A Research on Sustainability Through Re-Use of Traditional Buildings, A Case study of Famagusta, North Cyprus

ABSTRACT: This research aims to study how old buildings transform with the informal changes, and modifications did by their users. Understanding the level and nature of changes in the houses will indicate the level of sustainability environmentally as well as culturally. It is crucially important to know about potential of these buildings rather than consuming a lot of energy and new resources for constructing new ones when we have enormous housing stock in our hands. The traditional environment of the Famagusta is the selected case in order to analyze the environmental and social sustainability in traditional reused houses. The first chapter has been dedicated to the explanation of the problem and the necessity of such a study. It provides the general approaches to the subject, the procedure of the study and the main objective. The second chapter aims to provide a theoretical framework about sustainability in terms of environment and culture; next investigates the traditional architecture, its relation with sustainability and the advantages of reuse with special reference to the Cypriot settlements. It is divided into three parts: sustainability and its principles, meaning and values of traditional architecture, the concept of traditional architecture of Cyprus in terms of sustainability. The third chapter is devoted to analyze of environmental and social sustainability in reused traditional houses in the walled city of Famagusta. This chapter is divided into two parts. First part provides materials about history and architecture of Famagusta. In the second part five houses caring traditional architecture characteristic environmentally and contextually adapted to contemporary lifestyle are chosen as the case study. This study illustrates changes and adaptation in space organization, building materials and techniques and environmental control of the reused traditional houses selected in the walled city of Famagusta. It aims to underline the power and potential of the traditional houses in environmental and social sustainability. The forth chapter is the conclusion. The findings and results are highlighted through this chapter. Keywords: Sustainability, Traditional architecture, Reuse, Famagusta, North Cyprus. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………