A Rural Architectural Heritage Research: Çavdarhisar Houses

Abstract

Along with archaeological excavation works carried in Aizanoi Ancient City located in Çavdarhisar, Kütahya between 2011-2020, Turkish-Islamic period researches were also carried between 2012-2015. This research was carried in four neighborhoods that constitute the old city center in two stages, as field work and office studies. Examples encountered during field works were recorded, plan schemes and sketches were made and photographed. Raw data obtained from the field were processed during office studies, categorized and archived after given an inventory number. Completing the study, three mosques, twenty-five houses, twenty-five granaries and ten owens were recorded in total. It can be seen that houses constitutes a significant number in this cultural heritage. The recorded houses have one ground floor and one story above, made of rubble stone masonry and occasionally half-timbered. Inner and outer hall planned houses appear simple on the outside yet have elements inside like closets, wardrobes and ceilings which show a quality woodworking. In this study, Çavdarhisar houses that are intertwined with the ancient settlement and even have an important role in formation of neighborhoods were evaluated. This study consists of the evaluation of plan schemes, façades and ornaments; and focuses on the characteristics of houses in Çavdarhisar. While different variations of this plan type are not seen in the houses with inner sofas, five different applications are encountered in the plan type with outer sofas. The forward projection of the facades of the houses facing the street in the form of storeys is seen in almost all of the Çavdarhisar houses. It has been determined that the fine woodwork ornaments on the load-bags and ceilings in the rooms of the houses, which have a very plain appearance from the outside, are original examples. Documentation of cultural heritage before its disappearance and contribution to Turkish civil architecture in terms of rural architecture shows the study’s original worth.