ABSTRACT
Vernacular settlements, which are built to meet survival needs of people, are set on self-sustaining principles as they arise as a series of responses of human beings to the natural conditions by altering them and using available resources in a rational way in order to survive. Vernacular communities meet their needs spontaneously and in a naturefriendly manner with minimum environmental impacts, as the settlements demonstrate a naturebased design with a more nature-integrated social life. Therefore, vernacular settlements and vernacular communities are especially helpful for a better understanding of the philosophy of self-sustaining habitat systems. In this context, the general purpose of this research is to investigate the self-sustaining and self-production approaches that are seen in vernacular settlements and their social and spatial analysis.
