Evaluation and conservation proposals for rural adobe architecture: The case of Elâzıg/Orencay

Rural architecture plays a significant role in preserving local identity and transmitting cultural heritage to future generations. The use of regional materials, building materials, and settlement arrangements that transform regional lifestyles constitute the unique characteristics of rural architecture. However, in today's climate, rural architecture is facing the threat of extinction in these areas. This threat, attributed to numerous factors such as changes in living conditions, migration from deforested areas, and natural disasters, is also evident in Elazığ and Örençay Village. This study evaluates the architectural, cultural, and structural characteristics of traditional adobe rural architecture, using the example of Örençay Village in Elazığ Province, and offers suggestions for its preservation and reuse. The field research conducted in Örençay Village examines the existing housing structure and its evolution over time. Construction techniques, settlement patterns, and functional transformations are analyzed. The threat of extinction in existing structures is examined, and problems are identified and documented. The findings reveal that the physical deterioration and cultural dislocation of traditional adobe structures are increasing. In this regard, proposed conservation strategies include innovative approaches such as preserving and repurposing the original building fabric, participatory planning, sustainable use, and the archaeological park model. Studies have identified existing challenges related to the preservation of the settlement's traditional fabric, and conservation recommendations have been developed accordingly.