Investigation of traditional residences in rural settlements in the context of different ethnic groups: Case of Düzce

It is seen that traditional residential architecture studies in rural settlements in Düzce province are limited. Today, due to changing living conditions, economic and technological reasons, buildings built with traditional methods are decreasing and existing buildings are being abandoned and rural architecture is rapidly disappearing. Düzce province is a province where many different ethnic groups live together. Due to these differences, we encounter different housing examples in rural settlements. In the context of this study, differences in the traditional residential architecture of the identified ethnic groups were analyzed. Thus, the aim of this study is to set an example for future research on rural architecture and to leave resources about traditional residential architecture that is disappearing to future generations. In the first part of the study, the purpose, scope and limitations of the thesis, method and source research on the subject are mentioned. In the second part; Düzce province was examined in terms of its history, demographic structure, geographical structure and traditional residential architecture. In the third section, general information is given about the villages where the cultures of four different ethnic groups, namely Manav, Laz, Abkhaz and Hemşin, are dominant. Field studies and photographs determined within the scope of the thesis were carried out. Five traditional houses were selected for four different villages and categorized and analyzed using the inventory method. In the fourth chapter, the information obtained about different ethnic groups was analyzed in tables and traditional houses were examined comparatively. In the fifth chapter, evaluations and suggestions were made for the preservation of traditional residential architecture in order to ensure that the cultural diversity and architectural values of Düzce province are preserved and transferred to future generations.