Continuity of Regional Identity A Case Study of Fa
Continuity of Regional Identity A Case Study of Fa
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Özlem ATALAN
[email protected] • Department of Interior Architecture and
Environmental Design, Faculty of Architecture, İzmir University, İzmir, Turkey
Abstract
A clear understanding of the meaning of sustainable conservation is crucial for
cities and settlements. Sustainable conservation can be achieved by protecting the
architectural identity of a region. The continuity of historic civic elements pre-
serves the identity and image of cities and settlements. In this context, this study
focuses on the importance of sustaining a settlement’s identity. In doing so, chang-
es in the architectural characteristics of the facades of the traditional houses in the
doi: 10.5505/itujfa.2016.49368
Çeşme Castle Conservation Area were considered. Herein, the research methods
include field study procedures to identify and analyze the area, and the build-
ing materials and facade elements characterize the continuity of regional identity.
The results of this research show that architectural facade elements in traditional
houses strongly emphasized the regional identity of Çeşme.
Keywords
Continuity of Çeşme identity, Çeşme houses, Facade elements, Regional identity,
Traditional Çeşme houses.
122
Figure 2. Plan view of Çeşme Castle Conservation Area and registered buildings.
Triangle Pediments
Triangle pediments are observed on
stone masonry buildings and are one of
the most important building elements
in facades of traditional Çeşme houses.
Figure 7 depicts typical designs. Sym-
metrical or baroque decorations may
be present in the middle of triangle
Figure 6. Facade elements of traditional Çeşme houses. pediments. Kirpi saçak (a Seljuk and
Continuity of regional identity: A case study of facade elements in traditional Çeşme houses
126
Ottoman type of fringe) is often locat- orations were observed on top of the
ed under triangle pediments. As shown rectangular windows. Figure 11 (a−b)
in Figure 8, stone masonry buildings shows the window characteristics for
with triangle pediments constitute ap- the ground and upper floors, respec-
proximately 60% of all buildings in the tively.
Çeşme Castle Conservation Area. Referring to Figure 11(a−b), the
ground floors mostly included rectan-
Windows and Window Jambs gular windows with arches (1:1.5 ratio),
In traditional Çeşme houses, win- and the upper floors included rectan-
dows are another important archi- gular windows without arches (1:2 ra-
tectural element. With rectangular or tio). This prevalence was observed in
arched forms, they add identity to the both stone masonry and stone mason-
flat or bay-windowed facades of the ry-wood carcass buildings.
buildings. As shown in Figure 9, rect- Window jamb is another important
angular upper floor windows had a 1:2 facade element in traditional Çeşme
ratio, consistent with traditional Turk- houses. In an authentic Çeşme house
ish designs. They are made of wood; facade, stone window jambs were con-
some have double casements. Select structed using stone or fragmented
houses contained window sections stones. However, in stone–wood hous-
that did not open upwards. Guillotine es, the window jambs were made from
windows were also observed in some wood on the upper floors.
houses. Window jambs were typically 15−20
In stone masonry systems, windows cm wide. Ground floors frequently in-
were located at least 100 cm from build- cluded arched stone window jambs,
ing corners. On upper floors, windows while upper floors included rectan-
were often rectangular, typically 80 cm gular wooden window jambs. Figure
wide and 160 cm high. As shown in 12(a−b) shows the window jamb char-
Figure 10, ground floor windows were
rectangular or arched (round, segmen-
tal) with a ratio of 1:1.5. In select stone
masonry buildings, round motif dec-
Figure 11a. Ground floor window and door Figure 11b. Upper floor window
characteristics and prevalence. characteristics and prevalence.
acteristics for ground and upper floors, also function to reduce the intensive
respectively. Stone window jambs were sunlight entering the building. Wood-
generally made from andesite—a type en sunshades or board mouldings were
of volcanic rock. Recent 20th century observed in wooden carcass build-
buildings include plaster and concrete ings. Sunshades or board mouldings
window jambs. in stone masonry buildings were made
Ground floors of select houses in the from stone or bricks. Window board
Çeşme Castle Conservation Area were mouldings wide can be made from
built for commercial purposes. Ground stone, plaster over bricks, or wood (up
floors of this type typically include to 10 cm wide). Window sunshades can
double leaf wooden doors and may in- be made from stone, metal, or wood.
clude segmental arched stone jambs. Wooden window sunshades can be up
Figure 13 shows a typical design. to 10 cm wide, while stone and metal
sunshades and be 15−25 cm wide.
Sunshades, Window Board Mould-
ings, and Shutters Window shutter prevalence
As shown in Figure 14, several tradi- Window shutters on traditional
tional Çeşme houses have window sun- houses in the Çeşme Castle Conser-
shades and window board mouldings. vation Area are one of the most inter-
These sunshades and mouldings pro- esting building elements. The hot and
vide decorative features on facades but sunny climate in the region requires
Figure 12a. Ground floor window jamb Figure 12b. Upper floor window jamb
characteristics and prevalence. characteristics and prevalence.
Continuity of regional identity: A case study of facade elements in traditional Çeşme houses
128
Figure 15a. Window sunshade and board Figure 15b. Window shutter prevalence.
moulding prevalence.
ITU A|Z • Vol 13 No 2 • July 2016 • Ö. Atalan
129
oriels.
Three types of oriels exist in tradi-
tional Çeşme houses: single centered,
single sided, and double sided. All are
made from wood. In select houses,
oriels can be located on the second or
third floors. If their width is greater or
equal to 150 cm, wooden or iron but-
Figure 16. Traditional entrance doors. tresses must support the oriels.
Outbuildings in traditional Çeşme
houses are made from stone or wood
and can cover the entire facade. Stone
outbuildings in stone masonry houses
extend 30−40 cm into the street and are
supported by iron buttresses. Wooden
outbuildings extend into the street.
An outbuilding transforms the room
shape from square to rectangular. This
feature is common in traditional Turk-
Figure 17. Traditional courtyard doors. ish houses. Figure 18, presented pre-
viously, includes examples of various
traditional houses, humans and pack traditional outbuildings.
animals passed through courtyard Balconies were observed in both
doors. Today, outside of gated commu- stone and combination stone-wood
nities, these doors offer protection of a buildings, often centered on the build-
parcel’s borders. ing but also located to the side. Iron
and decorated parapets on balconies
Oriels, Outbuildings, and Balconies are prominent characteristics of tra-
Oriels, outbuildings, and balconies ditional Çeşme architecture. Wrought
in traditional houses in Çeşme’s Cas- iron buttresses often support balconies.
tle Conservation Area are additional Houses can have a single middle bal-
significant facade elements. A tradi- cony, a single side balcony, or a double
tional house can have only one oriel, side balcony depending on their facade.
outbuilding, and balcony; some have Figure 19 shows examples of various
a combination of several features. Ori- traditional balconies. Figure 20 shows
els in traditional Çeşme houses can be the prevalence of oriels, outbuildings,
built of stone; in combination stone- and balconies in the study area.
wood houses, oriels can be semi-stone. As shown in Figures 21 and 22,
Oriels have windows on all three sides many traditional facade elements of
and extend toward the street. Figure 18 the 19 registered buildings considered
shows examples of various traditional in this study were badly damaged or
deteriorated and approximately 40%
have lost their originality (i.e., are not
Continuity of regional identity: A case study of facade elements in traditional Çeşme houses
130
Continuity of regional identity: A case study of facade elements in traditional Çeşme houses