Reuse of Traditional Divrigi Houses for Cultural Tourism

Abstract

The Divrigi settlement has a very rich potential in terms of both the integrity of the urban texture and the examples of civil architecture it contains. Examples of civil architecture that have survived until today are unique in terms of plan, building materials and space organization. These examples have the characteristics of Seljuk living house typology and can be seen in the traditional texture of Divriği. The devotion to the land and nature, which originates from the countryside, has also manifested itself in the Divrigi settlement, and the sensitivities transferred from the previous generations are still being used effectively. The houses that make up the Residential Areas generally consist of two-storey houses, separated from the street by a wall in the front, a courtyard and a large garden at the back where fruit growing and planting are also carried out.
Street improvement projects were prepared within the scope of the efforts to transform the existing built up areas and historical texture into "livable urban areas" with "rehabilitation projects", and they were put into practice in stages by the local government. It is aimed to increase the quality of the resources in Divriği and direct them to use for tourism purposes, and to preserve the potential values in line with the sustainability principles. Divriği Municipality and District Governorate have organized joint summer schools and workshops with universities within the scope of tourism development activities and have prepared re-functional and utilization projects for selected mansions and houses.
Restoration and Reconstruction projects have been prepared and put into practice after being approved by the relevant Cultural Heritage Conservation Regional Board. The Sancaktar Mansion Restoration Project, which is owned by the Divrigi Village Service Presidency, has been organized as a 'Children's Library'. Ayanağa Mansion Restoration Project, which is owned by the Divriği Municipality, has been organized as a 'Culture House'. It is planned to be used as a 'Social Center where Accommodation and Divrigi Meals are Served' in the Restoration Project of the registered Tevruzlü Mansion, which belongs to the Private Property. The Restoration Project of Ercokluzade Yusuf Mansion, registered as Private Property, has been organized as a 'Guest House'. Edegiller House Restoration and Reconstruction Project belonging to Private Property has been organized as 'Iron and Steel Museum'. In addition to these projects, applications such as Mühürdarzade Mansion, Şeyhoğlu House, Abdullah Paşa Mansion are examples that have been re-functionalized in the historical texture. These structures have been brought into cultural tourism. In this study, traditional houses that have been re-functionalized for cultural tourism will be introduced and their use, capacities and contributions to tourism will be evaluated separately.