Traditional windcatchers of Şanlıurfa: The surviving examples of a fading tradition

Traditional living spaces in the Middle East are products of thousands of years of architectural inheritance. Architectural components developed to cope with extremely hot climate have an important place in this inheritance. Windcatchers, architectural components developed to ventilate and cool spaces since ancient times, are among the most remarkable examples of this inheritance. The aim of this study is to introduce, document and highlight the surviving examples of windcatchers (badgels) in Şanlıurfa. Within the scope of the study, firstly, relevant literature was scanned and information was collected from users about windcatchers by using interview technique. Then, windcatchers in Şanlıurfa were documented with drawings and photographs as part of a wider field study. As a result of the field study, it was determined that only three of the traditional houses in Şanlıurfa retain the original structure of the windcatchers. Apart from these, windcatchers in three houses and a defense structure, whose original structure or functionality is impaired are also presented within the scope of the study. It has been determined that windcatchers ventilate only the iwan unit in the houses whereas the windcatcher in the defense structure ventilate a room. In addition, a unique ventilation element, which is different in shape from the ventilation elements in other examples, has been determined within the scope of this study.