The region consisting of Transylvania's rural areas still offers a living proof of sustainable development. Besides using traditional natural materials, the Romanian peasant has developed various typologies of dwellings across the country starting with the shore of the Black Sea and up to the mountains' top. The dwellings from villages have been built, rebuilt, each of them maintaining the specific of the area in what respects local building materials as well as the architectural style, the latter being adjusted to the relief and the climate, with improvements from one generation to the other.

Bran area is still distinguished as a jewel of culture and tradition. Here, magnificent landscapes merge with history and culture, the legendary landmark being Bran Castle. The houses' typology is unique in the country, the specific of the area being sheep breeding. In the article I will present some of this households with reinforced yard (house with interior courtyard), which resembles, at a reduced scale, the fortresses or monasteries enclosed on four sides. The planimetry of these houses offers protection and adjustment to climate changes, both in the cold season, with blizzard winters as well as in the warm season when they offer a protection from the sun and natural ventilation, to this helping the cardinal direction. The current climate conditions become increasingly more unfavorable. Sustainable development by its adjustment both to environment as well as to local natural resources coincides from the point of view of objectives with the rural traditional habitat, which is still present but not sufficiently valued.