فصلنامه مسکن و محیط روستا
پیاپی 163 (پاییز 1397)

Sistan and Balochestan province has a variety of native habitation architecture that can be categorized. Factors such as economy, livelihood, context, climate, materials, and construction technology are influential in the appearance of social and cultural patterns in traditional architecture., Yet this article has compared the skeletal recognition of the existing architectural styles, their similarities and differences from a cultural anthropology perspective and has considered the role of culture as an effective component in general formation of the houses, their spatial hierarchy, accesses and so on.Culture as a factor is playing a striking role in habitations and the structure of the spatial compartmentalization. Hence, a comparative study method is used to present a solution for analysing the quality and similarities of native habitations of Sistani and Baloch from the cultural anthropology perspective. It has been less than three decades that this approach is used in architectural studies of culture-oriented researchers such as Christopher Alexander, Amos Rapoport and Paul Olivier. The role of this approach in architecture is to provide an understanding of the interrelationship between architecture and its constitutive cultural paradigms, the lifestyle and utopian thoughts of a nation. Cultural anthropology provides a background in architectural studies due to the capabilities hidden in its core, which makes it suitable to elicit the fundamental factors underlying the formation of an architectural tract. If we consider the culture as an intermediate ring of recognition and social structures (i.e. religion, livelihood, social cast, etc.), thus cultural anthropology would lead us to look into the social structures and the specific lifestyle of the society in search for a reason or a chain of fundamental reasons that result in the formation of architecture in a specific region.
Present research is aiming at analyzing how and why these differences and similarities appear, using this approach. The analysis of differences and similarities in cultural fields of two ethnic groups of Sistani and Baloch helps us define the properties of indigenous habitations in Sistan and Balochestan province. This paper is based on a survey on cultural categories in this province and a field study. Based on this data, this article identifies differences and similarities of native habitations in the area. For this purpose, several indigenous habitations of historic rural areas of this province has been studied such as Potan, Pashamag and Frooz Abad villages of Sistan and the villages of Qaleh-no, Se Koohe and Dashtak of Balochestan area. It can be argued that culture produces an impressive effect on the formation of habitats, organizing relations and spatial layouts. The role of culture becomes even bolder in the case of rural native habitation of Sistani and Baloch because this area has been stayed untouched, locating far away from the center of changes. This research has surveyed the effectiveness of culture on arithmetical and geometrical aspects, tiny spaces, the spatial relations and access for comparison of causes which are forming specific habitation patterns in these two regions in Sistan and Balochstan area.

The number of newly built rural housing units in Iran is considerable. Scholars and expertssuggest that the quality of rural housing is important. Suitable rural housing is important for the rural economy. Accordingly, in recent years, the government has supported rural housing planning in Iran. During these years, the design policy and rural housing planning have emphasized on a design system based on needs and demands of rural residents. The provision of such design system is not possible without a deep understanding of differentdomains of rural life such as rural social conditions, economy of the village, climate, morphology and geographical environment, cultural relations and life style of villagers, needs and behaviors of rural residents and also physical environment. In this case, the design process of every rural house unit will be too complicated and take a long time. As a result in this study we suggest that a “design pattern” could be a solution to help designers and architects to experience an easier design process in a shorter time that could lead them to design and build rural houses in accordance with needs and lifestyle of villagers. The goal of presenting such design patterns is explaining design principles in a physical and functional design system. The design pattern could presents a basis for designing every rural house . Since such design pattern is based on analyzing many variables such as sociological, cultural, economic, climate, behavioral ones and on the like, it could help architects and clients -here villagers - to save their energy, time and money, during the design process. Patterns as such may be partly different in different site forms and dimensions or special needs or demands of each client, but, the structure, general shape and functional division of different cases are the same even in various conditions, because these general shapes, structures and functions have been the outcome of the physical environment, geographical conditions and rural life styles and so on. The goal of this research is presenting a design pattern for rural housing and design recommendations for “Hanjan” village - a village near Natanz city in Isfahan province in Iran. In this research, besides document review a field survey was conducted to gather data about the behaviors and life styles of Hanjan villagers. Also, standard questionnaires with a) environmental, social, economic conditions of village questions; b) rural sociological questions; c) physical characteristics of rural housing questions and d) current behavioral questions helped to gather data, through random sampling method. As in this research both behaviors of Hanjan residents and physical characteristics of rural housing have been studied and discussed, there are two statistical society: the first society is residents of Hanjan village that live temporarily or permanently in the village and the second group includes rural house units located in any parts of the village. Data analyzing method is descriptive- analytic. As conclusion of the research, a functional design pattern and several design recommendations have been suggested. The recommendations include physical, structural and functional aspects of rural house architecture in Hanjan.

One of the important issues in the design of rural houses is thermal and climatic considerations. Thermal comfort and interior air quality may affect the health and satisfaction of residents. Researchers are looking for ways to lower the financial and environmental costs of heating and cooling buildings. The assessment of thermal comfort in indigenous buildings is important as it can help us to solve thermal discomfort through considerations such as the use of indigenous materials and appropriate design solutions. This research seeks to study the thermal comfort of a house in the Lasjard village of Semnan province, built in 2012 with the aim of constructing the resistant adobe house by using FRP materials. Environmental variables including air temperature and humidity in a cold winter day were measured at intervals of 15 min each time from 11 am to 19 pm. At the next stage, the total volume of the room and its adjacent spaces and details of the selected space, were simulated by InDesign Bidder Software with energy plus engine. Environmental variables were calculated by the software on that day and the results were compared with field data, which were similar to a large extent with them, and thus the accuracy of the software output was verified. Then, the thermal performance of the house throughout the year was predicted by using the Design Builder software. The annual thermal behavior of the considered space was calculated by Funkger method and was analyzed with ASHRAE standard. At the next stage, the results of the annual thermal performance and its relationship with architectural features were evaluated. This study shows that the heat transfer from the ceiling on the coldest day of the year, and the heat transfer from the window on the warmest day of the year, have had the most roles in energy waste. The results of this study indicates that despite the use of adobe in the construction of the building, due to lack of attention to climate issues in architectural design and thermal bridges of openings, the constructed building was located less than 10 percent of the year without natural ventilation in comfort zone. In months when the air temperature is outside the thermal comfort range, comfortable conditions can be provided by adjusting the amount of the humidity. Also, by identifying the effective factors in reducing the building temperature, it became clear that air penetration from the seams of windows, doors and walls, and also heat transfer from the walls had the greatest contribution to reduce indoor temperature. Accordingly, it is better to use two strategies of using seals and reduction of air penetration into the building besides insulation of the walls and ceilings as operational strategies in order to extend comfortable hours. Also, the windows as the luminaire wall, have the best performance in increasing the temperature of the building, and given that the heat transfer through the windows due to their two-sidedness is negligible, it is suggested that more luminaire walls in this building are used. One of the ways to increase the luminaire wall in this building could be changing a part of the dome-shaped roof of the building from adobe materials to double-glazed windows. The important issue is the dimensions of the room in the design. In a simple word, the smaller the space, the easier to heat and cool. Another common feature in the mentioned spaces is suitable materials. The use of adobe, bricks and mud, due to their high thermal capacity throughout the year, will enhance thermal comfort. The number and dimensions of windows and openings, neighboring spaces and their orientation are the other important issues in design which effect on the thermal comfort.

The architecture of rural housing in Iran presents a place with identity and responsiveness to the necessities of rural life and livelihoods. Aside from providing a place to live, rural housing accommodates a part of livelihood and economic activities of people. In recent years, rural housing has gone through drastic changes. While the role and performance of rural women is influenced by housing patterns and layouts, changes to, or elimination of, some of the elements of rural housing have affected women. In order to investigate the impacts of changing housing patterns on women’s role and performance, we used a questionnaire with 102 questions based on Likert scale. The paper relies on document review and field study (questionnaire).
The study population was 169,875 households and 420 households were selected in sample villages in Lorestan to complete the questionnaires. Data processing was conducted using SPSS software and Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman, Kendall, correlation and path analysis. The results of this study indicate that the changes in the pattern of rural housing to comply with urban life and housing have led to a change in the elements and spaces of rural housing. These changes destroyed some spaces which were necessary for a number of activities and functions. These changes have limited the activities for rural women. As it is mentioned in various studies, women are the main force for change and potential resource for holistic and sustainable development of villages. But in many cases, changing livelihoods in rural areas, villages and rural fabric and spatial pattern of rural housing have affected women. The goal of providing women with an opportunity to active participation in the context of sustainable development of rural areas requires some innovations which will benefit their families and communities as well.

Traditional architecture in Sistan area is affected by natural cycles in the construction of rural settlements. Physical environment of rural settlements is a source to understand the organization of houses and farm lands and street network within village that added to the beauty of rural settlements. Rural vernacular architecture in Sistan has formed according to climatic, cultural and livelihood factors, while respecting the nature. However, given that in recent years, patterns of rural settlements had been affected by socio-economic influences of urban areas. The imitation of urban styles and tastes in rural architecture has resulted in traditional beauties of villages being abandoned and changed. Therefore, it is necessary that we reflect on the hidden values in the beauties of rural settlements.
This study is descriptive and relies on field survey. The required information was collected through literature review and field study. The sample areas consisted of 15 villages from 5 counties, selected according to the opinion of experts on traditional architecture. Using Cochran formula, the sample size was calculated 310 people. The data was collected in terms of natural, physical, economic and society dimensions through questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed using FAHP and GRA software.
Applying fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach show that among the above-mentioned four dimensions, physical factor was given first rank with the impact of 0.59 percent and society-cultural with the impact of 0.29 percent was given second rank. Also, economic and natural dimensions were given third and fourth ranks with the impact of 0.07 and 0.05 percent respectively.
This finding show that the physical factor was given the highest rank because of the architecture and fabric of the villages, in addition to their visual harmony in the vernacular architecture, its scale and spatial arrangements. Furthermore, the construction of rural settlements is often compatible with its context resulted from the utilization of local materials. The second factor that influences the aesthetics of rural settlements is socio-cultural factor. Rural houses play a significant role as safe haven for families, which raises the need for a special attention to the architecture of private rural housing.

Sustainability of rural areas can play an important role in the local, regional and national development. The realization of sustainable development of rural areas of the country can lead to sustainability at local, regional and national levels. Since rural settlementsaccommodate a large number of population and resources in the country, it is vital to pay attention to them in regionalplanning process in the country. For such planning processes, it is necessary to evaluate rural habitations in terms of sustainable development indices. There are signs of unsustainability in rural areas in particular in the mountainous and border areas. Demographic studies of the population in Kurdistan province indicates that rural population are leaving villages and moving to the cities.Villages of Marivan and Sarvabad counties in the western region of Kurdistan province are facing many environmental-ecological, socio-cultural, economic, institutional-political and physical- spatial problems, which resulte in the unsustainabilityof rural settlements. Comparing the current population in Marivan and Sarvabad villages with the expected population based on the natural growth in several census periods (1996, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) indicates severe rural migration to the cities has been increased in recent years. A number of rural villages were completely deserted and many others are on the verge of depletion. In this regard, the present case study aims to investigate sustainability in the region of Zagros Mountain and foothill of Marivan and Sarvabad. The method of this study is a combination of archival and document review and survey methods. The participants of the study included 229 of Marivan and Sarvabad rural households. According to the Cochran formula, the sample size was 130 villages. Sampling, initially was used systematically and categorically until the number of samples distributed throughout the villages of the statistical community, and then, to select the samples a simple random method was used. In this study, two questionnaires have been developed, one for the authorities and one for the rural people. To assess the sustainability t test, Barometer and Radar models have been used to analyze the data. The results shows that the sustainability value in one sample t test for the authorities and for the heads of households was lower than the average number. Thus the area under study was unsustainable and the severity of unsustainability was lower in ecological, economic and social dimensions. The paper argues that the villages in the area under study are still far away from sustainable rural development There is no doubt that the role of policymakers and planners in solving the environmental, economic and physical problems and strengthening cultural and political dimensions in the regional and national level is vital. Yest if no solution is provided, insisting on keeping people in rural areas would not work and the villagers will have a logical explanation to leave their ancestral lands.

Recent earthquake experiences in Iran have shown that housing reconstruction is one of the most important aspects of post-earthquake recovery programs. Therefore, the provision of high quality housing that can meet the needs and expectations of people is a key factor in the success of reconstruction programs. However, recent experiences have shown that achieving this goal faces many challenges. Delay in delivery, escalating costs, poor quality and residents' dissatisfaction are the most common problems.
Municipal district 3 located in the south of Sari is exposed to a high seismic risk and due to its worn-out urban environment, it is highly vulnerable. Problems such as the economic constraints of low-income residents, local construction weaknesses, low interaction between the community and built-environment professionals, lack of awareness of residents and insufficient capacity of local builders have led to a high risk in the district. These conditions necessitate a pre-earthquake planning for the reconstruction of permanent housing. Due to a lack of guidelines on earthquake risk reduction and shelter and housing provision after an earthquake in the city of Sari, the present paper examines the key dimensions of the design and implementation of post-earthquake permanent housing in this district. The results of this study can inform decision making for permanent housing, earthquake risk reduction and accelerating and improving the efficiency of permanent housing reconstruction after disasters.
The article uses a case study approach to achieve this goal. First, it examines existing theories and identifies the most important dimensions and challenges of providing permanent housing and then considers them in the studied area. The results of the field study are validated through expert opinion elicitation. Qualitative interviews and observation have been used as data collection techniques. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with three groups of participants: local residents, post-disaster reconstruction specialists and authorities. Samples were selected through purposive and snowball sampling based on the knowledge and experience of the participants.
Data analysis relies on thematic analysis. In this method, the analysis is based on themes or dimensions that have been extracted from the literature review in relation to the research problem. These dimensions were the basis for selecting the interview questions during the data collection and for coding the responses in the data analysis phase. Finally, the findings of the field study were validated by the views of the reconstruction experts and were used to identify the key guidelines for housing reconstruction in the study area.
In general four main themes have been deduced. These themes consist of; 1) implementation requirements; 2) design approach; 3) economic responses; and 4) socio-culture considerations. These themes have a significant impact on the efficiency of the housing reconstruction project and the satisfaction of residents. In this regard, the theme of implementation requirements includes issues such as settlement location; housing repair and retrofitting; stages of post-earthquake sheltering and housing; and considering reconstruction as a development opportunity for vulnerability reduction. The theme of economic responses provides housing affordability solutions for low-income residents in the district, and then examines the role of housing in household livelihoods. Finally, the categories of compatibility with settlement pattern; the restoration of local identity; and responding to the residents' expectations, are emphasized in the theme of socio-cultural considerations.

The 2014 Snowstorm hit the city of Tonekabon and its surroundings in Mazandaran Province, resulting in heavy damage to, and destruction of, both buildings and public facilities. Nearly two meters of snow covered most of the region, blocked roads, and disrupted communication utilities, power lines, and water supplies. The weakness of the response operations, lack of preparedness, and vulnerable buildings created a critical situation. A number of large snowstorms have been experienced in Mazandaran and Gilan in 2005 and 2008. The snowstorms could probably happen again in the future, , which shows the importance of setting mitigation guidelines for this type of disaster. This study examines the process of the reconstruction after the 2014 disaster, while investigating vulnerabilities and providing mitigation guidelines for the reconstruction of the built environment in Tonekabon region.
A qualitative methodology has been used to explore the various aspects of the physical damage. The data are collected through archival and document review, and in-depth interviews with the local authorities. The interviewees were selected using the snowball method. Several field trips were made to the region for careful observations, taking photographs and drawing sketches of the damaged buildings. The collected data were analyzed and compared against the backdrop of the theoretical foundations to better identify the causes of damage to the buildings and the environment, and to propose ways to avoid such damage in the future.
The findings indicate that two dimensions should be considered in planning for mitigation strategies in future disasters. The first dimension concerns the design and implementation of architectural elements, such as installing rows of snow guards on roofs to hold snow; proper roof slope; and construction materials to prevent snow sliding; rehabilitation of buildings against unbalanced snow load resulting from drifting and sliding snow, considering the dynamic force of sliding snow in structural design for lower roofs, applying practicable modifications to avoid overlap of roofs, considering the direction of the prevalent wind in designing roof geometry and building orientation, installing heater cables on roofs and gutters to keep the water running from freezing, ventilation of attic space to keep the temperature similar to the ambient air to prevent the creation of icicles, insulating the ceiling to prevent heat from escaping into the attic space air to prevent the creation of icicles, considering buffer spaces between the main building and secondary buildings (garages, stores, outbuildings), installing canopies with proper orientation for entrance, installing flower box along the eaves to limit the access under the eaves and minimize the risk of the falling of snow and ice, placing the entrance at the gable end where the risk is low, shifting the stairs orientation in regard to the direction of the prevalent wind, designing safe access to the places with the potential of creating unbalanced snow load condition for snow removing, installing single snow guards above rooftop equipment (plumping vent and chimney) to protect them from sliding snow, installing the rooftop equipment near the ridge and not installing them near the eaves to avoid heavier sliding snow loads, and bringing overhead lines at the gable ends and not under eaves.
The second dimension relates to the built environment, which includes determining buffer spaces between buildings and the occupation level based on urban guidelines, avoiding overlap of roofs, considering configuration of adjacent buildings in structural designing, shifting the inappropriate geometry of a sloped roof entrance to avoid the falling of ice and snow on pedestrians and relocating urban furniture located under the eaves to avoid the risk of ice and snow falling on them, and keeping the roofs of buildings from protruding onto the pathways and cable routes.

Looking at how wood had been used in Iranian rural religious places, this article seeks to investigate if wood could have been used in the construction of such buildings. The research is descriptive-analytical and is based on observation and documentation. First, the paper gives a brief description and definition about rural wood structures in religious places of Iran. After that, it introduces eight cases selected from more than eighty cases, located in eight rural areas in Iran. Then, the paper describes and analyzes one or two structures for each rural area.
The research found that in seven out of the eight selected areas, there are noticeable cases which have been made of wood structures and it was only in the desert area that no wood structure was observed. Furthermore, is the research found a variety of wood structures either in the main elements such as beams, columns, truss, wood fiber grids or minor elements such as lathing, reed or mat.
The newly built or developed religious places no wood was used in their structures. Despite the rich background of wood structures in vernacular architecture of Iranian rural religious places, in building or developing new places the wood structure alternative has not been considered.
Wood can offer some benefits such as cultural-social adaptability, responsive usability, being familiar to local artisan, economic saving and the like. Furthermore, wood has architectural relationship to religious places and this property is very important to the development of a sense of place.
There are some impediments in using wood in new buildings such as national regulations of rural constructions in Iran which gave no consideration for using this material; the perception of weak resistance of wood against earthquakes; vulnerability of vernacular wood structures to fire, and the like.
In conclusion, the paper argues that if there is a need to demand and explore the possibilities of using wood in contemporary architecture. There are solutions for strengthening and reducing the weight of wood structures in the literature, which can be used in new buildings.