Achitectural characteristics of Didim yoran traditional settlement

The lands of Western Anatolia have been used as settlement areas since prehistoric times. These same lands have hosted many different cultures and societies. Over time, the coexistence of different cultures and societies in the same geography has created a multi-layered structure. Migrations have also contributed to the formation of this multi-layered structure. Wars, earthquakes, and various disasters have been the cause of migration movements. Yoran village has been subject to migration several times since its establishment. When examining historical sources, it can be seen that it was abandoned at times for various reasons and later life continued in the same place. During the War of Independence, Yerontas (Yoran) village, which was mostly composed of citizens of Greek origin, was evacuated, and after the 1923 Population Exchange, the village was left vacant. The cultural difference caused by this demographic change over time led to a physical transformation. In 1955, the village of Yoran was also damaged by the Balat earthquake. Subsequently, the government of the period had earthquake houses built 2 km away from Yoran Village. One of the purposes of building these houses was to move the village away from the temple. Over time, the area where the earthquake houses were built, known as "Yenimahalle," became the new center of the city. Tourism activities began to emerge in Yoran Village in the 1960s. In 1976, with the registration of the Temple of Apollo and the declaration of its surroundings as a protected area, new buildings could not be constructed in Yoran village, and the repair of existing buildings became more difficult. Due to the aging of the buildings and various socio-economic reasons, Yoran Village began to be abandoned again. The abandoned buildings deteriorated over time. After the 1980s, with tourism becoming increasingly popular, many places around the village started to be developed, leading to an increase in the village's population. With the rapid increase in population, in 1991, this settlement was transformed into a district under the name of Yenihisar. In 1997, the name of the district was changed to Didim. After this transformation, the location of Yoran village became a neighborhood of the district. The current name of Yoran village is Hisar Mahallesi in Didim district. This village, which forms the core of today's Didim district, has many layers in terms of its historical development. This study aims to investigate the history, layers, construction techniques, and current situation of the multi-layered Yoran Village, as well as to identify its preservation-related issues. Thus, the goal is to reveal the values of Yoran Village, which is at risk of disappearing over time, and to ensure the preservation of the village's layers within the texture of the settlement. In order to better illustrate the multi-layered nature of Yoran Village, the layers within the village and around the village were examined in chronological order. In the title that discusses the traditional architecture of the village, a detailed examination was carried out within the village scale (within the 1st-degree Archaeological Site boundaries). This section comprehensively describes the neighborhoods, structures, and other elements surrounding the village. The study also identified some significant buildings that have been lost, using old photographs, and evaluated these buildings based on the data obtained. The analysis of most of the buildings in Yoran village revealed that they are residential. Therefore, a separate section was examined in detail under the title of traditional residences in the village, including the plan features, facade characteristics, building elements, and construction techniques of these traditional houses. The plan drawings of 28 buildings in Yoran village were prepared to better understand the plan typologies of the village, and the plan drawings of 5 buildings were obtained from the archives. With these plan drawings, different plan types in Yoran village were classified. Due to its current location as a tourist destination, some buildings in Yoran village have been restored for commercial purposes such as dining and accommodation. However, when considered at the village level, the number of restored buildings is not sufficient. For the sustainability of traditional architecture in Yoran village, more buildings constructed with traditional methods should be preserved and restored. Therefore, within the scope of this study, an inventory study was conducted for buildings identified as constructed with traditional methods or in harmony with the village's texture. Within the inventory study, photographs of the buildings were taken, their locations were marked on the map, and evaluations were made about their current conditions. Plan drawings of buildings were added to the inventory list. In addition, the decisions made by regional conservation boards were examined, and in this section, it was discussed why the village should be protected and how the protection issues have arisen, and suggestions were made for solutions. In conclusion, the study attempted to explain why the village should be protected.