When it comes to building a safe, comfortable home, humankind has been very creative. Using resources that happen to be available wherever our ancestors lived, we’ve been able to make traditional houses that are extremely unique and distinctive. Let’s take a look at 11 such houses that are sure to impress you.
Matmata, Tunisia
1. Cave Houses, Matmata, Tunisia
If you remember Tatooine from the Star Wars movies, these ancient cave houses in Tunisia will no doubt look familiar to you as this was the setting for Anakin Skywalker’s home planet. Carved out of sandstone, and connected through a vast network of passageways, these homes are ideal for staying protected from the heat and sand storms.
2. Trulli, Alberobello, Italy
Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1996, these white-washed limestone homes with roofs made of stone are what make the town of Alberobello in southern Italy world famous. You can even book a Trulli during your vacation stay!
3. Chalets, Swiss Alps
Although simple and understated, these wooden chalets once served as a home for shepherds to watch over their animals in the summertime as they grazed on the alpine grasses. These days, folks who go to the Swiss Alps for skiing vacations typically stay in chalets.
4. Turf Houses, Iceland
These unique houses contain a wooden frame filled with bricks made of grass and dirt due to the fact that the places where they are most prominently found (Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and Greenland) often lacked other resources for building homes. The first turf houses were built in the 800s, but are still used widely in Iceland in particular.
5. Pueblo Houses, Southwestern United States
Named after the Native American tribe that built these homes, Pueblos are made of adobe bricks that were baked in the sun along with roofs made of wood. The thick walls allow its inhabitants to remain cool on the hottest of days. Taos Pueblo, New Mexico is the place to visit if you want to check out Pueblo houses that have been home to Native Americans for more than a Millenium.
6. Houseboat, Kashmir
You probably don’t have to travel too far to see a houseboat. Indeed, they’re all over Europe, Asia, and even in parts of America. But if you want a truly amazing experience, you have to visit the houseboats of Kashmir, a territory claimed by both India and Pakistan. The wood carvings are very intricate and some of the boats are more than 100 years old. You can even spend the night in one of the many houseboats built specifically to accommodate tourists.
7. Igloos, North America
Everybody knows what an igloo is, but what you may not be aware of is that these snow structures aren’t actually permanent residences for the Inuit tribe of Alaska and Canada. Instead, these serve as temporary homes for hunters during the harsh wintertime. Nonetheless, they are invariably linked to the history and culture of these hardy people who live in the Arctic regions.
8. Rock Houses, Cappadocia, Turkey
Located in the Göreme valley of Central Turkey, these homes are made of rocks that were formed from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. As time has gone by, entire towns have been created from these aptly named “fairy chimneys.” In times of war, they also served as a safe place for civilians to hide.
9. Yurts, Inner Mongolia
For several millennia, these portable homes known as yurts have been perfectly suited for the nomadic lifestyle of Mongolian tribes. There are few houses in the world that have the distinct characteristics of the yurt, with its sloped roofs that are traditionally covered with animal pelts and contain a hole to allow smoke from the heating/cooking stove placed in the middle of the home to escape.
10. Rumah Gadang, Sumatra, Indonesia
The Minangkabau people of Indonesia called these impressively spiky roofed homes for hundreds of years, although these days they are more commonly used for ceremonial purposes. Rumah Gadang translates to “big house” and serves as a reflection of their maternalistic society.
11. Mudhif, Iraq
When visiting towns and villages in the marshes of southern Iraq and Iran, you’re bound to come across these traditional houses made of reeds. The Madan people have been living in these structures for hundreds of years. The bigger ones are maintained by tribal leaders who use them for ceremonies and as guest houses. The rest of the inhabitants live in smaller versions of these houses.
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