An Example of Traditional Rural Residential Architecture in Artvin Province: Wooden Masonry Houses

The dwellings are among the most important reflections of the geographical characteristics and culture of a region. As a matter of fact, both the preference of the building materials constituting the dwelling and the principles of how this material will be brought together are the result of the geographical opportunities and cultural accumulation. Artvin, which is located within the borders of the Eastern Black Sea Department, is generally under the influence of humid Black Sea climate and forests constitute the largest natural flora group. Within this scope, wood is the most common building material used in residential construction in Artvin. In some parts of the province, there are also dwellings where no building materials other than wood are used. In these dwellings, wooden walls are stacked on top of each other in processed or semi-processed shapes. The most important step in this method called wood piling is the process of attaching wooden materials to each other from the corners. As a matter of fact, the most characteristic feature of these dwellings in the region is the interlocking of the wood with the notches and grooves opened without the use of nails. Wood masonry dwellings are struggling to survive both migrations from rural areas and new construction materials and techniques. However, these dwellings are important components of cultural heritage. In this context, it is very important that they are protected and left as a legacy to future generations. One of the most rational ways of achieving this would be to make these dwellings both tourist attraction and tourist accommodation. In this study, it is aimed to contribute to the formation of awareness about the importance of the mentioned rural dwellings, conservation and gaining tourism to the administrators of the local families as well as the management levels.