Today, the use of fossil-based fuels and construction activities on a global and regional scale have effective climatic and environmental consequences all over the world, leading to disruption of living spaces. For this reason, it is important that the structures have sustainable properties that will reduce environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle. Millions of people go to various countries and become refugees due to world wars and migrations. Here, ecological settlements and the criteria for the settlement are needed in order to make these settlements healthy. The ecological settlements in Turkey (Gaziantep, Bursa and Eskisehir) as well as in the world (China, Germany and Spain), listed the criteria that are necessary for these places, are revised in this review article.