Abstract

Cotes for the pigeons have been built in various sizes and esthetic values in Anatolia. Among these, there have been bigger dove cotes built to obtain fertilizers for plants. This type of cotes is generally found in Cappadocia, Kayseri and Diyarbakir environs. In this paper, dove cotes in rural part of Diyarbakır are examined. These shelters which are the products of a tradition enduring for hundreds of years are called “boranhane” by people living in rural parts of Diyarbakır. Boranhanes, which are among the esthetic values of artificial environment, are investigated particularly in Karaçalı Village in Diyarbakır, where it is possible to find the largest number of them. This article focuses on the distinctive qualities of Boranhanes in the village, pertaining to construction objective, settings in land, spatial characteristics, and construction technique.