CAPPADOCIA

VERNACULAR CONSTRUCTION IN CAPPADOCIA [TURKEY]

The region called Cappadocia is located in the center Anatolia in Turkey. The administrative districts of five
provinces involve the region Cappadocia.
That geological structure had been generated by volcanic
eruptions by mountains Hasan and Mount Erciyes. It
occurred several times and had covered the land with a
tick tuff layer. In the course of time this layer has formed
in different shapes by the effects of temperature
differences between night and day and climatic factors
such as wind, rain etc. Thus valleys covered with tuff
formations
Soft named
structure of theastuff
fairy chimneys
provided .
opportunity to build
spaces and form new settlement areas. They built
underground cities ,rock-carved spaces as churches,
houses, and stores.
They also opened quarries to get construction stone. The
various stone quarries in the region determine the major
construction material as soft, yellowish, easy shaped tuff
stone.
 Turkish authorities --“protected area” -- 1976 World Heritage Criteria
“national park” -- 1986.
 I -- which mean representing a masterpiece of human
UNESCO --World Heritage Site with the creativity
name of “Gerome National Park and the Rock  III -- having an exceptional testimony to a civilization
Sites of Cappadocia” since 1985 which has disappeared
 V -- being an outstanding example of traditional human
settlement
Cappadocia is now a fantastic and popular tourism destination which hosts
 VII -- having an exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic
averagely 2 million tourists per year.
importance.
THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE IN TRADITIONAL CAPPADOCIA HOUSES :

It is built as two or three storied and originally flat roofed. Since the houses are sat on slopes, it
naturally generates terraces.
The traditional Cappadocia houses are categorized
into three main groups:

 Rock-carved houses.
 Mix type (rock-carved & masonry) houses.
 Masonry houses.
 TYPE OF HOUSES

ROCK CARVED AND

ROCK CARVED HOUSES MASONRY HOUSES
MASONRY HOUSES

These are the earliest The houses, constructed in the

housing type. In this kind of mixed technique of rock-carving Masonry houses are
houses, spaces are generated by and masonry are generated by one, two or three storied
carving out valley slopes or fairy addition of a wall, an aiwan (a buildings which are deco-rated
chimneys. The houses carved rectangular space of which one with stone carved ornaments to
into valley slopes reproduce with side is open while the other three show the wealthy and status of
new spaces by again carving out sides are enclosed by walls) or a the owner
the rock mass horizontally or masonry room in front of the main
vertically. rock-cut space.
 The width of foundation wall changes according to masonry wall and its height
FOUNDATION : depends on the ground's condition. Foundation wall is constructed with two or three
stone row and the gap between stone is filled with mortar about 5cm thicknesses.

STONE FOUNDATION ROCK FOUNDATION

In stone foundations, foundation walls are

either placed on a canal formed by carving
Rock foundations are formed by carving
rock ground or directly sit on the rock
ground rock to produce foundation walls.
ground. The dimensions of gaps changes
In rock carving technique which is seen
according to structure of the ground. the
very often because of geological structure
foundation walls are raised 30-100 cm more
of the region, the rock itself works as
till the ground floor level. In this way 70-80
foundation with its long durability. Thus
cm level difference emerges between inner
stone foundation walls are not needed
ground level and outer ground level With
frequently.
this level difference it becomes possible to
keep away ground humidity and bad
STONE FOUNDATION ROCK FOUNDATION
 The masonry walls are constructed with local stone which is called “Nevşehir
MASONRY WALLS
stone”. The stones used in constructions are fine cut-stone and rough cut-stone
Ground floor walls are built in two rows with infill and/or mortar between the rows.
The gaps between the rows are filled with rock and stone pieces which called
“kesek”. The special binding mixture called “şillez” is poured into the wall gaps.
THIN DOUBLE SIDED THICK DOUBLE SIDED
SINGLE WALLS
WALL WALL
 THIN DOUBLE SIDED THICK DOUBLE SIDED
SINGLE WALLS
WALL WALL

This type of walls is constructed

on the foundation walls in ground
Thick double-sided walls are also
floor and on the arches of aiwan in
constructed with two stones and Single-Sided Walls Single-sided
upper floors. Total thickness of
filled gap between them. The walls are built with stones varying
thin double sided walls changes
thickness of stones varies between 18-30cm in thickness set in one
between 40cm to 60cm. Two
20 and 30cm and the total row. This type was found in
stones of 18-25cm are put together
thickness of wall changes between ground floors very rarely. These
side by side between these two
60cm to 85cm. Main differences of were inner walls built in single
stones 5cm gap is left and this gap
this wall type is the width of the row on rock ground in order to
is filled with rubble and mortar.
gap between the stones. This gap enclose entrance of an interior
Thus, the total thickness reaches to
which can reach to 35cm in some rock-carved space. In upper floors,
about 40cm. These walls are
houses is filled with particles of single-sided walls are constructed
usually built with fine cut-stone.
stones and rock called kesek . It is with cut-stone upon double-sided
When the wall is constructed with
noted that thick double-sided wall walls of ground level.
cut-stone, only the outer sides of
technique is used especially on the
stones are cut finely, inner sides
walls which constructed with
facing to gaps are left roughly.
fireplace .
Thereby, infill and mortar become
 FLOORING :
Ground floors are constructed with stone floor coverings. Flooring sets on the rock ground while stone
masonry wall is rising up . Before floors are set, rock ground is covered with pumice around 3-10 cm in
thickness in order to protect floor from ground dampness.

Another type used in ground floors is to raise the floor with timber posts. In this type, floor is elevated
on 50-100cm high timber posts in order to keep away the floor from ground dampness. This floor is usually
completed with a timber sedir (a fitted architectural element which is used for sitting and lying down). Timber
beams are the second most common horizontal elements. Timber which has a limited area of usage in
Cappadocia is often used in floorings. Timber floors are installed in ground floors and first floors.
Arches and vaults : It is considered an indigenous feature to Cappadocian
Architecture.
Construction :

 Firstly, four sides of the room walls are constructed up to the impost line which is locally known as foot
level.
 After reaching impost line, front and rear walls are constructed.
 In the meantime, a wooden vault framework is located between side walls and then arches are started to be
constructed on inner sides of walls.
 The front and side surfaces of voussoirs are fine cut while back surfaces are rough cut.

Rib arches (locally called kaburga kemer)

which act as main bearing element are
constructed in dimensions varying between
60cm and 80cm width. Rib arches are
located with 60-80cm intervals and these
intervals are covered with secondary row of
arches which called cover arch (locally
called as kapak kemer or ara kemer.
 TIMBER ROOF EARTH ROOF ROCK ROOF

Earthen roofs are commonly used

Timber roofs are constructed Rock- cut used in horizontal
roofs in the region to cover vaulted
with timber boards inclined in and vertical structures also
spaces. Upper parts of rib arches
one way or in two ways as generates the roof of some
and cover arches are filled with
hipped roof and they are used in buildings . An extra
pumice and broken pieces of
wealthy peoples houses. superstructure isn't needed in
rock/stone and then a mixture of
the rock-carved spaces or in the
soil and water is poured into the
spaces built by masonry& rock-
wall to adhere infill materials. This
cut mix systems.
type of roofs are re-compressed and
weeded on every autumn in order
to be ready for winter Clay soil is
preferred especially in parts which
can be exposed to dampness and
rain such as roof and floor, because
clay's water absorbing capacity is
higher than the other soil types
 CONCLUSION :
In Cappadocia, it is obvious that geological structure of the region forms the local construction
technique. Rock has been used for many years since it is a convenient and easily shaped material. At first,
rock itself provided the housing requirements. People lived in spaces which were carved into rock. Due to it is
not needed to pay for any other construction materials, rock carving was also economic. It was also
compatible with the climatic conditions of the region. As keeping heat inside, rock-cut spaces provided
suitable inner conditions; cooler during the summer and warmer in the winter. Wide usage of rock has offered
local people an employment opportunity. Today, in the region rock carving is still considered as an important
working area in construction.

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