The Interaction Between Public and Private Space in Traditional Environments: The Case of Kabaltı Houses in Urfa

This study explores the interaction between public and private domain in traditional environments. The interaction between these dualities; public and private, interior and exterior, indoor and outdoor, part and whole, individuals and environment are essential design criteria in traditional environments. The modes of interaction between public and private domain and the spatial configuration between inside and outside are formed totally according to the mutual dependence of public and private, interior and exterior, open and closed, part and whole, individuals and environment. This research firstly tries to define the public, private and in-between spaces in both physical and social aspects. The aim is to search the existing literature in order to find significant variables in the relationships among public, private and in-between space. In addition, the thesis aims to explore in-between spaces and how it provides social interaction in traditional built environments. The second attempt is to analyze the traditional Kabaltı houses in Urfa in regards to the interaction between public and private space. The aim is to analyze both the visual interaction within the community life and the physical interaction between house and street including street façade and its component (kabaltı and cumba). Additionally, the study contains analysis of living spaces in terms of interior and exterior relationships. In this respect, the threshold between the interior and exterior, public and private space which is boundary of the house is one of basic concept of study. Keywords: Kabaltı house, interaction, in-between space, public space, private space, threshold, boundary