Seismic Resilience of Vernacular Rural Architecture: Analytical Insights from the Bursa Case

Abstract

Earthquakes are among the major natural hazards shaping settlement patterns and construction practices in Türkiye. However, discussions on seismic resistance are largely framed within engineering solutions, while the experiential knowledge embedded in local building traditions remains underexplored. This study examines rural architectural examples in and around Bursa to identify spatial and structural characteristics associated with the seismic performance of traditional construction practices. The research analyzes the structural organization, material use, and local construction techniques of surviving rural buildings through field observations and typological analysis. The findings indicate that the resilience of these structures is closely related to specific structural configurations and locally developed construction practices. These results suggest that earthquake risk should be addressed not only as a technical problem but also through the integration of local knowledge, building culture, and planning processes. In this context, structural strategies observed in rural architecture may inform contemporary discussions on seismic resilience.