Sustainability of vernacular houses in the inner towns of Mugla, Turkey: Architectural typology and its transformation

Yerkesik is a vernacular settlement of Mugla, located in the western Aegean coastline in Turkey. Being mountainous and isolated, this small vernacular settlement has preserved its old types of dwellings and adapted them to contemporary way of life with minor transformations, and it can thus, provide rich material for the understanding of architectural continuity and sustainability. In this study various types of stone dwellings in Yerkesik are surveyed in terms of site planning, architectural typology and construction materials. It is concerned with the changes and transformations of dwellings in response to current economical and social developments. This paper presents the sustainable properties of the vernacular dwellings and their ability to adapt the contemporary way of life. Its contribution to knowledge intends to establish the vernacular design and maintenance principles for both future planning and current architectural practice.