Architectural features and protection recommendations of traditional Viranşehir (Şanliurfa) houses

Viranşehir district, which has a deep-rooted history, has been destroyed and re-established many times throughout history. There are cultural assets worth preserving in and around the district, which was founded on ancient ruins. As a result of the literature research, it was seen that there was no detailed scientific study on the architectural heritage of Viranşehir. Documenting the original architectural features, materials and construction techniques of the district is important in terms of transferring the historical identity to future generations. Most of the traditional Viranşehir houses have not survived to the present day. In line with the changing living conditions, houses continue to disappear day by day. In this context, the aim of the study is to determine the original architectural features of the traditional Viranşehir houses, to examine the conservation problems and to offer suggestions for their preservation. Thus, with this study, it was ensured that the traditional houses that were on the verge of extinction were documented and served as a source for future conservation-restoration studies. First of all, the historical, geographical and socio-cultural characteristics of the Viranşehir district were investigated and the cultural assets in and around the center were examined. Within the scope of the study, 25 traditional houses were identified. Among these houses, 12 traditional houses have been documented in detail with drawings and analysis. The characteristics of each of the houses were examined separately. In addition, the factors affecting the architectural formation of the houses were examined and the plan and facade types were created. The spaces that make up the houses, original materials and construction techniques have been studied. In most of the Viranşehir houses, traces of the ancient period were found. Light colored limestone, also known as Urfa stone, is the main material of the buildings. Since Viranşehir is located on the outskirts of Karacadağ, basalt stone was also used in the houses. It has been seen that basalt blocks removed from the Viranşehir walls, some of which have survived, were also used in many houses. Houses are usually built in the form of rooms arranged around a large courtyard. There are semi-open spaces such as the iwan and the doorway, and there are sofas that are transition spaces. According to the season, the wings of the building are positioned as summer-winter. In addition to the houses built with a simple architecture, there are also richly decorated houses built as mansions in Viranşehir. It was determined that the houses were damaged as a result of abandonment and neglect, and conservation problems were determined. Suggestions were presented with the aim of helping these houses to be repaired and protected in accordance with the principles of scientific restoration.