The houses of Urfa reflect the influence of different factors like climate, availability of limestone, Islamic beliefs, local family life, the idea to create a wide space for women who spend most of their time at home, and social traditions.

The hot climate of Urfa explains why houses are built with courtyards, winter and summer sections, liwans, thick walls and vault covered roof made of earth. Stones suitable for carving brought from the

surrounding mountains have made them the dominant elements in architecture. There are antique quarries operated for centuries now.

In line with the Islamic tradition of family privacy, traditional Urfa houses consist of two sections as (for females) and selamlık (for males). In selamlık section, there is a small yard, one or two rooms, a liwan a large stable for the animals of guests and a toilet.

The haremlik section is designed richly. In general, haremlik sections have “winter” and “summer” rooms, located so as to have the former receive sunlight in winter and the latter is protected from sunlight in summer.

House yards are surrounded by “Zerzembe” (cellar), “tandırmık” (kitchen) and bathroom. Bathrooms have their dome-shaped roofs, fountains and hot-cool sections within.

Liwans are very important in Urfa houses, even more than rooms. Some liwans are decorated with “şadırvan” (a small water reservoir with fountains around). Ventilation holes or windows are opened to the front walls of the liwans combined with “wind providers” at the roof. Winds blowing come through this system to cool down the liwan.

Since weather is hot for most of the year in Urfa, liwans are used as cool resorts by household members and as such they constitute an important element determining the house plan. Based on the number of liwans, the houses in Urfa are classified as without liwan, with one, two, three or four liwans.

In traditional Urfa houses, yards locally called ‘hayat” have their important place. In the middle of “hayat” there is a marble pool, well, watering place and a garden with trees of fig, mulberry, pomegranate, orange, kebbat (a kind of citrus fruit), oleander or grape. This garden is also the place where remains of bread are left after meals since their disposal to ordinary garbage cans is considered sinful. Birds nesting in cabins at the top of walls feed on these remains.