Houses of the Cas – Siirt

Cas Houses are unique structures that reflect Siirt’s cultural heritage. These houses are plastered with cas mortar, a local material derived from the region’s natural resources, and this construction style has been developed with consideration for both environmental and climatic compatibility. Cas mortar is a coarse plaster obtained by firing and grinding gypsum stone.

(Generated by artificial intelligence)

Construction Materials and Methods

• Cas mortar: Gypsum stones from the vicinity of Siirt are fired and ground. The resulting coarse plaster is used in the walls and plastering of the houses.
• Main materials: Broken stone, rubble and cut stone are used. These natural stones are tightly bonded with cas mortar.
• Wall structure: Thick walls effectively block summer heat and winter cold, providing natural insulation against seasonal temperature extremes.

Architectural Features

• Number of floors: These houses are typically two or three stories high.
• Form: Designed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, they have a pyramidal shape, narrowing from base to top.
• Windows: Small, rectangular, arched windows are used in the upper roof structure. This design ensures adequate light and ventilation while limiting heat loss.

Environmental and Climatic Compatibility

• Thanks to the use of natural materials, these houses are environmentally friendly.
• The pyramidal roof and thick wall structure balance hot air flow.
• Small arched windows maintain climatic balance, protecting against summer heat and winter cold.