Housing and Rural Environment
Year:2019 | Volume:38 | Issue:166 |Papers Count:10

The vernacular body of the villages of Guilan, with its entanglement of paths, houses and agricultural fields, reveals the dispersed texture. The residential unit, side buildings and service spaces of the house are arranged erratically in the midst of relatively large areas. The enclosed fences are integrated with vegetation and trees and appear to be unconfirmed in a vague of being connected or disconnected. But is it possible to find unwritten rules behind this erratic appearance? And what are the factors that determine the elements of the residential area in the villages of Guilan? This research is descriptive, with a look at the natural features of the southern Caspian Sea region, to analyze its human environments based on field studies. This research has been carried out in the structuralism paradigm. In this paper clime refers to economic and livelihood activities, the culture and social interactions of residents in house and elements of the rural residential area. The findings of this research indicate that the natural characteristics of the region including geographic and climatic features in all types of villages of Guilan seem to have the greatest impact on the texture and the arrangement of the elements of the rural residential area. This factor causes the characteristics of economic activities and livelihoods, social interactions and cultural features, as well as the formation of criteria of rural residential units. Furthermore, due to geographical features, regional potentialities and economic activities, it is possible to use materials for construction, which is an important factor in choosing the patterns of structures and technology used in vernacular architecture and is one of the variables influencing the formation of the house and its site. As said before, the clime-based characteristics represent the dispersed context of the rural physical structure based on the aggregation of residential components, and the house-farm and the house-garden. But the effect of cultural attributes on the arrangement of the elements of the residential site has the greatest impact. So Final choices for the pattern of settlement in this area and the criteria of the rural residential area resulting therefrom, based on the dominant culture of the villages of Guilan, and most of the clime-based choices correspond with the culture of the people. People living in the villages of Guilan province, based on their cultural backgrounds, have chosen different ways for daily activities, whether from an economic or social perspective. The Socio-economic way of life is one of the most important factors in the difference of style of housing. Following this, it has shaped the housing and residential site pattern make it distinct from the other parts of Iran. In Guilan, the residential area is not only apparently in direct contact with the passageways, but also in the mental structure of the people, the relationship between the house and the passageway is comprehended differently. People's perception of life is not limited to the private spaces of house. In this regard, the transparent fences of the area are considered. Therefore, considering the summary of the criteria of the arrangement of residential site components in Guilan, it is observed that most of the criteria are influenced by socio-cultural activities and features. Human acts on the beliefs embodied in him in the social context, and on the other hand, these beliefs are so rooted in him that sometimes it is impossible to violate it.

Different factors affect the formation of rural house spaces that are generally associated with environmental factors such as climate and geographical characteristics along with human factors such as cultural and social factors. One of the most important of them is the cultural-social factors that makes it possible to reach a spatial understanding and the concepts which are presented in the architecture of their houses. Identification of the hidden patterns or the genotype present in the building's structure equals the identification of social relations that are implemented in the spaces. Builders of the rural houses have tried to incline living spaces to become humanized by creating a close relationship between environment, culture and architectural form. Koopar rural houses in Kelardasht district is a fitting example of a living space with material and spiritual welfare in a mountainous region. However, the disregard of these houses has increased to such an extent that all their cultural-social values, interior significance and spatial correlations are eliminated amid today's architecture. This essay tries to gain access to the interior information that hides in the architectural space of rural houses and has caused their development using a practical look into the past. Therefore, in the present article it is tried to have the way social and cultural attitudes had influenced shape of the houses explained. Accordingly, the research questions would be: What impact does cultural and social attitude have on the way we investigate the spatial relations of the rural houses? How are the spatial relations in the rural houses of Mazandaran? In order to do this research, the required information has been analyzed and examined using descriptive-analytical, logical reasoning and case study methods. In order to do so, history of the research and the definitions related to the topic are presented in section one by adopting a qualitative approach, library studies and reviewing the previous researches. In section two, the practical part, the theoretical information of this study in Northern Iran's rural houses, the west of Mazandaran province, one of the villages of this area named Koopar that ages more than others in mountainous region of Kelardasht, had been visited and the chosen samples of this village were analyzed applying field observations, mapping and photographing and finally we had conducted an interview with some of the current residents or those who had lived there long in the past holding sufficient information. In order to make the results of the studies which were done on the analyzed samples applicable to other mountainous villages of the region, this village and three different type of houses were selected, those which abounded the whole area and were older than other existing houses. Eventually, the theoretical findings of this study are analyzed by using logical reasoning method, the results of which are presented as tables that contain spatial elements, spatial organization, and spatial analysis.

Rural housing as the main physical element of space with a multi-functional nature has been constantly evolving influenced by various factors and forces. The most important components that have changed in recent years in the context of housing-related developments are the housing component in the rural areas. The shift from livelihood-based housing to rural housing, which has only a residential function, has a negative impact on the rural economy. In this regard, this study aims to identify the status of housing in rural areas and to answer the following questions: 1. What is the livelihood situation of rural housing in the studied villages? 2. Which economic indicators affect living-based housing in the studied villages? In the present study, the analysis and ranking of components of Livelihood-based housing in rural areas will be discussed., The nature of the descriptive-analytic and the type of application, data collection method used for the study was “ library and field method” (questionnaires and interviews). Data analysis was descriptive (Mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Binomial test and multivariate regression) and the Vicor model. The questionnaire is composed of closed questions and answers on Likert five scale. The statistical population is 3464 in the Mojezat County. According to Cochran's formula were selected 321 households in 7 rural, as the sample size. Also, Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the reliability of the indices, with the values of 0. 939 percent for economic factors and 0. 867 percent for the livelihood housing component. The findings from the research show that the ratio of observation in the productive and logistic components of rural housing in the studied areas is low compared with the test ratio, as well as the ratio of observation in biological, social and cultural components compared with the test ratio, Is located on the upper level. The results also show that there is a direct correlation between the indicators of economic and livelihood of rural houses. At a significant level of 0. 05, the variables of financial capital and credits, with the values of 0. 467, 0. 317, had the highest share in the dependent variable analysis of variance (rural housing function), the variables of income, employment, production method, type of production activity and ability have not been able to have a significant effect on the dependent variable. Finally, the results of the decision-making model of VIKOR for the study of economic indicators show that the villages of Gojeghia and Aghdehatoo villages with 1 and 0. 453 have the highest Qi in the first and second rank respectively and the villages of Barotagaji (0. 065) and Razbin (0. 044) the lowest Qi is ranked sixth and seventh. In the past, according to the economic status and social classification of villagers, housing was made in different dimensions and sizes; But now, with the collapse of social classifications in the villages and the expansion of village communication with other settlements in the community, each village builds its home, regardless of the economic base, in the village, according to its will And in such a way that the low-income and vulnerable sectors of the rural community have a better and bigger venue than villages and villagers. The development of Livelihood-based housing has left out the monopoly of the economic factor and questioned its unconditional and contingent effect.

Natural disasters, among the issues and problems facing the villagers, can endanger the daily lives of villagers from various economic, social and environmental dimensions. The earthquake has always existed as a repeatable and unpredictable phenomenon during the life of the planet. The villages are more vulnerable than others. When the village is destroyed by the earthquake, it changes the village texture. Upon these changes, attention to the previous context in creating new textures is very important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changing of sense of place in the tissue displacement of the village after the earthquake. The preliminary research hypothesis explains that (1) the villagers are dissatisfied with the context of the Kanzag village; and (2) the displacement of the Kanzag village has diminished the components that affect the place. With regard to the process of displacement of the Kanzag village, these questions arise: (1) how has the texture of the Kanzag village changed to the components of the sense of place? 2) How is component change a sense of place in the movement of the Kanzag village? The present study is quantitative. Therefore, based on studies of different sources and their summarizing in a quantitative research, the components of sense of place in four categories, socialization and social interactions, identity, attachment to location and location dependence a researcher-made questionnaire was designed and distributed among 278 people out of 1, 000 people in the village using a Cochran formula. The sample was selected randomly and the validity of the questionnaire was calculated using the Cronbach-Alpha formula (α = 0. 74). Data analysis was done using SPSS software to test the hypothesis of single sample T-test and Pearson correlation The data from the Avel test (single variable T test) show that the general population is satisfactorily satisfied with the displacement of the Kanzag village, although this displacement is due to the lack of maturity of the old Kanzag village. By moving from the old village to the new village due to the earthquake accident, sensory components have increased except for identity. Improving conditions and more facilities is an important factor in increasing the coefficient of these components. On the other hand, despite the increase in facilities, the identity component has declined. In other words, there is no increase in the relative welfare of the identity load, and the identity component has decreased with the displacement of the texture and the lack of modeling of the old texture. Also, the information obtained from the second test (Pearson correlation) shows that identity is not correlated with attachment to social status and these components are two by two independent, identity and location dependence It is correlated and the direct relation between these two components is established. There is also a direct correlation between attachment to sociality and location dependence. In the Kanzag village, with the displacement of the village, the changes in the sense of place components are not related to each other and these components are not simultaneously reduced or increased. In the process of moving the village, three components of socialization and social interactions, attachment and location dependency have increased. The results show that the new texture was better for the residents. There is solidarity and direct connection between place-based attachment to community, identity and attachment to place.

Agrotourism or agricultural tourism is a constructive interaction between the tourist and rural people, during which people's lives, art, culture, and most importantly, their agriculture, are known to the tourist and direct income and economic development are provided. Agroturism as a subset of rural tourism is one of the most suitable areas for sustainable development in villages. The attractiveness of this type of tourism is more due to the cultural dimensions that villagers give to it. This is an issue that, unlike the world's experiences in this field, has not been taken into account in Iran. Anyhow, currently, in Iran special villages under the title "Tourism-target Village" are identified and for the presence of tourists in the village and the economic, cultural and social potential of the people living there, various plans are carried out. But what agroturism suggests is that this rural tourism model can be the basis for development in any rural village, if they are accompanied by accurate study and proper planning. Even with villages that do not have specific features, such as attractive natural sceneries or special historical site, agrotourism can be effective. The basis of agrotourism is agriculture, which is the welfare of the villagers of the country. In order to investigate the success rate of this type of tourism, the program "Agricultural Tourism Tour" was conducted in a limited time experiment in the village of Garmeh, Fariman in Khorasan Razavi province. The present paper first explains the implications, benefits and harm of agro-tourism, and further elaborates on the details of this project by analyzing-descriptive method based on field observations and questionnaires and using the SWOT model, which is a tool for combining the findings of analysis, external threats and internal capabilities, it tried to show how to operate agro-tourism in rural areas other than Tourism-target Village. At the end, the strategies for the growth and expansion of this type of tourism are expressed in terms of the results of the SWOT matrix. Research questions are: how can agroteorism, in its full meaning, be effective in villages other than the tourism-target villages? What is the solution to this problem with the least damage to the texture and cultural identity of the village of Garmeh? The results show that if agro-tourism is to lead to sustainable development of villages and to play a positive role in the lives of rural people, it needs to develop and identify specific strategies, environmental management, development of local partnership, explicit and firm rules, sustainable marketing and realistic planning. However, in the studied village, although it has got positive factors such as wildlife attractions and pristine nature, a calm and quiet natural environment, the possibility of having organic vegetable and medicine plants, and also the existence of basic infrastructure such as water and natural gas, which are essential for growth of tourism, but some weaknesses of the village can affect them. Like distortion the rural landscape due to the uncontrolled construction by the second and third generation villagers, lack of environmental attention and also unwillingness of the villagers to enter the tourist due to cultural and religious differences. These have to be considered very seriously in order to attract tourist. The formation of a council and also encouraging farmers to participate in this program much more are the second step that can be considered. In addition, having a financial mechanism, controlling harms and raising awareness through education can boost economic growth in the village by relying on agro-tourism.

In recent years, rural settlements have undergone changes due to physio-spatial changes. The acceleration of these changes has been so much that many villages have undergone structural and physical changes, or sometimes slowly joined the body of cities. There are different spatial flows between the metropolitans and surrounding settlements. These flows have shaped many of the developments in the rural areas. The purpose of this study is to analyse the trend of spatial flows affected by rural-urban interactions and the physio-spatial transformation of rural settlements in the northern Tankaman district located around the Karaj metropolitan via the means of descriptive-analytic methods. Karaj metropolitan area is one of the most important areas of this spatial transformation-a space where the focus of capital, industries, facilities and services has brought about its physical and functional growth. Such rapid growth and the ruling trends, from the physio-spatial perspective have implications such as comprehensive transformations in the construction and fabrication of peripheral villages, in particular in the pattern of housing, deformation for communication access, land-use change, severe service shortages, Inappropriate access and. . . in peripheral villages. The present study is a quantitative, functional and survey based in data gathering, which questionnaires and interview methods were used to collect data and information. According to the statistics of 1390, the total of ten villages in North Tankaman were selected. The ten villages have a total population of 11, 509. Of these, 372 people were selected as the sample size using the Cochran formula. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used. The calculation of this amount was 0. 80 for the authorities. The variables of the indicators were designed in the form of a questionnaire and provided to the rural population. To analyze and deduce, depending on the research objectives and the type of data available, descriptive statistics were used such as frequency and percentage and GIS software. The results of the findings of the housing developments in the study area show that the overall average of the Likert spectrum for the increase in the number of residential units with the Urban Architecture model is 3. 68, which is the most significant, reflecting the change in the pattern of rural housing architecture in the northern Takaman district, which is like other rural areas of the country. The change in the pattern of rural housing architecture and its similarity to urban housing pattern has been considered by most of its appearances and has grown more than other indicators such as resistance and improving the quality of housing. Part of livelihood units are assigned to commercial units, and some residential units are also allocated to livelihoods units. Analysis of the results of Pearson correlation test for research variables shows that there is a positive and direct relationship between rural-urban spatial interactions and physio-spatial transformation indices, in which all correlations are strong. The physio-spatial system, as one of the sub regions of rural spaces, is not only influenced by the internal factors of this system but is also influenced by its external (external) elements along with other subsystems in transition. Among the external environmental factors, the system of cities and the type of their spatial interactions with rural areas is one of the most important factors influencing rural development, especially the physio-spatial system. The research findings have shown that the evolution of the physio-spatial system of the studied villages under its systems has been strongly underway. These developments, some of which have positive aspects and some also negatively, have had implications for the villages. Among the influencing factors, the type, form and scope of interactions of villages with peripheral cities has played a significant role in this development. The flow of goods and services, capital, along with the flow of people, which has a one-way and sometimes two-way structure (in line of providing the interests of the cities), has provided the basis for this transformation.

Various climates and geographical variables of iran prompted architectures to design buildings based on principles of vernacular architecture in order to reach the optimal styles which are highly compatible with the climate. In years gone by, Naeen’ s hot and arid climate galvanized people into finding an effective way to tackle this adverse climate condition; therefore, a variety of techniques and style of living were taken into place to comply with this situation. As Ab-anbā r was used to store drinking water, Yakhchā l were constructed as reservoirs to preserve and store ice. Ice which was produced and stored during the winter and cold months of a year was used in hot months of the year. In the regions that climate is cold enough to maintain ice and snow stable in mountainous area during the whole year; no specific constructions were made to store ice. On the other hand, in arid and hot regions of Iran like Naeen, which have almost long summers with high air temperature, a structure called ice house was constructed based on Iranian architectural style so as to produce, store and preserve ice. The architectural features and physical structures of these constructions provided the chance to preserve ice, stored in the winter, until the end of the summer. Investigations show that despite the features and roles of the Yakhchā ls of Naeen, . Nowadays, the reasons behind emergence of these constructions in Naeen per se cannot guarantee the preservation of them on the ground that modern life status is not compatible with the use of these structures. In fact, with the advent of industrial means of producing ice like refrigerators producing healthier ice with better sanitary condition, Yakhchā l have become desolate without any specific uses. This research is conducted by descriptive-analytical methods of study and assessing based on field and library research methods. Yakhchā ls of Naeen including three ones located in Mohhamad abad, Baferan and Mohamadiye were placed out of residential area near gardens and farms in order to access water, channeled from Qanat, which is used to produce ice. The process of producing ice in Yakhchā l includes two stages. One of which is producing ice in ice-making ponds which covered by the shadow of walls and the second step is storing and preserving ice in an underground reservoir until a specific time (the summer). The first step is rooted in conformity with nature and circumstance. Avoiding futility and being Content which is one of the main elements of vernacular architecture-in the eye of most experts-can be seen in this step. At first step, with the help of ever-lasting natural forces and without any damages to the environment, the process of producing ice in ice-making ponds, based on indirect cooling down method, was done in very cold nights during the winter. Next step is storing and preserving ice produced until the summer. To fulfill this step without using of electrical or mechanical equipments relying on Costly and Nonrenewable energies, an underground reservoir covered by a clay dome were designed. Choosing this method of architecture to construct the reservoir under the ground and form the dome in a conical shape with material made of clay, made it possible to maintain the internal coldness of the reservoir and prevent ice from being melted.

In comparison to urban texture, contemporary texture, which is formed from the beginning of the present century, occupies less space and was formed based on pedestrian connection. Contemporary texture was on a gradual increase and there was a relative correlation between needs of residents and building of infrastructures, providing services which because of this, there was a balance between residential and other users. The new needs were not forced on texture’ s space structure and idea of “ housingrepair” was popular as oppose to the idea “ housingreplacement” . But since the beginning of 40s(Persian calendar), Due to numerous reasons such as the overwhelming effect of foreign culturecompared to past, sheer residential use of the space and high dependency on new cities facilities has put historical textures among one of the most unbalanced urban textures. This has been an ongoing process and majority of historical textures and their residents are facing new problems and unstable factors on daily basis. Some experts believe that there had been a continuous trend previously and recent occurrences has caused an interruption in history. There are two completely different perspectives regarding this issue, one believes that there has been a continuity in different eras of the history but the other believes that due to interruption, these eras are not necessary part of an evolution. However this continuity throughout the 3000 years up to beginning of the present century has been confirmed by many experts. Historians and social theorists have different views on the historical course of these issues in Iran, which are classified into three categories. Based on this, and given the fact that the historical-social dimensions have had a definite influence on the architecture of Iran, the impact of different views on history can be traced back to architecture, with the difference that the reflection of social change on architecture has taken place with a slight delay, which includes the past six decades. Accordingly, this study has raised some questions as following: What are the elements and components of continuity as oppose to interruption in a social life zone such as historical textures? Which factors and bases effective in birth of these two perspectives are the most important from experts’ point of view? Gathering and measuring the importance of elements and components of continuity and interruption perspectives in historical texture is the objective of this study. Initially, the elements and components of these perspectives are found through review of sources and exploratory interviews with experts and after categorizing them into different dimensions, they are measured and weighed firstly by the number of references and then the surveys completed by experts. The examples are drawn from scholars of sociology and architecture using snow ball sampling method. The credibility of experts measurement is surely more than number of references (due to importance of components localism and extent of sources), but alignment of these two methods can be a reliant factor in giving importance to the dimension and components. Also, it is visible that this interruption has influenced all social aspects and Iran’ s architecture and urbanization consecutively. By considering the consequences of interruption, future urban and architectural plan should be prepared in a way which could close the gap between past and present.

After the earthquake of Tabas at 19: 36 pm in September 16, 1978, a large part of the buildings were destroyed and there were many human casualties. With more research, it can be seen that a significant number of these damages and losses from the earthquake had been related to rural buildings around the city (Tabas). Due to the fact that the Tabas area has a warm, dry and desert climate, Villages that suffered such damages were mostly mud and adobe structures. One of these villages is Isfahak (located 38 km south-east of Tabas city) that based on available evidence has a historical background from the Safavid period, As an example of the rural adobe fabric in the Tabas area, it suffered damage and destruction in various dimensions of its physical fabric during the earthquake. According to local information, about 80 people of inhabitants died due to this natural occurrence, and a few others suffered physical and psychological damages. This adobe fabric has been registered as an interesting example of Iran's climatic technology and traditions in relation to rural housing. The use of traditional and local materials in Iranian architecture is now listed in the National Iranian monuments List No. 31336, and in recent years, with the tendency of local people, and especially the desire of educated young people to stay and reside, brings potential opportunity for tourism to growth. The heritage value of the village of Isfahak along with its physical and cultural-social values and the aspect of reminding a historical event (Tabas earthquake as one of the largest and most deadliest earthquakes in Iran) affecting the lives of the people of this region, has created a collection of various values and potentials that need to be protected and rehabilitated. On the other hand, considering the probability of the occurrence of an earthquake and its related financial and death threats for rural adobe buildings is needed to research for raising the level of safety and seismic function in such buildings. Therefore, this study after investigating the most important structural weaknesses of damaged adobe buildings due to the effect of this earthquake and categorization of the seismic damages, then how to strengthen the adobe buildings of Isfahak village. The research method is descriptive-analytical and the data collection had been done via the means of literature review and field observation. By studying similar and successful previous experiments and researches on how to improve seismic performance of adobe buildings and considering different aspects of the problem during frequent field visits from the earthquake site located in Isfahak, in relation to seismic consolidation of these buildings, were proposed three designs: A, B and C. The designs were evaluated and compared in terms of theoretical principles of architectural heritage restoration and seismic function validation by modeling in the ANSYS software. Finally, the design of B (the application of wooden elements and woven ropes from palm fiber to integrate structural behavior of building components) due to the most consistency with the policies and strategies defined in relation to how to perform the intervention as an optimal seismic consolidation model for adobe buildings of Isfahak village were proposed. In fact, the project has been performed through seismic authentication and is more consistent with the theoretical principles of restoration. In addition to the economic feasibility and ease of implementation as two important criteria for attracting local people's participation, more than two other projects are considered in this plan.

Linkages in geographical spaces representing a region is not just a functional system which has been formed by various settlements. It rather takes its power from social, economic and physical networks and their interactions which means it is controlled by aforementioned networks. Therefore, there are always rural area and urban area with some relations or linkages. In this regard, relation mostly refers to a communication flow from an urban area to a rural area or vice versa while linkage refers to a double-sided communication flow between these two settlements. This study focuses on linkages and the networks with the characteristic of reciprocal. It is supposed to put an emphasis on just a settlement creates lots of problems while they can improve each other. However, it is believed rural-urban linkages can improve regional resiliency. The present study uses future studies methodology in order to develop earthquake resiliency scenarios based on rural-urban linkages using scenario wizard. Because of the extent of the study area, samples were selected based on the main aspects of research; earthquake and rural-urban linkages. Thus, by examining of faults zoning maps and historical trend of earthquakes in the study area and also, the most important factors in the field of rural– urban linkages such as second home tourism, immigration with a different purpose, northern and eastern regions were selected as samples. Therefore, Firouzkoh, Damavand, and Shemiranat were studied as three provinces. These samples were selected by chance from 7 districts (Taroud, Abarshive, LavasanKouckand, LavasoalBozorg, Hableroud, Dobolouk, RodbarGhasran) and 26 villages (Mosha, Mara, HesarBala, Hesar pain, Jaban, Khosravan, Sarbandan, Arou, Niknamdeh, kalan, Afje, KandOliya, Mahmod Abad, Hasarin, Amin Abad (HablehRoud), Dehgordan, Bahan, Najafdar, Osour, Tahneh, Garmabdar, Amin Abad (RoudbarGhasran), ShemshakBala, Sefid Dastan, Ahar, AmamehBala). Afterward, indicators of social, economic, institutional and physical resiliency were evaluated to develop earthquake resiliency scenarios. It must be noted that local leaders or rural municipality answered the questions. Future studies will allow us to plan according to the probable conditions and some evidence. Since we always have different evidence and probable conditions, there are a lot of scenarios for planning. To overcome this challenge, Scenario Wizard was used as a useful tool to reduce various scenarios derived from a 49*49 matrix with 13 factors. In total, there were 2097 scenarios that 40 ones are considered as logical scenarios. The selection was based on 1 consistency. After all, the scenarios were categorized into 3 groups. However, exploring rural-urban linkages have been proof for using them for regional challenges like earthquake resiliency. Although the mentioned linkages have an effect on improving resiliency, the current state showed an inconsistent state. This may be because of the lack of resiliency plans, lack of planning, training and proper notification, and failure in developing a public and private partnership, etc. The results show the advantage of consistent scenarios over inconsistent scenarios. In consequence, these linkages are useful tools for regional planning which can be used for challenging issues. On the other hand, the present condition has a completely different state. In the current condition, the inconsistent state takes advantage of the consistent state. These results prove the importance of regional planning and avoiding separating rural and urban areas in planning.