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'A little happy house is the strongest castle in the whole universe'
Mehmet Murat Ildan 1965-
Turkish playwright/novelist
I don't see many stone built houses in villages any more; those I do find are usually abandoned like the one above. For the past 40 years, the preferred method of construction has been a reinforced concrete frame, filled in with a single layer of breeze block wall, good at not falling down during an earthquake and also good at letting damp through in the winter and the heat through in the summer - add the traditional flat roof and the winter rain will find its way in too.
There are 6 houses under construction around our village now, a mini building boom, as that many homes haven't been built in the past 10 years but only 2 are using bricks and mortar, the other four are prefabricated.
I remember visiting my great aunt in the early 1960s who lived in a 'prefab', and how the word was always whispered in a disparaging way even though as a child I found the strange shaped bungalow rather endearing, but 'prefab' seems to have now shaken off its shameful image and 'pre-built' houses are going up left, right and centre.
Like my aunt's bungalow, these new prefabs have something of the children's toy house about them, but I'm reliably informed that they are well insulated, don't leak, and take less than a couple of months to complete. (My source was under the impression that I was a prospective buyer, so I welcome comments from anyone actually living in one.)
On my 6 km drive to the nearest town I counted 10 prefabs including the first 2 storey one to go up, each one in sufficient land to grow vegetables and fruit trees. Not so pretty but a welcome sign that folk are coming to live on and work the soil, especially as I have to sell our plot of land. Any takers?
My first home (as a post war baby) was in a prefab. Not that I remember much about it, but I had an aunt and uncle living in the same prefabs for about 15 years more until they were demolished. There was always a bit of a stigma about them. These new ones that are popping up here are fantastic aren't they? I wouldn't mind one
ReplyDeleteI would be tempted
Deleteon the Isle of Sheppey where I grew up there was much resistance to the prefabs being demolished. So much so the many folks bought them and live in them to this day.
ReplyDeleteI think they were built to last 10 years weren't they? They will eventually gain protected status
DeleteWe're looking for land in the Bodrum area at the moment. Where and what are you selling? My husband's in Milas at the moment hoping to buy very soon...amandadarslan@hotmail.co.uk
ReplyDeleteI will send you an email with my telephone number
DeleteI wrote down that inspired quote (I collect favorites) about the little happy house. I hope the new houses will be an attractive addition to your village. 10 is ok, but 100 or 1,000 no way!
ReplyDeleteIn our village you can only build one house on each piece of land, but I've heard that this is soon to change and land is being bought by property speculators.
DeleteThey do look a bit out of place, don't they? But, better than a house that leaks, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteOne they are surrounded in foliage they blend in. Better than a block of flats
DeleteWhen we were in Bodrum in April, the amount of building going on was just astonishing - and worrying, too. I quite like a prefab. A few people are building them in the mountains around here where 'permanent' buildings are not allowed. For the moment, they're inoffensive but yeah, not sure I'd want them all over the place.
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants to live in Bodrum. Trouble is it won't be Bodrum when they've all built their house.
DeleteI was amazed by the amount of construction last year when we were in Bodrum, do love the stone houses though, they have so much character. All the best for your plot, I could have bid for it in 10 years time : ) Ozlem xx
ReplyDeleteThere has always been too much construction in Bodrum - at least for the past 30 years.
DeleteIf only Ernie would pick my Premium Bonds we would be out like a shot. We'd be very well behaved neighbours xx
ReplyDeleteCome on Ernie
DeleteB to B, My problem with them is that they look like you might be in any suburb in America. Perish the thought! Best of luck with your plot of land. I'll pass it along to someone I know who might be interested. Hope all is as well as can be expected.
ReplyDeleteThey remind me of the Swedish coast
ReplyDelete