# Dwelling Sites of Transylvania and the Székely Region

This area includes historical Transylvania and the Székely-Csángó areas that spread from there toward the east. The territory is extraordinarily varied from the architectural point of view, for the long association with Saxons and Rumanians can also be measured in architectural effects. The region is hilly and mountainous, interspersed with high mountains, plateaus, and the plains of river valleys.

Fig. 60. Ground-plans of the former type of Székely house consisting of two units.
1. Gyimes, former Csík County. 2. Uzon, former Háromszék County. 18th–19th centuries. a) Room (ház), b) pantry (kamra), c) porch (eresz)

94. House
Torockó, former Torda-Aranyos County

95. House
Mikóújfalu, former Háromszék County

{187.} The settlements are extremely numerous in type. We find examples with streets and ribbon holdings as well as agglomerate villages, usually built close around the church. There are numerous examples of clan settlements, reflecting even today the fact that the families once divided the land of the village among themselves. As the family grew, newer buildings were constructed on the common land, or perhaps parts of it fenced off, but the exit continued to be the same. The existence of such settlements can be demonstrated in many cases not only in the villages, but in the cities as well (Kézdivásárhely). The double inner-lot type of settlement characteristic of the Great Plain cannot be found in Transylvania. This, however, does not mean that in the mountains we cannot find structures for hay and also lodgings for woodcutters and herdsmen, inhabited for only certain parts of the year. Isolated settlements are present among the Székelys, but occur primarily among the Csángós of Gyimes (cf. Ill. 17).

Fig. 61. A house, its front view, ground-plan and construction.
Csíkménaság, Csík County. 1830.
a) Small room (kicsi ház), b) big room (nagy ház), c) pantry (kamra), d) porch (eresz), e) veranda (tornác)

The basic element of building construction on a large part of Székelyland is the pine log. We find stone buildings first of all at Udvarhelyszék, Torockó, while Saxon-influenced brick buildings have spread to many areas. Houses are built of clay primarily in the villages of the Mezőség. Shingles, or much larger wooden plates (dránica) were used, especially in {188.} the timber building zone, on the rafter type of roof structure, while at other places many versions of thatch roof occur. Tile roofs have gained ground only during the last fifty years.

One of the most characteristic features of the Székely house is the eresz, porch, having mostly three sides, and really used as an entrance to the house. The biggest difference between the Székely and the other Hungarian houses is that the Székely house does not really have a kitchen, that is to say, the sleeping, living, and cooking quarters are not divided into separate rooms. The various types of open hearths were equally used for heating, cooking, baking, and lighting. Because these could fulfil all necessary functions, the kitchen developed only in recent times.

The hearth was located either in the eaves or in a building especially built for it, called the bake house. It had a fireplace, a hearth, and a few simple pieces of furnishing. It was lived in from early spring to late autumn. Besides the bake house, the shed (szín) is also an important building in the yard. Here they kept the cart, the tools, and sometimes even stored grain. The barn (csűr) was used for storing the harvested crops, and one or maybe both of its sides served as a barn. The holding was closed by a gate from the street side, the masterpiece of Hungarian wood construction.