ABSTRACT

In the present study, the main properties of rural dwellings and factors affecting their occurrence in the Basin of Iznik Lake were investigated. Based on the detailed field observations and interpretations of the present statistical data, it was determined that functions and main features of the buildings, such as number of floors, construction material, style of building, roof form etc., have shown a great deal of diversity. It was found that this diversity has been affected both by several geo-environmental elements, such as liotolgy, topography, climate and vegetation cover, and by human factors including economic activities, transportation, distance to cities, and socio-cultural characteristics of the rural population. It is suggested that, in the Iznik Lake basin where single or double-floor “karkas” type of residents are common, sun-dried brick and wooden materials have been preferred for construction, and the roofs have been built in the style of “hipped” and “gabled”. The functional structures of the dwelling show differences due to diversity of econmic activities. It was also determined that the number of residents reflecting geographical characteristics of the surrounding of dwelling have decreased in all villages, whereas reinforced concrete type of structures has become more widespread.