The reflection of urban-to-rural migration on architecture: villages of Çanakkale

Migration is a social phenomenon that refers to the process of permanent or long-term displacement of people. In recent years, the rising costs of urban living in Turkey, environmental pressures, increased spatial awareness following the pandemic, the desire for a closer connection with nature, and ease of access to rural areas have accentuated the trend of reverse migration from urban to rural areas. This process not only entails individual displacement but also the transformation of social structures, economic relations, and traditional housing patterns in rural areas. This thesis was conducted in the villages of Korubaşı, Bahçedere, and Büyükhüsun in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale province, and in the villages of Üvecik, Kayacık, and Kumburun in the Ezine district to examine this transformation. The study areas were chosen because they are areas where migrants from large cities have settled densely and, consequently, increased new housing production. A qualitative method was adopted in the research; as part of the fieldwork, in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals migrating from urban to rural areas, on-site observations were conducted, and the residences of these migrants were examined. Participants' demographic characteristics, reasons for migration, rural life experiences, and housing preferences were assessed, and their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of rural life, infrastructure conditions, traditional housing typologies, construction materials, and roof and heating systems were analyzed in detail. The findings reveal that urban-to-rural migration signals a user-centered, lifestyle-focused, and architecturally robust rural transformation process in Çanakkale villages. The study presents original field data to understand the changing nature of rural architecture and aims to contribute to the development of rural housing policies and planning and sustainable settlement strategies.