The Relationship Between Socio-Cultural and Environmental Development: Sustainability of Local Construction Culture and Crafts

Abstract

Integrative sustainability of vernacular architectural structure, which provides significant knowledges about cultural values to transfer next generations, is related with usage of natural sources, accessibility of local materials and adaptation of crafts to recent conditions. The physical conditions, existing in the nature of place, give form to socio-cultural life as well as local construction culture. Systematic preservation of local construction culture and crafts enables to observe socio-cultural and environmental values on traditional architectural pattern. The usage of the local materials, which is an important part of the natural resources, by craftsman, provides to come up with the original details in the traditional pattern. This local production style that consider to physical and social usage, diversifies the unique traditional construction details. Materials that are formed depend on the geographical features and climatic conditions create traditional architectural patterns by being detailed with knowledge, ability and experiences of the local constructors and craftsmans. Today, to be able to comprehend these architectural patterns which are formed with local labour and sources, new methods should be developed. Solutions, which will be comprised with association of architectural preservation discipline and other disciplines that are about humans, may support the sustainability of the traditional heritage. Continuance of the field works to preserve traditional architectural pattern in selected area, reveals the usage of local materials and application style of the local construction culture in today's conditions. In this regard, a fieldwork had been done on usage of local materials and local construction culture in Birgi rural by considering its socio-cultural values and environmental conditions. In these fieldworks, interviews with local residents and constructors who live in Birgi rural has been done. Since Birgi is involved within the boundary of archaeological and natural sites and accepted to the UNESCO World Heritage Candidate List, its recognition has increased throughout the country and restoration works have been accelerated. Tourism activities, developed in Birgi rural during the recent years, have enhanced efforts to return to the local culture in accordance with financial concerns. Local construction culture require to be positioned in a contemporary language to sustain socio-cultural values and physical conditions.