Poem to celebrate the seamless synergy of stone and timber: Ormana - a village located in the Taurus within southern Anatolia

Abstract

This article focuses on the design principles of the houses of Ormana; a village located in the Taurus within southern Anatolia, Turkey—including their dual architectural identity and construction details. Ormana, with its high potential of creating harmony between space and environment, is a sample of a “geomorphic” settlement. It is argued that Ormana houses owe their aesthetics to the rational and functional conduct underlying the use of timber and stone to fulfil their natural needs. Ormana Houses, with their layered and rich structure underpinning the social and physical integration have the potential to inspire modern designs. The paper posits that settlements like Ormana and the buildings in them might be guiding sources for creating new environmental friendly environments inclined towards using regenerative materials that increases building resilience.