Utilization of systematic process models for documenting the construction processes of traditional handicrafts: The case of architectural kündekâri

As a result of globalization, intangible cultural heritage elements, which include traces of the past of societies, are in danger of extinction. Due to this situation, developing awareness about traditional handicrafts and ensuring the sustainability of them has been becoming increasingly important. However, since craft production processes are based on implicit knowledge, some difficulties have been experienced in documenting and transferring them to the next generations. In order to alleviate these problems, this thesis aims to document the construction methods and related knowledge of kündekâri, which is a traditional Turkish handicraft, using systematic process models. In the study, the data were collected through a literature review, interviews with kündekâri craftsmen and by recording the production processes of kündekâri. According to the data gathered from the literature review and the interviews, process models which show the production stages of kündekâri were created with the IDEF0 process modeling technique. These models represent the knowledge required for kündekâri production graphically. The verification and validation of the process models were done by the interviews with the kündekâri craftsmen.