Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF BUILDINGS AND ARCHITECTURE, sa.2, ss.1-7, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
In Türkiye, environmental, climatic and socio-cultural factors are often overlooked in housing design. However, in some regions, traditional urban textures have been preserved by taking these elements into consideration. Midyat stands out with its architecture shaped by historical, cultural and environmental conditions. While the hot climate and soil structure of the region affect housing styles, social values such as privacy, family structure and security shape spatial organization. 'Katori' stone extracted in Midyat is an important material in traditional houses. When used with thick walls and high ceilings, it provides thermal comfort and visual harmony. Courtyard layouts support introverted life and social interaction with minimal external landscaping. After the industrial period, population growth and housing needs led to the spread of a uniform architecture throughout Turkey. However, the Assyrians who returned to Kafro (Elbeğendi) after 2002 revived this heritage by integrating Midyat stone into modern villas. These houses have larger gardens and distinct landscaping suitable for modern lifestyles. In this study, traditional Midyat houses and modern Kafro villas are compared, emphasizing how regional identity is reflected in architectural forms, and emphasizing differences in spatial organization, cultural characteristics and landscape use.