Practices for the Protection of Rural Architecture: The Case of Serbian Rural Area

Practices for the Protection of Rural Architecture: The Case of Serbian Rural Area

İbrahim AKTÜRK

Department of Architect, Architect, Turkey

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.9010108

Received: 15 January 2025; Accepted: 20 January 2025; Published: 04 February 2025

ABSTRACT

Rural areas are traditional living spaces that present local architecture of materials and construction techniques. In recent years, with the increase in social awareness, rural architecture has been directed, but rural architecture, which has problems in terms of architecture, economic, technical and legal aspects, needs to be protected. In this context, it is aimed in this study to form the basis for new applications for the protection of rural architecture by analyzing on sample area Serbian rural houses, which were selected as one of the practices in rural areas. In line with the purpose of the study, the study of the place and historical process of rural architecture in the literature and the architectural features and conservation practices of Serbian rural houses constitute the scope of the study. In the first step of the method, literature research on rural architecture was made, in the second step, the study text on Serbian rural houses was analyzed, and in the last step, the measures applied to increase the thermal comfort conditions for Serbian rural houses were examined through the analyzed study text. It is assumed that the improvement of the comfort conditions in the rural area of Serbia will encourage rural settlements in many countries to be preserved with their original textures. As a result, it is considered necessary to make plans where the applications to be made considering the original identity of the rural architecture offer solutions suitable for the traditional structure.

Keywords: Rural, Local, Architecture, Conservation, Serbia.

ENTRANCE

As a concrete indicator of civilizations that transitioned from nomadic to settled life, rural areas are local elements that contribute to the functioning of cities and have a production dimension in meeting basic needs (Yıldız, 2019). Rural areas are traditional living spaces that present local architecture as materials and construction techniques. According to Hasol (2017), rural areas are the regions where a society that depends on agriculture lives and works. In foreign sources, the terms “rural” or “vernacular” are used for rural areas. In the World Vernacular Architecture Encyclopedia (Oliver, 1998), rural architecture includes all houses and other traditional structures built by the society. These houses were built with the limited possibilities of the environment and traditional techniques . Rural architecture, which is also included in the sources as folk architecture, reflects the traces of the culture, lifestyle and social values in which it is located in order to meet certain needs (Gümüş & Kishalı, 2018). These terms, which are expressed as local as rural architecture, folk architecture or vernacular architecture, were first used in French in 1861. According to Hasol (2017), vernacular architecture is defined as anonymous architecture, which is the forms that society makes with environmental materials and traditional techniques. The recognition of rural architecture as a cultural heritage in the world is accepted in 1790 with the idea of Karl Viktor von Bonstetten collecting concrete data of the past culture of farmhouses (Eres, 2013). In the second half of the 19th century, it was emphasized that rural architecture should be recognized and protected with the regulations issued in Europe (Çağlayan, 2018). The official acceptance by many countries of the protection of historical urban and rural textures and their evaluation within the scope of “site integrity” in the Venice Charter of 1964 was a breaking point for rural protection. In the 1980s, symposiums and declarations (Rural Cultural Heritage Colloquium, Council of Europe (Aoste, 1985); Preservation of Rural Landscape Colloquium, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Warsaw, 1985); Architectural Heritage and Rural Development Symposium, EuroPa Council (Bourlinger, 1987)) were held for the on-site protection of rural areas depending on the development of the concept of protection. In 1989, the Council of Europe recommended that rural heritage was under threat as a result of social change and that studies should be carried out for its protection. In the 1990s, steps were taken to protect rural architecture as a rural landscape together with its surroundings. The late realization of the importance of rural heritage accelerated the process of destruction of structures in rural areas. In addition, documentation studies for rural heritage, which was revealed by the reports announced by International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) to be under threat, are insufficient. Studies, especially in European countries, that define the scope of rural heritage and produce solutions for its protection with its unique identities are increasing day by day with the awareness of the rural environment (Eres, 2013).

Rural heritage is the whole of spatial structures that show local characteristics where the built environment integrates with the natural environment and economic relations are mutually resolved. However, rural areas accepted as heritage are negatively affected in order to adapt to daily life or serve the tourism sector. In this context, it is deemed necessary to address rural areas with their spatial and socio-cultural dimensions like historical environments in urban areas and to apply a holistic protection approach (Özcan, 2017). In this context, protection is the measures taken to preserve natural works or historical structures with historical or artistic value. It is explained in the Venice Charter that protection should be continuous and monuments should be evaluated together with their surroundings (Zakar & Eyüpgiller, 2018). It should be taken into consideration that all kinds of actions taken within the concept of protection in rural areas should be carried to the future and that their cultural characteristics have the nature of heritage. Cultural heritages exist in urban areas or rural areas as the cultural identity of the society that has come from the past to the present with all their tangible and intangible values. Studies on protecting these heritages with their traditions, customs and folkloric features and carrying them to the future are increasing day by day (Pekerşen, Güneş & Seçuk, 2019). In this context, according to Ahunbay (2019), experts from many disciplines need to work together to protect monuments, sites and cultural landscapes as cultural heritage. Because cultural heritage includes different periods with many aspects. Rural architecture, which is one of the cultural heritages that includes both natural values and products made by human hands, also requires evaluations from traditional and contemporary perspectives (Gümüş & Kishalı, 2018).

Traditional architecture, more clearly, is a group of structures constructed through experience without the use of experts and up-to-date techniques. The characteristics of this architecture are determined by the geography, climate, production system, traditions and customs where it is located. Traditional architecture, which is a concrete example of the reflection of the social environment on architecture, has a unique value in urban or rural areas (Muşkara, 2017). The main factors affecting traditional architecture are natural climatic conditions and structural space characteristics. When looked at in detail, the factors that shape traditional architecture are land, vegetation, historical, cultural and economic conditions (Radivojević et al ., 2012). In the Traditional Architectural Heritage Regulation published by ICOMOS regarding rural areas, it is explained that vernacular architecture is products that reflect the characteristics of the society. In this regulation, traditional architecture is expressed as an impressive, orderly and source of pride that reveals the labor of people. In the regulation, which argues that vernacular heritage is under threat from globalization today, it is also stated that there are problems regarding protection. In particular, the change in socio-economic values, abandonments and differences in the internal balance of the country are at the top of the problems. In this sense, the regulation regarding these problems has prepared an application guide on different issues such as documentation, landscape, material, construction system, restorations and education by explaining the protection principle consisting of five articles. It is explained in the application section that precautions should be taken while emphasizing the importance of any intervention to be made to the traditional structure (Ahunbay, 2019). Applications on rural architecture have been a subject of discussion in the international literature (Gümüş & Kishalı, 2018). Discussions and criticisms, especially within the framework of protection problems, increase at the point where the original texture is damaged. People changing the rural area according to their own wishes and wrong practices carried out without involving the local people are the target of criticism. of rural areas in terms of social and ecological aspects is important for future generations. At this point, the sustainability of the traditional texture with its original identity depends on the active and conscious use of these areas by the local people (Yıldız, 2019). Since the 1950s, due to the impact of technological developments and the increase in comfort conditions, rural areas have not been actively used and have been experiencing an abandonment process. With abandonment, which is one of the biggest problems experienced in rural areas, not only the architecture but also the ecological balance loses its continuity. Interruptions in investment services due to the decreasing population in these areas come with it. The inadequacy of infrastructure in rural areas and the negative economic conditions also constitute an obstacle to the protection of rural architecture. Architectural structures that are not maintained and repaired in rural settlements and have been abandoned experience a deterioration process and disappear at this point (Naycı, 2012). In this context, by determining the cause of deterioration for rural architecture and eliminating the source of this cause, steps are taken for protection. The causes of deterioration are generally multifaceted in terms of architecture, economy, social and law, and the effect of each situation is reflected in rural architecture in different ways.

Rural houses built in traditional regions are cultural heritages that are affected by changing conditions today. Rural structures that present local architectural character interact with nature in terms of materials used and spatial arrangements. Technological developments and different living standards in many countries have brought rural architecture to the point of exhaustion. Migration from rural areas to urban areas, architectural problems, economic difficulties, inadequacy of rural environment in terms of education and health have caused rural houses to be abandoned. The study conducted on Serbian rural houses, which were selected as an example as one of the applications carried out in rural areas, is aimed to be analyzed in this study and to form the basis for new applications aimed at the protection of rural architecture. In line with the purpose of the study, the place and historical process of rural architecture in the literature are examined and the architectural features and protection applications of Serbian rural houses are covered. In this framework, the method of the study consists of three steps. In the first step, literature research on rural architecture was conducted. In the second step, the text of the study conducted on Serbian rural houses was analyzed and architectural features were revealed. In the last step, the measures implemented for increasing thermal comfort conditions, especially under the protection applications made for Serbian rural houses were examined through the analyzed text of the study.

Architectural Features

In the Serbian region, which was selected as an example of conservation practices for rural architecture within the scope of the study, natural and climatic conditions are important factors in the formation of rural architecture (Figure 1). In addition, land and environmental conditions also reveal the local character of rural architecture.

Figure 1 . Serbia region (URL-1).

In rural houses located in mountainous regions and sunny slopes, the façade openings are in the direction of the sun. The construction materials of the rural houses generally consist of stone, wood and soil materials. Accordingly, it has been stated that rural architecture in Serbia is formed in three models. The first type of model is located in the mountainous area covered with high-quality pine and oak trees in the western part of the country. In this model, circular-section logs were used and simple rectangular-planned spaces were created. The second type of model was built in flat areas in the eastern part of the country. In this model, wooden structures were used on stone foundations. In addition, mud and straw were used as wall materials in the houses and served as filling. The third type of model was manufactured from compressed soil in the northern part of the country. These houses located in flat areas have thick walls with the method of compacting the soil mixture. Architecturally, this type has a small entrance area and a kitchen unit facing the street. In addition, the parts of these houses facing the street are ornamented and their courtyard porches have an impressive appearance (Radivojević et al ., 2012) (Figure 2).

Figure 2 . a) Type 1 housing b) Type 2 housing c) Type 3 housing (Radivojević et al ., 2012).

PROTECTION ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In terms of living comforts, houses are expected to be sufficiently equipped not only in urban areas but also in rural areas today. In addition to heat, sound and aesthetic values, houses need to be insulated in terms of protection from both the interior environment and atmospheric conditions. However, it is clear that rural houses built with primitive techniques are not sufficiently equipped in this respect. In this context, within the scope of protection problems, users leave the houses or there are examples in many rural areas where the structures are demolished and replaced with new ones. Rural architecture, which is experiencing a process of change due to inadequate comfort conditions, loses its originality and suffers damage in a holistic sense. In this context, comfort conditions need to be improved for rural houses in Serbia and studies have been carried out in this direction. First of all, when examined from a natural perspective, the orientation of rural houses in accordance with the land conditions, spatial organization and material properties primitively provide comfort conditions up to a point. However, only original construction techniques and systems, especially insulation for heat, are lacking (Radivojević et al., 2012).

In order to protect Serbian rural houses especially from heat and increase their performance, the study of Radivojević and his friends in 2012, is considered to be an example of applications made for protection in rural areas. In the study, rural houses were divided into groups and the spatial and structural sections of the houses were categorized in terms of thermal performance values. In addition to the use of the stove found in traditional rural houses, fire chimneys and ovens were added to heat different rooms. In addition, the windbreaking function of the veranda at the entrances and the construction of the night sections from wooden material provided natural thermal insulation. In some houses, improvements were made in the wrong direction with additions and construction materials that did not comply with the original texture. However, improvements made without damaging the authenticity in rural houses are accepted. In this sense, an example housing application area was selected in the Serbia region in terms of thermal values in terms of structural elements, and insulation was added to the ceiling, unheated areas and joinery as passive systems to prevent heat loss. In addition, raised wooden flooring was placed on unheated floors, the ceilings were covered with wood in the same way and straw mortar was added to the wall partitions. After the measures taken, energy efficiency was measured and heat consumption values were revealed. Depending on the data obtained, comfort conditions for the people using this rural area were increased to a certain extent (Radivojević et al., 2012).

CONCLUSION

Rural architecture should be protected as a cultural heritage reflecting the traditions and customs of societies and should be carried to the future. In this direction, there are some problems regarding protection especially in rural areas and it is understood that some of the local people migrate to the city in order to get away from these problems. It is assumed that both rural architecture will be protected and the socio -cultural effect of rural areas will continue for many years with the improvements and appropriate intervention methods to be made for protection in rural areas. It is thought that the application made on Serbian rural houses examined within the scope of the study should be an example for the protection of rural areas by presenting the energy study especially for increasing the comfort conditions in terms of thermal aspects. It is foreseen that this application will form the basis for the protection of rural settlements in many parts of the world that can be the subject of the study. It is assumed that the improvement of comfort conditions by increasing the energy gain after the simple passive systems made by taking one of the Serbian rural houses as a sample will encourage the work to protect the original textures of rural settlements in many countries. It is considered that the applications to be made considering the original identity of rural architecture have a universal quality in the context of cultural heritage and that plans should be made in which the improvements offer solutions suitable for the traditional structure.

To inform

Article, Karadeniz Technical University Department of Architecture MIML 7261 Rural Architecture Heritage and It was prepared in the form of homework within the scope of the course called Preservation and later developed and produced as an article.

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In this article, research and publication ethics have been complied with and there is no potential conflict of interest.

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Author Contribution Statement

In this article, the design of the research, collection of data and writing were done by İbrahim AKTÜRK.

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