Vernacular Domed Harran Houses In The Context Of Kenneth Frampton’s Critical Regionalism Approach

Abstract

The mechanisation that emerged with the Industrial Revolution led to changes in the production methods of building materials. Within this changing process, regional elements were abandoned, and culturally, socially, and economically specific local elements were disregarded, leading to the production of characterless buildings with similar materials and plan typologies. In this context, Kenneth Frampton introduced the concept of critical regionalism as a response to the standardisation of “modernism” and the approaches of “regionalism” that disregarded technological elements. According to Frampton's critical regionalism approach, he defined a hybrid system in the construction sector that emphasises the necessity of preserving local tectonic, climatic, and regional elements while incorporating technological developments into the process. The study examines the traditional domed Harran Houses in Şanlıurfa and evaluates them using qualitative research methods based on Frampton's concept of critical regionalism. The original value of the study is demonstrated by showing that the traditional design parameters and material utilization of Harran houses are not merely design inputs of the past, but concrete data that shed light on contemporary sustainable design through theories of critical regionalism. The study concludes that the Harran houses, by preserving local architectural elements, provide important references for contemporary architecture.