KERKENES ECO-CENTER

Renewed support from the Australian Embassy permitted progress of a planned program of activities during the summer of 2003. A timber-framed mudbrick unit with a flat mud roof was built on stone foundations according to traditional techniques (Fig. 18). Tinytag dataloggers are used to record temperature and relative humidity to sample the environmental performance of the building at regular intervals throughout the seasons. Computer simulations using Ecotect v.5.20 will permit comparisons to be made between the performance of various alternative building materials. In the autumn a poster on ‘Comparative Studies of Traditional and Contemporary Construction in Turkey’ was prepared for the PLEA (Passive and Low Energy Architecture) 2003 conference in Santiago, Chile. The ongoing studies are funded by the British Council Britain-Turkey Partnerships Programme between the METU Department of Architecture, at Ankara and the Environment and Energy Studies Programme of the Architectural Association, London. In addition, a paper entitled ‘The Future of Rural Housing in Turkey: Back to Earth?’ was presented at the ‘Modern Earth 2003’ conference in Berlin. Programs launched in 2002 included reuse of grey-water, installation of a simple drip irrigation scheme, solid waste separation for composting and recycling, and a study of alternative materials for improved environmental performance of buildings. The innovative ideas and practices initiated by the Kerkenes Eco-Center Project, once firmly established, should become self-supporting and run largely at a local level, by a Village Association, providing a model for the development of similar activities in rural areas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums and, in Yozgat, Governor Gökhan Sözer, the director of Culture and Tourism Mustafa Sarıkaya, Museum Director, Erol Özen, Sorgun District Governor Mustafa Dündar and Mayor Yılmaz Kılıçarslan gave enthusiastic support. We also thank Dr. Şevket Bağcı, the Yozgat Köy Hizmetleri, TEDAŞ and Telekom and the Sorgun Belediye for continuing assistance. We are deeply indepted to the Muhtar, Ali Erciyes, and people of Þahmuratlý Village for extending traditional Anatolian hospitality. The Kerkenes Project is dependent on its patrons to all of whom we extend our appreciation.