FF Uzunyala Rural Research
FF Uzunyala Rural Research:
Uzunyayla (translated from Turkish: long plateau, large winter pasture) is a rural region near Kayseri in Turkey, consisting of a wide river plain and a flat mountain plain. Along two river courses are 42 small Circassian villages that live mainly from agriculture and cattle breeding. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Circassians came from the Caucasus and were settled here by the Ottomans. Today, the population is declining and the inhabitants are getting older. This demographic change is significantly altering the villages.
In this series of courses, over several semesters, we use ethnographic methods (travel books, observations, interviews, mapping) to explore the history as well as the typical building and living culture of Uzunyayla, Örensehir, and Sacayagi. In dialogue with the residents, we work out what could improve the future of the village. We plan and realize together the revival of one of the typical old vacant and mostly already dilapidated village houses for a new special community use.
In SS 22, we worked with students from RWTH Aachen University and the AGU Abdullah Gül University Kayseri and worked together on-site during a travel workshop and the further semesters. The results were recorded in a travel book. Among other things, we mapped two villages in the Uzunyala region, , measured an old village house and conducted interviews with the residents. In this WS 22/23 we will continue the cooperation with the AGU Kayseri and the residents and together we will develop a design proposal for the old village house. In doing so, we want to analyze and further develop the simple construction method in stone, clay and wood that is typical for the place.
The seminar takes place weekly on Fridays from 10-12h alternately in presence at RWTH Aachen University and online with the Turkish students.
Lecturer: Medine Altiok