The importance of material analysis in the reuse and repair of traditional houses: The case of Duzce-Konuralp

Due to the increasing production possibilities, the speed of construction it brings, and the intertwining of the boundaries of urban and rural architecture, our traditional houses, which come across with different features all over Anatolia, have faced difficulties in transferring cultural heritage and maintaining their existence in a healthy way. In order to eliminate damage in traditional buildings, some incorrect decisions and faulty applications were made during the repair and improvement processes, rather than ensuring the structures' healthy survival. In this study, brick, mortar, plaster and wood samples were taken from two registered buildings in Konuralp neighborhood of Düzce province, which have survived to the present day by preserving their original structural features, and physical, chemical, mechanical and petrographic analyses of the materials were made. In line with these analyses, a scientific basis has been created for the material properties to be selected in the repair and reuse processes of traditional buildings, and suggestions have been made for the analysis of materials specific to Konuralp traditional buildings.