The city of Van is located to the Eastern Region of Turkey and has experienced two large earthquakes recently. Van earthquakes have caused big damages and demolitions in the city center, districts and in villages. As a result of precautions works have been realized to remove its effects shortly. However, it can be seen that the either urban or rural areas of the city carry the earthquake’s traces. Damages that the eartquake left on the buildings formed the most apparent and standing ones of the traces. Mud-brick buildings are the primary of those damaged buildings both in the centre of Van and in villages. Especially roofs’ collapsing and then walls’ demolition for mud-brick houses which were abandoned, and therefore were not maintained properly for a long time, are quite familiar situations after the earthquake. However, inhabited and maintained houses have been survived sturdily by contrast of other houses with modern materials and they helpt life to continue after the earthquake. In this study, mud-brick houses which were survived after earthquakes in Van and in the villages will be discussed. Reasons for demolition of those demolished and the qualities of those surviving ones will be scrutinized. It is going to be discussed how the mud-brick material which is distinguishing and struggling to gain it deserves as an ecological material today to resist against natural disasters sturdily when it is applied in decent way in scope with examples in the city of Van. Purpose of this study is to document right and wrong usage of the mud-brick materials with examples.

[1]   Öztürk, S. 2013. Süleyman Han Camii. Van: Van Governor Printing.

[2]   Erzen, A. 1984. Eastern Anatolia and Urartu. Ankara, p. 15.

[3]   Erdogan, B. B. 2006. “Rural Settlements in Van.” M.Sc. thesis, YYU Institute of Social Sciences.

[4]   Subasi Direk, Y., and Özturk, S. 2008. “An Example of Traditional Van Houses: Abdulalim Arvas Houses.” Presented at V. Lake Van Basin Symposium, Van.

[5]   Oztürk, S. 2005. “An Example of Traditional Van Houses: Mustafa Dilaver Houses.” Gift of Sinan Genim, İstanbul.