Evaluation of the physical environment in Anatolian rural architecture

Abstract

Anatolia, with its multicultural background and unique geography, is "the cradle" of many civilizations. It enables a variety of architectural design practices, due to diverse climate conditions from one region to another. Recently, a great intention is to generate architectural forms which provides health and comfort, less energy and harmony with human in the rural areas of Anatolia. There is a need to explore the properties of climate, material and building technology used in the traditional rural architecture in order to adapt into new architectural system. The identification of how physical environmental characteristics change in accordance with different climate regions and how traditional architecture aligned with the existing physical environment are specially important for the development of a method in this context. This study aims to resolve the characteristics of traditional architecture for the reassessment of rural area. Balıkesir is one of the provinces having a physical environment that can be utilized with the diversity of climate. In this study, therefore, Balıkesir is taken into account as it holds three types of climate. Different types of country houses in Balıkesir region are selected, modelled in 3D and analysed in terms of physical environment in regard to their own climate conditions. A comparison is also made between the obtained values of different climate regions. The results show that traditional rural architecture has many traits and features, that hardly found in today's contemporary residences.