traditional house in Safranbolu Source:http://www.deepnature.com/safranbolu_ev.jpg In Kayseri, it is hot and dry in summers, whereas cold and snowy in winters. This semi-arid climate is dominant in Central Anatolia. Traditional dwellings in Kayseri, being formed by square and rectangular spaces, are generally asymmetric structures surrounding a garden or a courtyard (Figure 3.3.1-3.3.2). In general, houses are two storied: second floors were used mostly in springs and summers, however ground floors are used in winters. 343

Figure 3.3.1 View from a courtyard in Kayseri Figure3.3.2 A traditional house in Kayseri Source: Imamoglu (1992) Roofs are flat and the edges of doors and windows have sharp borders. Rooms were planned around an open space in the house. Except for cold days in winter, many of the family activities were carried out in the courtyard towards which, the rooms are oriented. Service spaces, having no windows onto the streets are entered through the courtyard. There is always a paved area, a planted section, a well and sometimes a pool in the courtyard to provide microclimate balance for the house. The sofa, which is a dominant space within the house, opens to the courtyard with a door. Dimensions of the sofa are about 7-8 m. in length, 4-5 m in width and 5-7 m in height. Semi-open living units called kiosks, which could be in different forms and arrangements, are also integral parts of these houses. In the early examples kiosks were separate structures at the ground level adjacent to the house. These houses are generally built with stone and timber. Walls, arches, piers and barrel vaults are mostly made of cut stone, which is a lightweight tuff. The basement and the composite stonewalls of these houses are around 60-80 cm. in thickness, however, upper floor cut stone walls are around 25-30 cm thick. 3.4. Comparison of the Three Cases in Terms of Climatic Effects The three cases are examined in terms of climatic affects on them. It is observed that in arid and semi-arid zones, traditional houses consist of open and semi-open spaces in order to cope with the climate. Although the houses in Kayseri and Urfa show similarities in terms of materials and building form, there are differences in plan layouts. Houses in both cities are constructed surrounding a courtyard with flat roofs. However, in traditional Urfa houses there are much more open spaces than that of Kayseri due to the hot dry summers in Urfa. On the other hand, as climatic conditions of Safranbolu are quite different than the other two cases, formation of traditional houses in this city show considerably differences. General plan types of the houses in the three cases are shown below (Figure 3.4.1-3.4.3). Table 3.4.1 consists of maximum average temperature degrees of the hottest months, maximum average temperature degrees of the coldest months, the yearly average humidity and the monthly average of precipitation in these three cities. These values justify the presence of more open spaces in Urfa houses than the traditional houses in the other two cities. While minimum average temperatures of the coldest months in Kayseri and Safranbolu are below 0 o C, this value is above 0 o C in Urfa. According to this table the highest average of precipitation is seen in Safranbolu. This makes timber, which is a commonly used building material in this area, easily available. On the other hand, due to its high thermal capacity and abundance, stone is extensively used in Kayseri and Urfa. In addition, there are differences in 344

spatial requirements of the traditional houses in the three climatic regions. Eyvan, which is a semi-open space, is the principal unit of Urfa houses, whereas sofa is a dominant element in Safranbolu houses. Table 3.4.1 Climatic Values of the Cases (Gunay, 2004 and Markus, 1980) Cities The hottest months (July-August) (Max. average C) The coldest months (January- February-March) (min. average C) Humidity (The yearly average) (%) The monthly average of precipitation (mm) Kayseri 30.7-4.6 64 30.51 Safranbolu 40-10 60 60.08 Urfa 38.4 2.86 48 39.42 Figure 3.4.1 Plan type of Urfa Houses (Oren,1996) 345

Figure 3.4.2 Plan type of Safranbolu Houses (Gunay, 1998) Figure 3.4.3 Plan type of Kayseri Houses (Imamoglu, 1992) 5. CONCLUSIONS Traditional Turkish Houses in Turkey were produced under the influence of the regional characteristics of Western-Northern-Southern and Central Anatolia and Marmara region that have significant seasonal differences due to variation in local topographies. Climatic conditions of these regions are dominant factors on the formation of traditional houses. Solutions that were produced in order to cope with climate can be guidelines for housing in different regions even today. In this study three house types from different climatic zones -Kayseri, Urfa, Safranboluwere investigated. It is observed that there are significant differences in plan types of these houses. Traditional houses in Kayseri and Urfa consist of open and semi-open spaces in order to deal with the climate. However, Safranbolu houses made up of much more open spaces. In addition due to high average of precipitation timber is a commonly used building material in 346

Safranbolu whereas, stone is extensively used in Kayseri and Urfa. Differences are also seen in spatial requirements of these houses. Eyvan, is the principal unit of Urfa houses, while sofa is a dominant element in Safranbolu houses. 6. REFERENCES Ceylan, F., 1983, Evaluation of Post-Earthquake Long Term Housing Activities in the Rural Areas of Turkey- With a Case Study From Gediz, Unpublished master s thesis, METU, Ankara, 1983. Gunay, R., 1998, Tradition of the Turkish House and Safranbolu Houses, Istanbul: Guzel Sanatlar Matbaaasi A.S., 1998. Gunay, R., 2004, Safranbolu Evleri, Istanbul: Yapi Yayin, 2004. Imamoglu, V., 1992, Geleneksel Kayseri Evleri-Traditional Dwellings in Kayseri, Ankara: Laga Basim-Yayin, 1992. Markus, T.A., 1980, Building, Climate, and Energy, London; Marshfield, Mass.: Pitman Pub., 1980. Oliver, P., 2003, Dwellings The Vernacular House World Wide, London: Phaidon Press Limited, 2003. Onat, A. T., 1992, An Investigation of Vernacular Architecture and a Proposal for a New Neighborhood Unit in Gaziantep, Unpublished master s thesis, METU, Ankara, 1992. Oren, S., 1996, Traditional Urfa Dwellings: An Investigation of Part of The Old Town Center, Unpublished Master Thesis, METU, Ankara, 1996. Tosun, V., 1983, Environmental Forces that Influence Form in Vernacular Architecture A CaseStudy in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Unpublished master s thesis, METU, Ankara, 1983. Turkish Standard TS 825, 1998, Thermal Insulation in Buildings, Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara, 1998. http://www.destoop.com/trip/3%20daybyday/020105%20beirut/ott07.jpg http://www.deepnature.com/safranbolu_ev.jpg 347