Abstract:

The traditional Turkish housing architecture has shown a unique and rich variety in Anatolia geography by blending with both the new understanding of life brought by the religion of Islam and Turkish traditions. The importance of the tents used by the Turks as their living area is significant in realizing this progress. A very rich housing architecture to be noticed shape by different socio-economic, climatic, and geographical conditions, including different local architectural traditions, draws attention in many regions dominated by the Ottoman State. Anatolia is one of the important regions that contain this wealth. Although not as dense as Beypazarı and Safranbolu houses, Niksar has also taken its place in this rich variety. Before the earthquake that occurred in the region in 1939, the houses in the district mostly had a two-story appearance on the ground floor, but the upper floors were destroyed by the decision of the Niksar Municipality after the earthquake, and the roof was placed on the first floor. Considering that the upper floors used as the homeowners' living space are the most decorated and important parts of the structure in traditional houses, the extent of the destruction caused by this decision is apparent. While the ground floor of Niksar houses was allocated for service purposes, the intermediate floors were kept low to endure the winter, and the upper floors were designed as living spaces. Niksar houses are divided into two groups: those located in the garden and those adjacent to the road. Most of these structures are simple, with no rich decorations, especially considering their facade characteristics. The overhangs, that are frequently preferred on upper floors to create a spacious area in traditional houses, are also present in Niksar houses. Cavusoglu Mansion was built in the last quarter of the 19th century on Ünye Street in Melikgazi District. The building is located near the southwest corner of a rectangular garden in a north-south direction, and a small part of the north corner is closed with an outbuilding wall. Four structures are in total, including another structure functioning as a woodshed and a depot inside the garden. The skeleton of the wooden carcass-based structure consisting of an intermediate and first floor on the ground is made of wooden poles and beams; the walls were made of stone masonry up to the water basin level, filled with mud between the wooden frames and painted with lime plaster. The hipped roof covering the building is covered with Turkish-style tiles, and the eaves are made of flat wood. The building was constructed by using wood, stone, adobe, plaster, metal, and tile materials. The main façade of the house overlooks south is the courtyard; other sides of almost similar length overlook the garden. The double-winged sentence gate in the center, the upper floor balcony on the same axis, the window openings around them, and the simple feature, the south facade has a symmetrical feature. Although similar symmetry is not seen on the other facades, except for the east facade, entry to the structure can be made from all sides, The mansion is included in the "inner sofa" group in the traditional house typology. The ground floor rises above the basement room from the west; It consists of a stony house, two servant rooms, a toilet, a warehouse, a horse and cattle barn. The intermediate floor, reached by a staircase adjacent to the cattle barn, covers the northern half of the structure and consists of three rooms. The first floor, which features a two-faced inner sofa plan type, has an inverted ceiling and a rectangular plan extending north-south. There is a hall where the stairwell is located on the north side of the sofa, and there is room on each side, while the balcony on the south side and a room on each side of the balcony are present. The double-winged wooden door between the rooms on the east side opens to the stairwell void, while the opposite door opens to the toilet. Çavuşoğlu Mansion is an unique example that reflects the traditional housing architecture in the region with its plan form, architectural features, and ornamentation.

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