THE 2004 PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES
In 2004 the Kerkenes Eco-Center made another step forward with the
construction of a strawbale house
and small greenhouse
generously funded by the Canada Fund of the Canadian Embassy. Şahmuratlı
villagers, METU students and participants from other parts of Turkey
as well as distant places abroad, worked together sharing knowledge
and experiences. Bora Topluoğlu, expert in strawbale construction
who lives in Australia but regularly visits his native Turkey, supervised
the strawbale building program. When the Governor of Yozgat visited
together with a large entourage
Bora seized the opportunity to explain how rural Turkey could benefit
from the use of such building techniques, especially in earthquake
zones.
Other ongoing programs include solid waste separation for composting
and recycling, simple drip irrigation for organic gardens
and reuse of grey-water. The British Council supports studies on
the environmental performance of buildings under the Britain-Turkey
Partnerships Programme between the METU Department of Architecture
and the Environment and Energy Studies Programme of the Architectural
Association, London. A Parry Brick Press
was donated by the Burdens Charitable Foundation. The project received
funding from MESA, AKG and Mr Erdoğan Akdağ and help in kind from
the Yozgat Governorate, Rural Services and Sorgun Belediye. Future
plans include a pilot project to promote the use of renewable energy
and new building with a large hall to host village activities, visitors
and permanent displays on the archaeological and ecological activities
of the Kerkenes Project.
