Traces of traditional space design: morphology of a sample house after urban transformation in Diyarbakır Suriçi

Abstract

The traditional houses have a significant share, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in the historical walled settlement of Diyarbakır city. It has been preserved until today through renovation, functionalization, restoration and reconstruction works. However, over time, the traditional house may be deteriorated, divided, partially modified, or new buildings may be built/added by demolishing or using its surroundings. Due to the events that took place in 2016, this residential area consisting of 15 neighborhoods suffered significant damage and urban transformation works were carried out. In these works, demolished traditional buildings have begun to be repaired, and new low-rise residences are being built in accordance with the determined design criteria in place of the completely demolished non-original buildings. This study examines the connection between the low-rise houses built in the region and the spatial structure of the traditional house through a morphological approach and a sample building. Thus, the traces of the spatial fiction were tried to be followed. In the study, space syntax method was preferred to make morphological evaluation; auxiliary programs Depthmap and Agraph were used. Syntactic measurements of the sample building were made, and analysis was carried out by creating access graphs and convex space maps. As a result, it can be seen that; although the spatial configuration of the sample building has traditional features, it reminds us of a modern residential structure in which living and sleeping functions are separated around the day and night hall.