Historic ‘buttoned houses’ in Antalya under restoration

Famous for their distinctive architectural style, the historic "buttoned [düğmeli] houses," a popular spot among tourists in the southern province of Antalya, are undergoing restoration to preserve their original charm and will soon welcome visitors once again.

Located in the İbradı district's Ormana and Ürünlü neighborhoods, the 300-400-year-old buttoned houses are being restored as part of a project, titled "Regulation on Providing Aid for Immovable Cultural Assets," supported by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

This year, a total of six buttoned houses, two in İbradı, two in Ormana, and two in Ürünlü, will be restored, while the ministry will provide a total grant of 7.4 million Turkish liras for these restorations.

The intensive restoration work is being carried out to preserve the historical essence of the buildings. The projects aim to attract not only history enthusiasts but also contribute to the region's tourism.

The buttoned houses, with their distinctive architecture, are unique to the İbradı and Akseki districts of Antalya. These structures, built with cedar wood and interlocking wooden beams, are found only in this region.

Associate Professor Ali Akın Akyol, a faculty member of the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties at the Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, emphasizes the skillfully selected and expertly applied building materials as the most significant feature of these traditional houses.

"The buildings consist of stone, mortar, tiles and magnificent woodwork. Ormana in İbradı and Akseki have a significant identity. The group of houses known as 'Buttoned Houses' has survived to our time, preserved in these areas," he said.

Akyol pointed out that the architectural...