A Comparison of the Traditional Tandırevi and the Modern Kitchen in the Context of Social Interaction and Visibility

The spatial organisation of houses has been shaped by the climatic, cultural

and socio-economic conditions of their geographical location, seeking to

strike a balance between privacy, climate adaptation, flexibility and social

interaction. Throughout history, domestic spaces have undergone physical

transformation and changes in their functional and social relationships. While

multi-functional spaces form the centre of daily life in traditional houses, their

function has been redefined in various ways in modern houses. In regions with

a harsh continental climate, such as Erzurum, the tandırevi is a distinctive

space combining heating, food preparation and social interaction. However,

in modern houses, the kitchen was initially separated from other living areas

due to technological advancements and changing lifestyles. Yet, through

open-plan design approaches, it has once again become a social space. This

study compares the tandırevi in traditional Erzurum houses with the modern

kitchen in terms of spatial location, visibility, and social interaction. Visibility

Graph Analysis (VGA) results show that the tandırevi is a central, highly

visible social hub in traditional dwellings. In modern homes, the kitchen plays

a similar social role, particularly in open-plan layouts. This shows that the

social centre of the home has evolved over time.