 CAPPADOCIA
HOUSES
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 19th
century Cappadocian houses were built on hill sides, either
carved out of the rock or built from large cut stones. Volcanic
stone is the only architectural material in the region used
for building as it is soft when extracted and can therefore
easily be cut and shaped. It hardens on contact with air to
form a very resistant material. The abundance of stone in the
area, and the ease of use have created a building technique
unique to the area.
Wood is used for courtyard gates and the houses'
doors. Rosette and ivy patterns are used as decorations above
the arched doors.
Windows are grouped in twos and threes and stylised
plant patterns are also used, either two panes opening separately
or guillotine style.
In both types of house there are numerous living
rooms, a kitchen, cellar, store room, an oven (tandir), wine
vat etc. Niches found in the guest rooms are decorated with
paintings of vases full of flowers under silk, tasseled curtains,
scenes from nature or women filling, or carrying water vessels.
These scenes are painted on plaster.
The most interesting examples of local architecture
belong to the end of the 19th beginning of the 20th centuries.
Examples can be found all over the region, but particularly
in Avanos, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, Uchisar, Goreme, Urgup,
in Guzeloz and nearby Baskoy in the province of Kayseri and
Guzelyurt near the region of Ihlara.
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