For centuries, the traditions of Tajikistan have been deeply intertwined with the way of life of its people, reflected most vividly in their homes. Tajik houses can be broadly categorized into two types: the architecturally complex lowland homes and the simpler mountain dwellings. The lowland homes were primarily found north of the Gissar Range, in the Zarafshan basin and the Fergana Valley. These houses were built on a raised foundation with a wooden frame, typically filled in with sun-dried bricks. Sometimes, the walls were made from compacted clay or raw bricks. The roofs were flat, made of earth, and coated with clay, with a terrace running along the facade. Narrow light openings were installed just below the ceiling, serving as windows.
One distinctive feature of these lowland homes was the fireplace or a chimney hood with a smoke outlet. In the Gissar and Vakhsh valleys, homes had slightly different designs, sometimes featuring a gabled roof, often without a ceiling, or with a gabled canopy over the traditional roof. In the southern, mountainous regions of Tajikistan, the homes were designed to suit the rugged terrain. These mountain homes were large and built to accommodate extended, patriarchal families. The walls were constructed from rough stone or occasionally from sun-dried bricks.
The roofs of these mountain homes, especially those of the Pamir Tajiks, had a unique stepped wooden vault with a central smoke and light opening. The roof was supported by three to five pillars placed inside the house. The layout of these homes was simple, typically consisting of a single room. Around two of the long walls and the wall opposite the entrance, there were raised platforms made of clay, with a narrow passage between them. Today, even in remote mountain villages, homes of this old design without windows are usually relegated to use as storage or utility spaces.
