www.mugla-turizm.gov.tr

 The Houses of Ula

The Ula houses generally of one storey. The gardens of the houses are large enough to grow vegetables. These one-storey buildings have full open sofas, are fifty centimetres or a metre above ground level to prevent water flowing in and are based on two-room plans (similar to the high plateau houses of Muğla). The Ula town structure is sadly deteriorating. However, the creators of the Ula houses continue doing their job. The alaturca tiles are still being made in kilns. In addition, the blacksmiths who make the traditional metal work used in the houses are still active. With many of the wooden Ula houses being abandoned for tasteless concrete modern buildings, Ula-born architect Nail Çakırhan built himself a Ula house in Akyaka, adding his own interpretation and tastes of the original Ula house model. This house gained recognition and won the Ağa Han Architecture Award. Starting with friends, then a circle of hotels and holiday villages began to adapt this style in their building through Nail Çakırhan or other architects.

Today in Akyaka, at the side of Gökova, this style is dominant in almost all houses. Thus the Ula traditional architecture, thanks to Nail Çakırhan, found a new life. Ula locals were reminded of their old houses they had previously neglected and started to restore, renew and even re-build them. The most important characteristics of the Ula houses are the woodwork on the cupboard doors and the carved and crafted wooden ceilings.