Traditional Housing in Armenia

Traditional housing in Armenia had several distinctive features. As a rule, the homes were square with stone walls and an earthen roof which was supported by wooden columns. The only light source was a chimney or window carved into the roof. Every house had an open hearth with a clay furnace situated on a dais, and some houses were also equipped with fireplaces.

For centuries, Armenians furnished their homes in a simple, convenient fashion. Carpets, a pile of quilts and mattresses could be seen in nearly every home, and instead of beds, large wooden ottomans stood along the wall. People used niches with doors as cabinets and filled the house with chest drawers and shelves where utensils of clay, copper and wood were kept. Outside, mobile wooden barns would be used to store grain and flour.

Traditional housing in Armenia would also often include a low table around which the family would sit on the floor for meals. Sometimes, however, the tablecloth would be spread directly on the floor.