'SERANDER' VE 'LOFT': TÜRK VE NORVEÇ HALK MİMARÎSİNDE EŞDEĞERLİ İKİ YAPI

'Serander' of the Black Sea Region in Turkey and 'Loft' in Norway are two products of similar environmental and economic conditions. 'Serander' is part of a rural residential complex, a timber building constructed on posts over a platform. This building is usually used to store grain and food. Some of the Seranders are also used for residential purposes. A Serander consists of a front terrace called 'çardak* or 'sofa', and a storage space at the rear. In some examples, there is an intermediary space between the 'çardak* and the storage space. Serander buildings are classified either according to the position of the 'çardak' (taking place on either one side, two, or three sides), or according to its size, in the case of which the number of load-bearing posts are taken into consideration (4-post, 4/6-post, 10/12-post). Seranders often have carved decorations on wood, regardless of type and size. It is also possible to classify these buildings according to number of floors. 'Loft' is also a storage or a dwelling unit built in proximity to the rural house on timber posts over a platform. There is a balcony or gallery at the front, and the storage space or the room at the back. The first floor of the two-storey lofts is allocated for storage, guest room and living, whereas the second floor is assigned for the use and residence of young girls, and for their trousseau. The Lofts also have carved wood decorations, especially on the doors and the front facade. Various aspects of the Serander and Loft buildings are thus amazingly common. Almost all of them are demountable. Many of the Loft buildings are well preserved and under protection, and transferred to museums. It is not possible to make a similar statement however, for Serander buildings which are in the process of perishing, owing to changes in economic activities and life-patterns in the contemporary Turkish society.