Rural houses in most developing countries are a symbol of the sovereignty of the physical structures with high risk that have low Resistance against seismic forces resulting from the earthquake. So that some scholars believe that more than 95 percent of all deaths from earthquakes is the result of the destruction of the houses. So, regarding to its retrofitting against such disasters is very important in achieving optimal and sustainable settlement. This study aimed to evaluate the retrofitting of rural housing in the last decade and its impact on the quality of life indexes of rural residents in Sojasrod County (Khodabandeh township- Zanjan province). Methodology used was descriptive-analytical; and needed data collected by the use of field study and questionnaires. For this reason, from 3500 households of 30 villages in the county, 170 cases in 15 sample villages were selected by the use of modified Cochran formula; and questionnaire distributed randomly in the sample Villages. For data analysis, statistical methods such as cluster analysis, chi-square homogeneity test, multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance, correlation coefficient in SPSS software were used. The research results showed that there is a meaningful differences in life quality indexes in 2 periods of before and after house retrofitting; and also there is a straight and high relation between housing retrofitting index and life quality indexes. Furthermore, among studied indexes in rural housing retrofitting, using high quality materials in house building and applying the expected building codes of Housing Foundation have the highest impact and house design based on family needs has the lowest impact on the life quality of rural families.

In rural areas dwellings aside from being a place for living, reflect the livelihood of its residents. This issue is increasingly facing problems, such as a lack of financial resources for renovation of rural residential units, physical vulnerability of these dwellings against natural hazards, the deterioration of rural fabric, as well as overlapping living and livelihood spaces. In recent decades housing retrofit credits program has been implemented on a large scale in order to improve the quality of rural housing. This program has resulted in a number of changes in the function of housing spaces. Several questions are raised in this regards including: is there a relationship between receiving credits and changes in the productive functions of housing? And whether there is a significant difference in the productive functions of housing for different occupational groups. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the changes in productive functions of rural housings that were triggered by using retrofitting housing credits. Data collection methods adopted in the study comprised of document review and field data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews and observation. The questionnaire is composed of closed questions and answers on Likert scale. Data analysis methods is descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (paired T-test, and Kruscal Wallis test). Statistical population of the study is the recipients of the credit program within the period of 2005 to 2013 in Mojezat County, which is consisted of 811 families. The sample size of 231 households was determined using Cochran formula. Furthermore, and in order to assess the reliability of the research tool, the Cronbach's alpha is used. The values obtained for housing productive functions before and after receiving the retrofitting credit are 0.967 and 0.959 percent, respectively. The research findings indicate widespread changes in houses including in housing area and the number of rooms after receiving the retrofiting credits. Furthremore, the research shows a significant correlation between housing productive functions and receiving the retrofitting housing credits. The level of the productive functions of housing declined with the t-statistic of 6.240 after receiving the credit. Additionally, the research found a significant difference in mean rank of the occupational groups, with herders and farmers making more changes in the productive spaces of their houses after receiving the credit. Expanding the urban-rural relationships, restrictions and requirements of the the lending agency, lack of financial ability of villagers, insufficient amount of the credit considering the cost of construction materials and their transportation from cities to villages, spreading urban architecture styles, a lack of foresight conerning the needs of rural housing functions like hayloft and husbandry as well as changing family structure have resulted in the transformation of housing productive functions. The analysis of the status of housing productive functions and different occupational groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test shows that ranchers and farmers have made more changes in their housing function. With paired t-test or t-statistic of 6.240, the research demonstrates that the productive function of the housing after receiving the loan is reduced. By examining the available spaces in the rural housing of Mojezat, the paper shows that the implementation of housing retrofitting and modernization of rural housing to comply with the style and patterns of urban housing of the nearby city of Zanjan have been conducive to qualitative and quantative changes of housing spaces and their function.

This research is an applied one with a descriptive – analytic method was conducted in Jahrom with the objective of analyzing the effective factors on retrofitting of rural homes. Our statistical universe includes 11 villages of Simekan district in the suburbs of Jahrom County, these villages have taken a loan over 50 items from Housing Foundation. For estimating the sample volume at rural family level, by using Cochran sampling method with 95 percent accuracy, the number of 186 persons (family guardian) was questioned by simple random sampling method. Then, the necessary information was gathered by survey and questionnaire. Based on the results of factor analysis, among the first two factors in the order of effectiveness proportion, the first factor (satisfaction with rural homing) describes 57.455 percent of variance by itself and the second factor (homing retrofitting) is accounted for 20.835 percent of variance. Also, it was found that the best reason for retrofitting of rural homes is using of rural homing facilities (67%). Safety against natural disasters such as earth quake and flood (33%) is another reason for homing retrofitting, so our main hypothesis is supported. According to the results of hypothesis testing, based on Pearson correlation coefficient and regarding to variance testing and our significance number which is more than 0.05, there isn’t a significant difference between our independent variables (gender, age & education) and housing retrofitting.

This paper to discuss rural housing deals in Kermanshah. Rural housing in Iran and particularly in Kermanshah province suffer from several factors first technical weakness there construction materials weak second and third pay enough attention to rural housing retrofit. Since Iran on earthquake belt is an area of ​​more than 97 percent of Iran in areas where the relative risk of earthquakes in their middle and high or reported. Research with the aim of quantitative and qualitative study of rural housing indicators of Kermanshah methods - descriptive analysis in which the 10 variables studied will. Results show that the rural areas of Kermanshah in 1385 about 17,779 new housing units needed. Structure of 43.8 percent of rural housing in Kermanshah durable, 33.9 Drsdkm durability and 22.2 percent are more ephemeral. Over 74 percent of the residential units have less than 100 m Infrastructure and 25 percent of residential units with more than 25 years old are. Of the seismic zone east of the province shows the province has set very high seismic risk was more than 24 percent and 19 percent of the population of the area where they are residing. Middle and western part of the equivalent of a small area of ​​71 percent in high risk situations are more than 75 percent of the population. Only 5 percent of the area of ​​Kermanshah province has set seismic risk is moderate. So to prevent natural disasters and improving rural housing need in rural housing comprehensive plan that was organized should be considered.

Demographic data on crucial information regarding disaster management، particularly the Early Warning Systems are considered to be the basic requirements of disaster preparedness and mitigation measures. Population density information in developing countries is of critical importance but extremely scarce and mostly appears in the public. Demographic census information often lacks spatial or location coherence in smaller scales، in a way that is not beneficial and useable in processes such as vulnerability assessment relating to the geographical limitations. Since rural areas play an important and undeniable role in agriculture، economy and production as well as revitalization of vast areas in the country and since they are more vulnerable for cultural and underlying causes، they are the focus of attention in the planning system of the country. Taking into consideration the rural demographic information، including population density is very important in adopting mitigation and preparedness measures in the development of rural physical settlements، guidance plans and enhancement and retrofitting of rural texture. Population density can help in targeting mitigation and preparedness measures. In this research، statistical data of population census were used for determining rural districts with high population density. Raw population data were gathered and evaluated، furthermore needed information was extracted from evaluated data and processing by using GIS soft ware. Demographic distribution and density in the area of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province has been investigated in this study. Population density map of rural districts has been provided and according to this، the rural population density was 25. 61 persons in 1 km2 and it was allocated eighth position in the ranking of Iranian provinces. The villages of this Province have been prioritized in terms of population density into 5 groups، in order to implement rural housing retrofitting plans and large scale disaster management programs، especially mitigation، aiming at reducing human causalities in a significant manner.

having a standard house has been one of the aspirations of every rural household, and to gain that requires more government attention and support for rural housing. Since 2005, the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution (Bonyad-e-Maskan) has seriously been busy retrofitting rural housing; nevertheless, most rural areas lack adequate quality housing. This study tries to analyze the role of credit on changing the housing patterns in rural areas of Bahmaee County and suggest provisions needed for this area. This study was carried out in a descriptive–analytical method, and has used field study and library research to collect data. Considering the population size (1166 households), the sample size of households to be surveyed, based on Cochrane formula, included 233 households. The study results showed that greatest effect of credit indices resulting in changes in the pattern of housing in the villages were that of duration and time of receiving funds from the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution, so that 26.4% of the effects resulted from the credits were related to this index, and 18.3 percent were related to supervision on construction. Eventually, the correlation between dependent variable of changes in the rural housing pattern and the independent variable of housing credit, with a correlation coefficient of 0.34 and a significance level near to zero proved to be significant. According to the research findings on changes in housing patterns of the study area, the following guidelines are recommended: using local architectural patterns in retrofitting rural housing, proper level of infrastructure for residential renovations, and taking models of rural housing into account to achieve high quality housing.

From the very early stages of human history, the issue of housing has been of great importance and one of the most essential human needs that a lot of effort has been put in providing it. Presently the main function of housing, apart from its role as a shelter, is provision of a proper place for the family to have a desirable life in it. Housing is one of the most important elements in rural texture which is influenced by natural and human forces. So any kind of change in natural and human conditions demonstrates itself in housing. Therefore we can say that housing patterns are a reflection of the influential forces and elements in taking their shape. One of these important factors is identity, thus the present study focuses on the role of identity in the changes of rural housing patterns. This article is an applied study and the method used has been descriptive- analytical. The statistical population of the present article includes the villages of East Eghbal rural district in the central of Qazvin. According to the census of 2011, this district has 14 populated villages, 4424 households, and a population of 14656. Considering the expansion of the area under study and the fact that the research needed to be more precise, four villages were chosen (Erenjak, Vousough Abad, Shinghar, Najaf Abad) using the revised Cochran formula. These villages have a population of 4307 and 1256 households. A questionnaire with 27 qualifiers for the analysis of rural households’ identities, 27 indices for the analysis of the traditional components of rural housing, and 20 indices for analyzing the modern components of rural housing was formulated. The questionnaire’s level of reliability wasobtained 0.76 with Cronbach’s alpha which shows a proper trust factor. The method for analyzing and evaluating the obtained data has been descriptive (average, standard deviation) and inferential (Kendall test, one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient). According to the research done on the traditional and modern elements of rural housing, most rural houses lack a traditional texture and have followed the modern urban pattern in deleting the productive functions. Also the analysis of the modern factors in rural housing has shown that most houses have followed an urban construction, the reason for which can be the short distance between these villages and Qazvin itself. As the researcwas carried on, it was proved that the households which had a transitional identity from rural to an urban one, have experienced most changes in housing patterns; and the households who havereceived housing credit have also had more changes in their housing patterns. The research shows that since the housing credit has only had a monetary aspect and there has been no supervision on the construction methods, thus most rural households were inclined to use urban housing patterns, a process which is effective to the elimination of the productive functions in rural houses and the acceptance of urban housing patterns.

Iran has many historic cities and villages with economic، historic and cultural values facing with many seismic faults. There have been no comprehensive studies about reducing the vulnerability of the historic villages، and the available documents describe the retrofitting experiments only about the single buildings. Lack of a comprehensive look at the subject leads to the loss of the resources and carries out parallel and sometimes conflicting actions. Nayband، in the center of Iran، is a historic village near Nayband fault. Because of unique physical context، performing social، cultural and economic relations، follow up vernacular construction patterns and past earthquake evidences، this village is a proper case for conducting a seismic safety study to make use of defined process as a pattern to other historical contexts and villages that are exposed to earthquake. The first step in the seismic safety process is the identification of context structural vulnerabilities. seismic vulnerabilities can be achieved by different methods. Some of these methods have abilities such as large-scale covering and little time data processing. The appropriate method must be selected in according to evaluation objectives. In this research، a comparative study conducted for 19 vulnerability analysis methods، and finally based on data availability، large scale covering، low entry and data processing time and high reliability، FAMIVE method was chosen. This method which has high validity in the world can determine buildings vulnerabilities levels and major structural failure mechanisms in order to set them up later for retrofitting operations. Afterwards، based on factors include historical and artistic value of the building، usability of habitation after disaster، building type and structural evidence of past earthquakes، 39 facades belongs to 21 buildings were selected and their data were recorded to Excel forms. After processing forms using FAMIVE method، the following results were obtained: The anticipated failure mechanisms، The seismic vulnerability level of buildings and The Building resiliency in the face of different earthquakes. According to the results of the vulnerability analysis and a high level of risk faced by the village، the need for physical intervention and housing retrofit operation to protect the lives of residents and cultural heritage of the village was confirmed. Historical buildings in terms of structural systems، artistic value of its assets، and usability after disaster are differ. Also، newly constructed buildings or public buildings exist due to the presence of humans in them or having the potential to be service provider of post disaster، planners must consider them. By studying international experience and review their criteria، indicators recognized and given weight to identify priorities for retrofitting in this area were: kind of ownership، potential use after disaster، historical and artistic values، number of occupants، hours of occupancy، kind of building use and number of stories. Finally priorities identified through the GIS analysis in terms of four distinct building groups. Finally، considering the need to optimize the physical intervention level and output of previous steps، the anticipated seismic performance levels of buildings against earthquakes recommended.

Introduction In our country, inappropriate physical housing in villages is the result of "bad housing" that can be inferred as one of the most important challenges in rural development. This phenomenon is the result of inappropriate resilient construction, worn-out houses, pollutions because of coexistence of animals and human, sharing the living space with working place; and these issues are caused by inappropriate economic, social and cultural characteristics that govern the rural society of the country and also they are derived from lack of attention to technical obligations, worn-out houses, lack of effective supervision, inadequate infrastructural and economic provision. Therefore, to decrease the bad housing condition in rural districts of the country, some efforts have been started through improvement and renovation of worn-out texture, retrofitting of rural buildings, provision of technical and quality regulations and obligation and issuing ownership documents together with codification of second phase of development plan that provide a good condition for socioeconomic changes in rural districts. These changes have impacts on meeting the needs of the residents and their quality of life, their livelihood changes, and rural housing functions through improvement of physical environment of the rural district. So, this study tries to answer the following questions: "Dose rural housing improvement lead to changes in housing components and economic functions of the houses in the studied rural district by using house retrofit loans"? And "Do these changes have a meaningful difference among villages of this rural district?”
Methodology This is a practical study that uses descriptive-analytical methods to determine the issue and its results according to performed field studies (questionnaire, observation and interview). Shamshir rural district is located in Paveh County in the west of Kermanshah province and all the eight villages of this rural district are evaluated in this study. According to general population and housing census (1390) the total number of households in this rural district is 2593 households. 287 households are selected as sample population by using Cochran Formula and questionnaires were distributed randomly. For data analysis different statistical method have been used such as One Sample T-Test (to compare numerical mean), Wilcoxon Test (before and after rural housing improvement) and Kruskal Wallis Test (measuring current differences in the rank of diversification to economic activities in sample villages) and Spearman Correlation Coefficient Test.
Discussion and Conclusion The results showed that most of new housings, which were constructed by the incentives of government including its credits and supervision, have a substructure of 100 square meters. To overcome the steep slope that governs the village site and to decrease the humidity, new housings are constructed according to a two-storey building design in which the ground flood is inhospitable. Studying the impacts of rural housing improvement and renovation shows widespread differences between two periods which were before and after this process. So, these changes can be mostly considered in housing building plans and maps and extensive modelling of urban housing designs, elimination of some basic elements of old housings and also high availability of facilities and infrastructure services; the basic reasons of these changes include logging bans in forests and pastures, discontinuing traditional way of living based on livestock farming and using forests, improvement of transportation roads and turning them to highways, proximity to Paveh county, and prevalence of unofficial economy and contraband trade. According to respondent's point of view, the results show that all of the studied components have a meaningful difference in periods before and after physical improvement. The most meaningful differences are in rendering services like mechanical service, carwash service, tire mounting and balancing service (-15.002), and employment in non-agricultural activities among men (-14.883) respectively, and the least meaningful differences are reported in such components like household's needs (bread, vegetables, fruit and dairy) (-6.398) and performing economic activities inside the home by women such as handicrafts and carpet weaving (-7.228). Moreover, correlation analysis shows that there is a meaningful relation between rural housing improvement components and components of nonagricultural activities among men (0.812), designing a special place for livestock (-0.603), assigning a part of the house to rendering automobile services (mechanical, carwash, tire mounting and balancing services) (0.600) and performing economic activities inside the home by women (0.324) at a level of 99 percent. In conclusion, the result of classification of changes in economic functions of rural housings in Shamshir rural district does not show a meaningful difference among the studied villages. Therefore, according to the respondent's point of view, the most average ranks in performing the studied economic activities are as follow: non-agriculture employment among men in Shamshir village; assigning a part of the house to services in Dorisan village; performing activities related to gardening and assigning a place for production and selling the forest's products in Bandare village; and in designing a place for livestock and performing economic activities in home by women in Tazdeh, Bandare and Dorisan villages.

Problem Statement: 

Through time, Kashan’s historical houses and lifestyle have had a reciprocal relationship. In contemporary times, however, lifestyles have changed very much; to the point of being forgotten. The Adaptive Reuse of some historical houses presents an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the lives that people once lead in them.

This study seeks to discover the characteristics of lifestyle in Kashan’s historical houses, as well as the extent to which tourists understand this lifestyle during their stay in historical houses retrofitted as hotels. What are the characteristics of the lifestyle in the historical houses of Kashan? To what extend do tourists understand this lifestyle during their stay in historical houses retrofitted as hotels? Gain a better understanding of traditional lifestyle components and analyze tourists’ understanding to better address shortcomings in future adaptive reuse projects are the research objectives.

The research methodology of this study is mixed qualitative-quantitative methods. First, the lifestyle in Kashan’s historical houses was analyzed through literature reviews and field studies, such as participatory observation and in-depth interviews. Next, after extracting and codifying the most repetitive components previously obtained, tourists’ perceptions of these components were examined through 102questionnaires in 8hotels.

The repetition of the expressed characteristics of interviewees from different socio-economic groups displays a dominant lifestyle across different cultural-economic groups in traditional society. Moreover, the extraction of lifestyle components in Kashan’s historical houses in three categories, namely cultural, social, and economic components, reveals the multidimensionality of this lifestyle. Despite their connection to physical spaces, tourists’ perception of this lifestyle’s nature, characteristics, and intangible features are fragmented and incomplete. While many lifestyle components manifest in customs and behaviors, furniture and appliances can play an important role in introducing a lifestyle when effectively integrated in experiences rather than being mere decoration.