[[wiki-architecture]] · [[Buildings and Structures]] · [[ARCHITECTURE]] · [[000]] # Chardak A chardak (Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian: чардак, čardak) is an old typical house in the Balkans. It is derived from the word çardak, which is a component of Ottoman Turkish house design. This term, which is also called sofa, denotes an open hall of a house's upper living floor. == Description == A chardak is timber-framed and usually include a hayat. The design has been described as "Greek-Oriental," Southern European," and "Mediterranean". It has a fortified ground floor and a wooden upper floor. This dwelling was used as a protective small fort. Chardak can also refer to the space – a part of the central hall area – that connects the rooms of the house. == References == Милан Крухек: Крајишке утврде хрватског краљевства тијеком 16. стољећа, Институт за сувремену повијест - Библиотека хрватска повјесница. Загреб, 1995.