The Timber Houses of Beypazarı
Wooden Houses of Anatolia
The Timber Houses of Beypazarı
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BEYPAZARI
The town is settled on uneven ground. Hıdırlık, Salihli, Üç Kızlar are the
hills; İnözü and Murdancı, Kumsüren are the streams running in the north-south
direction through the steep valleys. The slope decreases towards Ankara-İstanbul
highway and in the west in between highway and İnözü Streem. The old section of
the town is located on the steep slopes of the hills and on the banks of the two
streams.
Only Beytepe district (mahalle) is located on top and on slopes of the
“Beytepe” hill, which is relatively flat. The newly developed part (designed by
the 1953 Master Plan) lies in the plain on east-west direction. The steep
limestone hills which are unsuitable for settlement have a visual effect in
townscape point of view.
SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF BEYPAZARI
A
dual spatial arrangement is seen in the town, old and new parts. Old part is
located in the north section of the former Ankara-İstanbul road. The new part is
in between this road and the İnözü stream on the south. The town has developed
in his plain area, towards west. Ankara-İstanbul highway passes through this
area. Ayvaşık district (mahalle) which is situated on the slopes of Salihler
hill is the interface of old and new parts of the town. This area was the part
of the summer residences so there are not more than 10 traditional residences.
This area recently became a new residential area with modern buildings.
Old part is formed of two sections, the town center (Çarşı) and the
residential area (six districts) surrounding it. The traditional residences
constitute the characteristic pattern of the residential area of this part. The
town center is on a flatter terrain. Mundarcı Stream passes through the town
center. This stream has been taken into a canal and the shops were built over
it. There are 600 shops which are mostly single or two storeyed. The branches of
this center penetrated into the ‘mahalles’ around it.
The region is protected from dominant winds by the hills on the north and
therefore climate has less effect on the settlement of the residences, so the
residences are situated according to the topography. Due to the multi-level
topography, the resulting organic and unsymmetric settlement pattern constitutes
a rich visual composition.
The sub-districts of the old section after the big fire in 1884 have
developed almost in the same period so the architectural characteristics are
similar and it is impossible are similar and it is impossible to distinguish
individual districts from the point of architectural characteristics. But the
residential areas show different characteristics in topographic condition,
street pattern and overall settlement.
THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENCES
There are 3000 houses in the old section of the town and covers an area of
800.000 m2. All of the buildings in this part are traditional buildings. There
are only a few modern buildings with different architectural characteristics. In
some districts of the old section these have a higher ratio.
The traditional buildings are usually three storeyed, originally plastered
with “tatlı sıva”. Most of them have different types of projections varying in
number.
The ground floors are made of rubble stone, and the upper floors are of
timber skeleton and filled with timber and mudbrick. The doors and the windows
of the façade are almost have the same peculiarities in terms of dimension,
shape. Timber and iron railings are common, but “cumba” lattices and shutters
are in minority. Ornamented supports under projections are also common
architectural elements of the old part of the town.
The plan of the roofs are square or rectangle, covered by Turkish tiles and
zinc plates. On some of the roofs “Guşgana” is seen.
Some buildings contain most of the traditional architectural characteristics,
and some have simple arrangements. It can be concluded that buildings which have
most of the architectural characteristics, are the more typical examples of
Beypazarı residences.
As almost all the houses are located on the side of the roads, they have no
gardens and the entrances are directly from the streets. The houses with
gardens, due to the topographic conditions have entrances directly from the
streets or from the gardens. The garden walls are of rubble stone and are capped
in Turkish tiles.
There are also residences built of cut stone with arched windows and doors,
mostly three storeyed. However, these constructions are in minority and are
scattered in the old part of the town.
ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE HOUSES
There are two groups of traditional residences, which are constructed in
different periods with different architectural characteristics.
1. Residences which constitute the main characteristics of Beypazarı Houses
built before 1930.
2. Residences built after 1930,
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENCES BUILT BEFORE 1930
Layout
The residences in Beypazarı can be classified from the point of layout as
follows:
1. residences without gardens, 2. residences with small gardens, 3.
residences with large gardens. Entrances to the buildings differ according to
the layout of the residence.
a) Direct entrance from the street
This kind of entrance is seen in the residences attached together with either
no gardens or with small gardens. These gardens or with small gardens. These
gardens are located at the back of the residences. This is the main
characteristics of hilly parts.
b) Entrance from the garden
In this type the residence is entered from the garden, which can be in front,
at the side and around the residence.
Structural Systems
The structural system of these types are timber skeleton. Specially in
Beytepe district most of the residences are constructed over the remains of
ground floor walls of an earlier building, therefore the upper floors are
carried by timber posts. The main materials in these constructions are stone,
timber and mud-brick.
The ground floors are constructed of rubble stone. These stone walls are
about 90-100 cm. thick. Most of these walls are not load bearing. Timber posts,
30 cm. in diameter placed 2 m. apart, support the upper floors. These posts are
placed over 75 cm. high stone bases, about 40 cm. of which are buried in the
ground.
The construction of the upper floors is timber skeleton which is provided by
timber secondary posts placed 80-90 cm. apart framed by 15x15 cm. posts. These
posts are supported by diagonal and horizontal posts. The window dimensions are
related to the spacing of the secondary posts.
In the ground floor the ceiling is left bare and the girders are seen. In the
upper floors the girders are covered on the top by 20, 30, 40 cm. wide and 3 cm.
thick timber boarding. The ceilings are also covered by 25, 30 cm. wide timber,
joints of these timbers are covered by profiled laths.
The application of infill material is due to orientation, the skeleton in
north façade is filled by mud-brick. In the side walls with closets and
fireplaces, the infill material is mud-brick. In the main façades skeleton is
filled by timber. The interior walls are “bağdadi” The projections are formed by
projecting beams. They are supported by buttresses or by posts or have no
support depending to the width of the projection. Stone or mud-brick used in the
construction of walls are cemented to each other by mud mortar.
The exterior surfaces of these walls are left bare, interior walls of
important spaces like ‘taşlık’ are plastered by ‘tatlı sıva’. In the upper
floors the walls are left bare. In some residences the timber skeleton has been
constructed on the first or ground floor but not finished (window frames, doors
are not placed, walls are not plastered and stuccoed). In local language these
are called as “çandı”. When one or two rooms are required for the family, just
one or two rooms sometimes the complete floor is worked out, and put into
service.
The roof structure is of timber and covered with tiles. There is no gutter,
the water runs down the roof freely. The inclination differs from 22% to 30%. In
the appearance there is not much difference in the shape of new and old roofs.
They either are rectangular or square depending on the plan layout.
The existence of the ‘guşgana’ has no influence on the roof type. It may be
located in the middle of a hipped roof, pitched roof or a gable roof. But it has
influence on the façade of the building. In the study area five types of roofs
are observed as; gabled, shed, hipped, half hipped (üç omuz) and pitched. The
half hipped is quite common in attached residences.
The roof of the ‘guşgana’ also may be gabled, hipped or pitched, depending on
the shape and the roof on which they are placed.
Roof covering is traditional tile or zinc sheets. A rough chronological
succession in this case is: Local tiles were replaced by zinc sheets then
machine made tiles have taken their places. Sometimes all three materials can be
seen on one roof. Zinc sheets are impractical and are inadequate elements in
usage. In new constructions machine made tiles are used but the roof type is
almost the same with the old buildings except ‘guşgana’. But the most earlier
roof mate was “badavra”, the barks of the trees.
Façade Arrangement
The height of the buildings, the number of storeys, the placement of the
entrance doors, windows, projections and roofs compose the expression of the
façade.
The two winged entrance door is the main element in the ground floor. The
windows are the other important elements of the façade which effect façade
arrangement.
The façades are stuccoed by ’tatlı sıva’ which is off-white in colour. The
roofs do not have a common form, they differ in shape and roof cover.
Due to the different projections, architectural elements different façade
arrangements are obtained, but in all types of façades a symmetry is observed.
It is also observed that the number of façade elements related with the
disposition and/or massing of a building.
Considering these facts the buildings can be grouped as:
- Types with large number of façade elements and articulation; These types
have ornamented and more elements, lattices, “cumba”, ornamented timber bars,
doors, windows, consols. They are generally big in dimension, articulated and
are located freely or partially free (buildings at the corner of the streets). 3
or 4 storeyed.
- Types with small number of elements and articulation; In these types the
number of elements ant articulation is less. Their sizes are generally big, 2-3
storeyed and are generally attached buildings.
- Plan types;
In these types ornamented elements do not exist, window and door openings are
in traditional size, 2 storeyed, smaller, generally attached buildings.
Façade Elements
- Doors
They are either double winged or single winged timber doors generally with a
window or latticed, barred timber cage opening on top. This opening provides
ventilation and light for the interior. The double winged doors are used always
for the primary entrance which are either reached directly from the street or
from the garden to the “taşlık”.
The single winged doors are usually used at secondary entrances. In some
cases the “Messan” doors are placed on the façade of the building. These single
doors are of sheet iron with stone jambs.
- Windows
Window openings vary in size and form depending on the structure of the wall
which they are placed on.
Ground floor windows: They are pearced through about 90 cm. walls. These are
40x40, 60x60, 90x90 cm. opening with iron railings, some have glasses. Slit
windows are also seen.
In the upper floors depending on the spacing of the timber construction the
width of the windows vary from 70-90 cm. and they are 150-170-180 cm. in height
and are shash or winged windows. The dimension of the traditional windows are
1/1.5 and in ratio. These windows started to change 50 years ago. In service
areas different sized openings with lattices or iron railings are seen.
Also the number of the windows differ depending on the space they belong.
- Projections
The projections are formed by the rooms, the sofa, the eyvan or both rooms
and a sofa (saw-toothed projection). They have two, three or four windows in
front and one at each side. They project in one or two directions. The supports
of the projections are sheated by laths and constitute an ornamentation.
Timber bands are made of 30 cm. wide, 250 cm. long and 2 cm. thick timber. A
lath of 2x3 cm. is placed over the horizontal band. In the area floors are
separated from each other and the edges are circulated by timber band. In all of
the traditional buildings this element exists.
- Eaves
Almost every building has eaves with exposed undersides. The eaves are rearly
covered with timber.
Façade Types
Number of storeys, projections and the window arrangement are the main
variables of the façade type in a building. Basically the façades are of three
types.
1. Plain façades
2. Projecting façades
3. Façades with “guşgana”.
The projecting façades have variations depending to the plan orders and the
building lots on which the houses are constructed. Each type may have different
window arrangement. To describe in detail, façade types are given in schematic
drawings.
Planning
The
houses were generally built for the extended families. Ground floor is allocated
for service spaces, upper floors planned as living sections. Most of these
sections have service areas as w.c., kitchen. In all of the residences ground
floor consists of a ‘taşlık’ at which there is a basin, a fire place and a
staircase, of which the first two steps are of stone and rest of wood. “Dam”
(stable or woo storage) and sometimes servant accommodation are provided in two
rooms (mostly seen in large houses). In most of the attached houses “messan” is
connected to the “taşlık”. The floor of the “taşlık” is generally paved in
irregular stone, the rest is of rammed earth. The ceiling is left exposed.
In some large residences there is a Mazzanine above the ground floor. This
floor has a height of 200-250 cm. this is seen in types with inner and central
hall types. The height of the residences are four or three floors. They either
cover the whole storey or half the storey having an inner sofa plan type. The
rooms have simple cupboards and fireplaces. In some cases the kitchen is placed
on this floor and not in the upper floors.
The upper floors are for living areas, formed from rooms oriented around or
at the side of the sofa çardak. Generally service spaces as kitchen and w.c. are
located on these floors. These floors are much more detailed than the ground
floors and mezzanine (if exists). Doors, built-in-closets, ‘sergen’ ceilings are
all worked out in detail in timber figure 7. The continuation of ground floor
stairs reach out to the first and second floors if there is one. Top of the
staircases is closed by a cover called “mamrak” locally. Second floor usually
repeats the same plan and plan elements as in the first floor. In some
residences at which the first and second floors have different plans. In Beytepe
street no.15 and Hacılar street no.8, the floors over ground floor have inner
hall plan whereas, the floors above have central hall plan.
In residences specially with gardens there are “guşgana”. Some are designed
in two rooms, one of which is used for sitting. This room consists of a ‘seki’
and ‘lambalık’. Sometimes there is a balcony in front as continuation of the
floor stairs or a stair from the kitchen reach out to the “guşgana”.
Plan Types
The ground floors in the area have special plan arrangements due to their
functions, which are different than the upper first or second floor (if exists).
The ground floors are also altered. Therefore to determine the plan type the
upper floor arrangements are taken into consideration.
The plan schemes can be grouped according to their number of rooms, services
and the shape and location of the sofa.
The composition of rooms and services around or on the sides of the sofa
forms the plan type.
1. Type with Outer Hall
a) The main characteristic of this type is a row of rooms with a sofa in
front.
b) Other type is a row of rooms and a room at the end of the sofa, in this case
room and staircase composition can be; adjacent rooms with staircase in the
sofa.
In this plan type the room facing the street or garden projects out. This
type also exist in sawtoothed façade types, this type can also be defined as
“yarım karnıyarık”.
2. Type with Inner Hall
The main characteristic of this type is that the rooms and services are on
two sides of the sofa.
a) In this case the rooms are on the two sides of the sofa, the service is
either on this floor or in the ground floor. The staircase may be in the sofa or
in between the rooms.
b) In this case the rooms again are at two sides of the sofa but one end of the
sofa is closed by a room.
c) In this type there is “eyvan” between the rooms. The staircase may be on the
sofa or between the rooms. Toilet may or may not be in this floor. This type has
sawtoothed façade type.
d) In this type sofa has the appearance of a central hall, entrances of two or
three rooms are chamfered. The staircase is in the sofa. This type is seen in
types with mid-projection and sawtoothed projections mostly in attached
residences.
3. Type with Central Hall
The characteristic of this plan type is that the sofa is encircled by rooms,
services, and eyvans. Generally four rooms are placed at the corners of the
corners of the sofa. Their entrances are chamfered. Between the rooms the
services as kitchen, w.c. or staircase or eyvans may be located.
a) In this case the staircase is in one “eyvan” and kitchen is in between the
rooms at the corner. Eyvans which are placed along the axis do not project out.
The façades are plain.
b) In this type two “eyvans” are placed along the axis on the sides of the rooms
and rooms and services take place in between the rooms.
c) In this type with four eyvans, in one of which the staircase is located,
there are three rooms and a kitchen in the corners. Three or four rooms project
out. This type is seen in types with side projections.
d) In this case, kitchen, w.c. and staircase are placed side by side in one
corner of the sofa. “Selamlık” and “sekilik” are disposed along the axis of the
sofa, and three rooms at the corner of the sofa. Staircase is between the
kitchen and one of the rooms. This type is seen in types with mid-projection.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENCES BUILT AFTER 1930
These types of residences are smaller in size and are two storeyed, there are
few examples which are three storeyed. The main difference with the older
traditional residences other than their heights are structural system, the
façade treatment and plan types. In some of them traditional architectural
elements are still being used. Their structural system is timber skeleton. These
residences with their different characteristics are the evidences of the
continuity of the traditional attitude.
Layout
These residences are mostly built on small lots and have no garden. Therefore
being related to the street directly, the entrance is from the street.
Structural System
The main construction material is stone, timber and brick. The ground floors
are constructed from rubble stone about 70 cm. thick, on the upper floor the
structure is timber skeleton system, the infill material is brick. The walls are
finished rarely with “tatlı” plaster and mostly with cement plaster and are
whitewashed.
The floors are timber, the ceilings are timber or chipboard, the stairs are
timber. The roofs are covered by zinc sheets or machine made tiles.
Façade Composition
The façade composition is made with large windows. One, two or three windows
are placed side by side; The projections if any are seen on either the rooms or
the extensions of sofa (in some residences traditional inner hall type is
designed). These projections are supported by projecting beams, or carried by
posts. In some residences supports are ornamented in traditional style. The
entrance may be in the middle or at the side, with a single winged timber door.
Some have entrance from a secondary street, so there is no door on the main
façade. Most of them have plain façades.
Façade Types
In this type the façades are also classified as plain façades with
projection. The projecting facades are Mid-projection, Sawtoothed Projection,
single or double.
Plan Arrangement
In plan, most of the houses are designed for small families. The ones which
are for large families have the traditional inner-halled plan. The residences
are generally used by one family.ground floors in this case serve as “taşlık”
and only a fireplace exists as an element of this space. Wood storage which is
also small in size is the part of this “taşlık”. In two houses Messan is
registered. The upper floors consist one or two rooms, kitchen and w.c. spaces,
which are entered from a small distribution area. The buildings which are built
to serve for more than one family repeats the same plan in each floor, generally
have inner hall plan type, and have separate entrances opening directly to the
sofa. There are living rooms and services in each storey. In smaller ones the
circulation are between the rooms and services is smaller in size. The entrances
to these residences may be in the same or different façades depending on their
location.
Plan Elements
The rooms are small in size, their ceiling and floor are covered by timber.
In residences which are of the inner-hall plan type, sofa has a circulation
function. The rooms contain built-in-cupboards, “seki” and shelves which are
generally simple. As mentioned before, service spaces consist of w.c., bath and
kitchen and are in the same floor. In the older houses bath spaces do not exist,
bathing is done in ‘gusulhane’.
Plan Types
- Inner Hall
They show the same characteristics with the classic types in the study area.
These are seen in types which have plain or mid-projection façades.
- Plans with Corridor
In this type two or three rooms are located in one side of the corridor, the
width of the corridor differs from 1.20 to 2.50 m. In large types kitchen is
located at the end of the corridor. Mostly the narrow side of the residence is
located on the street.
- Plans with an Entrance Hall
In this type the main characteristic is that a small entrance area is
surrounded at three sides by two or three sides by two or three rooms, w.c., and
the staircase. In the case with two rooms, kitchen is in the upper floor. Rooms
face the street. This is seen in types with simple or double sawtooth projection
and in one example with plain façade.
Doç. Dr. Işık AKSULU
G.Ü.E.A.F.Department of Architecture