Constructional Features of Harran Domed Houses. On-site Assessment of Earthquake-induced Damage.

Domed houses built using the corbelled technique, found in many countries around the world, represent a significant part of vernacular architectural heritage with their rich historical background. Harran domed houses, located in the Harran District of Şanlıurfa Province in Turkey, stand as a particularly notable example. Harran domed houses were built using the corbelling technique, where each layer of bricks slightly overhangs the one below. Their main building materials are stone and brick, collected from the surrounding area. The earthquakes that occurred in Turkey on February 6th, 2023, affected eleven provinces, one of which was Şanlıurfa. Harran domed houses were among the architectural heritage that suffered significant collapse as a result of the disaster. The aim of this thesis is to study the constructional features and to identify the types of collapse sustained by Harran domed houses, whose numbers have been steadily declining and whose existence is currently under threat due to the earthquake. The methodology includes a literature review and on-site assessment. The analysis of several collapsed or damaged domed houses allowed recognising the typical seismic response of this peculiar building type, highlighting the main factors that affect its earthquake resistance and that can be traced back to the very dome or its supporting walls.