Traditional Rize within the scope of social and cultural sustainability examination of dwellings

In 1987, the concept of sustainability used in the Environment and Development Report published by the United Nations was defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations, and it has been accepted on a local and global scale as a key word aiming to enable societies to exist in the next centuries. The concept has enabled the re-evaluation of structural activities in the discipline of architecture with its ecological, economic, social and cultural dimensions. For this reason, within the scope of social and cultural sustainability, it is important to examine the spatial characteristics of cultural heritage, the lifestyle and habits of the user, and to produce strategies for the protection and transfer of these structures to future generations. This study focuses on analysing and preserving the spatial structure of traditional dwellings used in villages in Rize where mostly Turkish and Laz people live. The aim of the study is to evaluate the structural/spatial characteristics of the traditional dwellings used by Turkish and Laz people in rural Rize within the scope of social and cultural sustainability, to investigate how the user lifestyle is reflected in the space and to provide suggestions for the protection of the dwellings. In the first part of the study, the purpose, scope, hypothesis and limitations are defined. In the second part, a conceptual framework for sustainability and traditional houses is established and a comprehensive literature review is conducted. In the third part of the study, the spatial structure of the traditional houses of the Eastern Black Sea Region, settlement characteristics, construction technique, facade layout, interior features and auxiliary elements of the dwelling (serender) and the historical development, geographical location, demographic, social and economic structure of the city of Rize and the spatial structure of Rize traditional houses were examined. In the fourth part of the study, the methodology of the research is discussed, analyses are made in the villages determined for the field study and the findings obtained from the analyses are given in the fifth part. In the last part of the study, conclusions and recommendations for the protection of traditional houses are presented.