Folk Architecture in Konya

Abstract

The subject of this study is to determine the architectural features of the traditionai village houses remaining in the vicinity in Konya, such as space design, building material and techniques. The research is based on the observations made, during a research visit, on model houses from two villages having different architectural characteristics. The village houses generally are one storey buildings with a flat roof and they are made of mudbrick, stone and wood. The main building and the additional constructions as the kitchen, the storage and the bam, ete. are situated in a surrounding courtyard. The main house is composed of rooms situated on both sides of a hail. A hail vvith two rooms indicates the typical sehema. In some cases the number of rooms may inerease. In the rooms there are some Standard elements such as yüklük, sedir, and bath (gusulhane). Some houses belonging to rich people are designed as a double storey construction v/ith an inner sofa. They are generally decorated vvith wood carving. One of the two examples that have been closely studied is Kazım Süslü House from Sarayönü's Gözlü village and the other is Abdullah Çolak House from Tahtalı, a village of Çumra district, Konya. Two other examples of village rooms (guestroom) bearing the characteristics of the vernacular arehiteeture of Konya were chosen from Gözlü. We have also studied an old vvatermill in the same village. Recently, the profound social and economical changes and the migrations from the rural to the urban districts, have brought about the obligation of leaving the traditionai village houses of Konya vvhich resulted in their destruetion. Undoubtedly, the rich vernacular arehiteeture requires a more detailed research and analysis.