Browsing by Author "Boyacioglu, Didem"

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An Investigation of Occupant Energy-Saving Behavior in Vernacular Houses of Behramkale (Assos)
(MDPI, 2021) Ergoz Karahan, Ebru; Gocer, Ozgur; Gocer, Kenan; Boyacioglu, Didem
Despite its well-known potential to reduce energy use, the inquiry of whether vernacular architecture prompts its occupants to have energy-saving behavior has been neglected. This paper aims to investigate the influence of vernacular houses on the behavior of their occupants and other parameters affecting occupant behavior. Along with site observations, 117 surveys including multiple choice and open-ended questions were conducted with households living in vernacular houses and new houses in the historical settlement, Behramkale (Assos). A principal component analysis was conducted for the whole sample to determine whether there is a relationship between energy saving occupant behavior and energy use, household, and housing characteristics. Then further analyses were performed to explore the differences in descriptive properties of occupants. Household characteristics were found to be associated with occupant behavior. The females and married people tended to show more energy-saving behavior and sought to use their houses in more environmentally friendly ways. The older people were more likely to show no-cost energy-saving behavior. The households with high income and high-level education tended to invest in energy-efficient appliances but consumed more energy than other households. Besides the effects of household characteristics, historical heritage, and landscape values specific to the area influenced occupant behavior. Vernacular houses enabled the households to behave in a certain way and to continue the traditional daily habits related to sustainable, energy-saving behaviors.
Rural Gentrification of the Ancient City of Assos (Behramkale) in Turkey
(Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2021) Gocer, Ozgur; Shrestha, Pranita; Boyacioglu, Didem; Gocer, Kenan; Karahan, Ebru
Behramkale, also known as the ancient city of Assos, has gained considerable national and international visibility after its declaration as an Archaeological site in 1982 and later in 2000 as Urban Archaeological site. The declaration brought with it stringent regulations limiting new constructions and simple extensions in the historical village and opened new construction site outside the ancient city walls for future developments. After declaration, the village has become a major destination for cultural heritage led tourism. This largely growth oriented transformation is concerning as less attention given to shift in class structure. The paper uses the concepts of rural and tourism gentrification to understand this transformation in Behramkale using empirical evidence from a longitudinal, case study approach spanning between 2000 and 2017. The longitudinal, case study documents transformation in terms of (i) demographic and socio-economic changes; (ii) conservation practice in old settlement and development of new settlement; and (iii) change in property prices and ownership. It is seen that the authentic characteristics of the landscape and traditional buildings that is being abandoned but remains desirable have led to a population influx from, bigger cities of Turkey and also other countries, purchasing these homes as a primary or secondary house. This has led to renovation of the existing buildings with an increase in the property prices and displacement of the local population to the new development area. Consequently, the conservation practice in Behramkale served merely encouraging investment in building renovation rather than a function of preserving local community. The paper contributes to limited literature on rural gentrification within the Mediterranean context.