BİNAN, DEMET ULUSOY1

1) Demet Ulusoy BİNAN, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Facuty of Architecture , demetbinan@gmail.com

Cappadocia region is in World Heritage List as a cultural landscape with its architectural fabric depending on natural features that consists of volcanic tuff sediments that came into existence by volcanic movements and formed by wind and water effect. In this article, easily workable and durable volcanic tuff, rock-hewn construction technique implied on valley slopes or in conical rock formations defined as fairy chimney and masonry structures attached to these formations will be introduced.

Arches with equal intervals that are constructed without molds; vaults formed by rock plaque coverings in between the arches distinguish Cappadocia from the region. The problem of obtaining local rock material due to the location of quarries within the boundaries of natural conservation area and inadequate number of local builders causes the high cost of construction. Vernacular masonry architecture has undergone a transformation depending on industrialized and easily reachable material after industrialization. The most suitable construction technique with the material in Cappadocia Region is not an end product. This presentation, in the context of conservation and sustainability vernacular masonry architecture will be discussed with the changes in the material and construction technique developed and evolved by various affects and inner dynamics.

Keywords: Conservation of traditional masonry structures, sustainability, architecture with masonry, analysis of masonry structures, rock-hewn, Cappadocia