Author(s)

Funda Yırmıbesoğlu¹, Engin E. Eyuboglu^1*, Ozhan Ertekın¹, Reyhan Genli Yigiter¹, Neslihan Aydin Yonet²

¹Urban and Regional Planning Department, Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Istanbul, Turkey.
²Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Conserving historic urban environments is currently one of the most universally urgent and challenging cultural heritage conservation issues. Conservation in this paper is seen as a term that covers a wide spectrum of issues that can be classified under three categories: historic urban fabric, traditional Kilis houses and lifestyle concerns. Kilis, which has been a home for many civilizations and cultures throughout history, is an outstanding settlement with its unique historic urban fabric and distinctive house plans. Situated in a transition climate zone, the city also shines for its traditional local cuisine and varied traditional handicrafts. This study aims to give a detailed description of the traditional urban fabric, streets, squares, residential plan types including commonly used architectural details, and the traditional materials in Kilis. The study also examines the lifestyle in Kilis with respect to the city’s potentialities. The recommendations regarding how to preserve and maintain the historic urban fabric, the traditional Kilis houses, and lifestyle characteristics are presented in the discussion and conclusion part.

Kilis, Traditional, Urban, Home, Lifestyle, Conservation, Urban Heritage

Yιrmιbesoglu, F., Eyuboglu, E. E., Ertekιn, O., Yigiter, R. G., & Yonet, N. A. (2015) Life In Kilis with Its Traditional Urban Fabric and Houses. Current Urban Studies, 3, 313-330. doi: 10.4236/cus.2015.34026.