The Correlation between Timber-Framed Wall Techniques and Altitudinal Local Zones in the Vernacular Architecture of Sürmene, Turkey

Evaluation of Timber-Framed Wall Systems Based on Altitudinal Settlement Zones

Abstract

This study explores the typological diversity of timber-framed wall construction in the vernacular architecture of Sürmene, a district located in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The region features a complex settlement structure composed of coastal towns, rural villages, hamlets, and highland pastures - each shaped by distinct topographical conditions and seasonal use patterns. Within these local zones, five timber-framed wall systems - Taraba, Bağdadi, Çatkı (Stone), Çatkı (Brick), Gözdolma, and Muskalıdolma- are identified, each associated with a specific altitudinal level. The research aims to establish a correlation between settlement altitudes and timber wall typologies, identifying how environmental and socio-cultural factors influence construction techniques.

Field data were obtained through on-site documentation in eight villages and analysed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A CRITIC-based multi-criteria investigation approach was employed to assess wall systems across five criteria: material availability, climatic adaptation, ease of construction, dismantlability, and structural integrity. Findings show that each wall type corresponds to distinct altitudinal patterns, shaped by topographical context, environmental pressures, and cultural preferences. This study contributes to vernacular architecture research by revealing how timber wall typologies function as adaptive responses to both ecological and socio-spatial conditions in the region.