Housing and Rural Environment
Year:2017 | Volume:35 | Issue:156 |Papers Count:9

The meaning of Housing has been emphasized by many researchers in built environment. Most researches on the development of meaning mainly provided lists of references، categorizations، and meaning hierarchy in residential spaces. However، it seems that there are networks of relations among different dimensions of meaning that form its organization in housing. Such cognitive organization paving the way for spatial organization of spaces are in fact c the ultimate goal in dwelling design. The aim of this study was to develop a valid، reliable and normalized scale to discover the organization of concept of dwelling in Turkmen settlement. The participants of the study were mothers of Turkmen households who lived in Gonbad e Qaboos. Sample size was estimated by Kline's method thus 410 mothers were selected by using a random multi-cluster sampling. Variables such as climate، family life circle، generational differences، gender، career and tribal bondages، urban or rural and housing typology were considered in sampling and statistical analyses. Due to relative novelty of this study in Iran and lack of measuring instruments، it deemed necessary to develop a proper measuring questionnaire for the inquiry. The Survey Method was conducted where the results of a number of case interviews were collected and organized in a table called Content Goal Table. This latter table was used for the preparation of final questionnaire، which has 158 items. The questionnaire then was given and filled by the mothers of 410 families. Descriptive and parametric statistical analyses were conducted. These included difficulty index، discriminative index، and loop technique، validity (face validity، translation validity، content validity، and construct validity (factor analysis)، and reliability (Kuder-Richardson). The reliability of Turkmen Housing Meaning Organization Decoding Questionnaire by computing the Kuder-Richardson coefficient was 0. 931. The factor analysis after rotation showed the value of cumulative variance of 0. 728. These indicated that the questionnaire can explain 72. 8% of Turkmen dwelling meaning structure by using the researcher-designed measures and about. 44 of it is explainable by conceptual factors provided by this study. The factors were clarified and conceptualized into ten meaning factors. Each factor was defined in relation to other items and labeled appropriately. Validity of the factor's label was refined and determined by feedbacks obtained from the experts. The discovered factors are “ obtaining social respect and approval” ، “ social belonging” ، “ relative social relationships” ، “ fulfilling of physiological needs” ، “ family stability” ، “ privacy” ، “ family belonging” ، “ spatial features of social relationships” ، “ placement of social interactions” and “ individual satisfaction” . Overall، by considering the results of present study، Turkmen Housing Meaning Organization Decoding Questionnaire has decent reliability and validity، and is able to target Housing Meaning Organization appropriately in Turkmen cultural communities. Limitations of the present study is the population subject as a special cultural group، conclusions are rationed to this group. Investigation of meaning was conducted on the mothers group، so generalization of findings to other family members should be done carefully. It is recommended for future researches to consider these limitations in order to embrace wider target groups. Concerning the influence of meaning organization for promoting dwelling quality، it may be suggested to policy makers، designers، programmers and educators to apply this research instrument. While design programming and planning، designers can benefit from the methods and processes of discovering meaning organization to better fulfill occupants cognitive expectations with the residential spaces.

In the last decades، many companies have erected biogas plants worldwide. A lot of experience was cumulated، leading to a continuous process optimization of anaerobic fermentation and the development of new and more efficient applications. Overall، the basic knowledge of biogas production، the microorganisms involved، and the biochemical processes were widely extended. Biomass embraces products that are derived from photosynthesis that annually، saves an amount equivalent to several times the annual global energy consumption. Thus، biomass is unique in saving solar energy among various types of renewable energy sources. Biomass conversion processes can be physical (e. g. drying، reducing the size or compression)، heat (such as coal) or chemical (e. g. biogas production). The final product of the conversion process may be in forms of either solid، liquid or gas. The flexibility to choose the physical form of fuel in biomass resources is an important advantage over the other sources of renewable energy. Chemical energy in plants is absorbed by animals and humans who digest them. However، biomass is a renewable energy source in the sense that we can always grow the plants and trees، and there is always farmland for agricultural endeavors. There are some examples for the biomass fuels as wood، corn، fertilizer، and disposed garbage. Chemical energy of biomass fuels is released as heat while wood or other flammable garbage may be burned to generate steam and electricity. Burning biomass is not the only way to release their energy but they may be used in other forms of energy، such as methane، ethanol، and biodiesel. Methane is the main component of natural gas. Stinking materials like rotten garbage، agricultural waste and human waste، which are categorized as biogas or methane gas. India and China in the early 1930s began to construct the biogas system extensively. Sporadic studies in Iran in 1970s were conducted by research and academic institutes for biogas production that has led to the construction of biogas. By reviewing the pertinent literature and the energy production and consumption technologies of renewable resources، this study is going to recommend criteria for selection of biomass conversion technologies that are appropriate for energy production from rural solid waste in Tinouj village near Qom. The main objective of this study is to facilitate the selection of an appropriate design for domestic biogas installations.

Nowadays، construction waste is one of major environmental contaminants. The Increase of building construction entails escalating demolition of buildings in their midlife that made of decent materials such as bricks، cement، steel، stone، and plaster. After demolition، these manufactured materials turn into trash accumulated on the suburbs causing environmental damage and pollution. Furthermore، high-energy consumption in production process of these synthetic materials is another major problem. The building industry is responsible for high level of pollution due to the energy consumed during extraction، processing، and transportation of raw materials، construction، utilization، demolition، and disposal waste. To reduce environmental risks in construction materials، it is necessary to investigate the life cycle of building materials and their energy consumption. The life cycle of building materials starts from the moment of extraction in nature and ends when it returns to the nature. Therefore، the use of materials that may harm human or environmental health at any phase of their life cycle must be limited. For materials selected in design، it is vital that the designer meticilously consider the use and disposal of the finished product. This requires clearly through examination of raw materials in order to have very low environmental load both in manufacturing and distribution systems to minimize the environmental impacts. In this paper، the life cycle of construction materials and its impact on environmental pollution for both synthetic and vernacular materials are investigated and analytically compared. Various environmental factors in construction materials’ selction have been studied in previous researches. By investigating different measures included in environmental charts and tables، a comprehensive model by considering all affecting factors is proposed. The proposed model describes the materials’ life cycle assessment. This model is a guide to evaluate، select and use construction materials more sustainably. The proposed model embraces all stages of materials life cycle including extraction، production process، transportation، construction، operation، destruction، and finally returning to the nature or their reuse as secondary materials. The nature has the central role in this model. Each stage is investigated in depth and main points are described. All construction materials can be evaluated using the proposed cyclic model. The model has the ability of comparing various materials from environmental impact perspective. By comparing vernacular and synthetic materials regarding environmental factors، it is confirmed that using vernacular materials is more beneficial due to less environmental load. Synthetic materials impose wide variety of burdens on the environment through every step of production، processing، consumption، use، recycling، transportation and disposal. Benefits of using vernacular materials are reduction of pollution in manufacturing process، less energy consumption in transportation، construction، utilization، minimizing embodied energy and embodied carbon، efficient use of resources، reduced costs، and drastically diminished environmental impact of construction.

This study deals with the analytic induction of spatial configuration in Boshrooyeh verbacular houses at South Khorasan during Safavid، Qajar، and Pahlavi dynasties and after the Islamic revolution. The historical urban fabric of Boshrooyeh is among the least affected urban settings in Southern Khorasan Province that still maintained some structures from Timurid dynasty up to the end of the Pahlavi. It possesses a distinctive heritage of traditional architecture in hot-arid regions with several historical buildings and monuments yet stand still. In this study through several analytical surveys، a space syntax approach is used in the architectural scale for investigating and understanding the spatial configuration of vernacular dwelling spaces. The analysis seeks configuration compatibility and spatial organization of the houses and their transformations resulted from the lifestyle and behavioral system of the inhabitants within different historical periods. Several scholars and researchers have stressed out the mutual impact of culture and housing particularly to be evident in the behavioral setting of vernacular built environment which is also taken as an important basis for this study. This study is a case study research and is based on combined research methods including both descriptive analytical methods and، logical reasoning. Thus، several field observations، library researches، interviews، questionnaires and simulation by space syntax (Ucl Depth Map) and comparative analogy have been conducted. Following the space syntax analysis، it is found that the spatial configuration of houses have been more or less coherently continued until the beginning of Pahlavi period that faced with dramatic changes. Spatial Typology and organization was also found to be deeply tied with lifestyle and emergent needs. Based on the findings، it can be inferred that patterns and practices for organizing the form and space، which were used، by indigenous designers and master builders were relatively similar to each other during the noted historical periods. The main creative designerly intervention in such continuous building tradition was manifested in response to changes in lifestyle and the emergence of new needs via incremental modifications to spatial settings. Nonetheless، spatial configuration of houses drastically changed by the end of the Pahlavi period and the durability and continuity of such spatial configurations that were existed up to that time diminished. This in turn affected native inhabitants and their behavioral system. Projecting this research into other aspects of the built environment، may provide grounds for contemporary housing design in harmony with new requirements that are based on cultural values and environmental patterns of the place.

Nowadays، various factors such as collapse of tribal structures and systems، deterioration of grasslands، lack of decent educational system for the children، and shortage of healthcare facilities have caused tribal living extremely challenging. To help avert the process، experts have proposed different approaches among which settlement plan rendered as most appropriate. As a whole، nomad’ s settlement fundamentally transforms one of the intrinsic characteristics of nomads that differentiate them from either rural or urban societies for whatever reasons such as political، social or economic development. Talkhab in Ilam province has been a site to tribal settlement plan، which has been conducted by Housing Foundation at to help manage tribal affairs. This article intends to evaluate physical-spatial impacts of the settlement plan in Talkhab as felt by nomads themselves regarding housing، sewage system، pathways and infrastructure and services quality. It also evaluates how the plan affected their livelihood and satisfaction as well as their participation. In order to make the inquiry practical، descriptive-analytic method via field studies including questionnaires، interviews، observations have been used and the results were finally put in SPSS for further statistical analysis. The results suggest that the settled tribe members are generally pleased with the plan including its implementation، allocation، and availability of some services. However، certain issues such as financial support، other infrastructural services (running water، healthcare facilities، sports، religious and commercial facilities)، employment، the plan has fallen short of meeting their expectations. A number of guidelines are suggested based on the findings for better realization of the settlement plan. These include better planning of pathways، piping، sewage system، electricity and water services، user participation. More attention should be focused on sustainable ways of livelihood in settlement plans، more efficient financial support through the banking system for an affordable housing and suitable reimbursement policy.

Nowadays، various factors such as collapse of tribal structures and systems، deterioration of grasslands، lack of decent educational system for the children، and shortage of healthcare facilities have caused tribal living extremely challenging. To help avert the process، experts have proposed different approaches among which settlement plan rendered as most appropriate. As a whole، nomad’ s settlement fundamentally transforms one of the intrinsic characteristics of nomads that differentiate them from either rural or urban societies for whatever reasons such as political، social or economic development. Talkhab in Ilam province has been a site to tribal settlement plan، which has been conducted by Housing Foundation at to help manage tribal affairs. This article intends to evaluate physical-spatial impacts of the settlement plan in Talkhab as felt by nomads themselves regarding housing، sewage system، pathways and infrastructure and services quality. It also evaluates how the plan affected their livelihood and satisfaction as well as their participation. In order to make the inquiry practical، descriptive-analytic method via field studies including questionnaires، interviews، observations have been used and the results were finally put in SPSS for further statistical analysis. The results suggest that the settled tribe members are generally pleased with the plan including its implementation، allocation، and availability of some services. However، certain issues such as financial support، other infrastructural services (running water، healthcare facilities، sports، religious and commercial facilities)، employment، the plan has fallen short of meeting their expectations. A number of guidelines are suggested based on the findings for better realization of the settlement plan. These include better planning of pathways، piping، sewage system، electricity and water services، user participation. More attention should be focused on sustainable ways of livelihood in settlement plans، more efficient financial support through the banking system for an affordable housing and suitable reimbursement policy.

The handmade troglodytic architecture is a distinctive kind of architecture، which does not require major construction materials and consequently very low environmental load since its creation is majorly by extraction of space rather than addition of mass. The Architecture by subtraction rather than addition provides many opportunities which calls for comprehensive research and analysis. As there is no obligatory method in making spaces rather than material cohesion، there is no priority in constructing a troglodytic structure، either from the roof or from the floor. Dealing with stone blocks، rocks and piles of earth requires variety of tools as ax، hammer، chisel، and sledgehammer in order to shape the interior space. In Iran، many magnificent cases of this architecture have taken place in different regions due to its various climates. This unique architecture is at odds with the conventional settlement patterns and construction methods and is always can take advantage of the mountains and valleys on the floor or wall، which is a good way to control climate fluctuation in different regions. Kandovan، Hilehvar in Azerbaijan، Meimand in Kerman، Karaftu Cave in Kurdistan، the troglodyte underground dwellings in Sā men of Malayer، Arzanfoud in Hamadan، and underground complex at Noosh-Abā d، Kā shan، are among notable and outstanding instances of known troglodytic architectures in Iran. This study investigates key factors in the formation of handmade troglodytic architecture as well as their functional implication spatially. Another significant goal in this study is exploring main factors in categorizing handmade troglodytic architectures in Iran. It is mainly based on firsthand field activities and surveys، in which there were multiple visits to a large number of historical ruins and settlements in different parts of Iran. A number of archaeological excavations in different sites including troglodytic underground architectural dwellings at the abovementioned sites were closely examined for this study which were earlier supported via library and document investigations. The chronology and the activity system of these settlements as well as their functional implications found to be an integral touchstone. Due to their different structure، traits and exclusiveness compared to the usual archaeological monads، the methods for excavating troglodytic structures are different from conventional methods used to excavate other sites. Based on the findings، creation of handmade troglodytic architectural sites depends on several factors including climatic and geographical conditions، defense، security، durability، and religion، which were deeply tied with the cultural، political، social and economic circumstances. This architecture can be classified in various formal types in terms of their external form، internal space، and function (religious، tombs، residential، and shelter).

The Urban-Village phenomenon represents a spectrum of settlements. Urbanism as a modern and complex society is located at one end of this spectrum، and the village spatial settings with traditional social structure is on the other end. Naturally، a transition process takes place between these two ends. The transition process has combination of urban and rural characteristics known as the “ Urban-Village” which encompass three different perspectives. Urban-Village is considered as a solution whenever the urban settlement attempts to escape unruly complexity and chaos، which perceives rural lifestyle as a basis to improve urban life. Moreover، it is seen as an encapsulation process، whenever the city experiences a sprawling growth. The urban growth may lead to encroachment of the villages، their surrounding areas، and farms. In addition، the Urban-Village has been seen as a “ transition process” whenever villages are going through a natural development and growth that would finally convert them into small towns. The mentioned “ transition process” occurs in large villages، and is supported by variety of deriving forces including development factors. Each urban-village comprises common characteristics of the urban setting and the village simultaneously. However، each transition process is configured in a different set of circumstances with different results. This study has attempted to review the related literature critically، followed by the examination of the historical background of Urban-Village approaches. Three approaches have been identified by this study: First، the urban-village confrontation، second، the urban-village bilateral tendency، third، the transition from village to urban settlement. The differentiating factors between these approaches، dimensions and indicators are among the aims of this study. The Urban-Village confrontation phenomena emerged when urbanization process accelerated. This phenomenon is well known in New Delhi، India and Shenzhen in China. Origins of the Urban-Village bilateral tendency concept have been drawn by sociologist Herbert Gans that was widely applied in Great Britain. This was stressed by the Prince of Wales، emphasizing Urban-Village development in order to achieve human scale of life in urban context. Currently، three aforementioned approaches are referred to alternately in the literature. The Urban-Village bilateral tendency approach considers urban-village as a solution to alleviate particular problems in urban areas. It attempts to evaluate، re-establish، and redesign popular places integral to urban life in the neighborhood. Proximity to the features and services for everyday life in neighborhoods، multiple and mix land use، sense of place and place attachment are among the characteristics of this approach. The urban-village confrontation approach strives to explain urban sprawls that led to envelop rural settlements into cities. Thus، it examines the challenges of existence for a village in the city. The villages have lost their rural landscape therefore they are neither similar to villages، nor have the urban characteristics. They configure unaccustomed urban-rural scape، different from normal villages and urban landscapes. They characterize a dichotomy between rural and urban planning. The transition from village to urban settlement is explained through the natural process of rural growth due to increasing population، immigration، and development demands. The displacement of villages in the spatial organization is the result of this transition process. While urbanization provides the driving force for Urban-village confrontation، the well-being and life quality considerations shape the driving force behind the mutual tendency approach. In the last approach، the driving force is provided through the natural trends of rural growth. The confrontation merely explicates circumstances that will lead to new challenges، but urban-village mutual tendency provides solutions for urban challenges. The third approach is an explanation of urban-village hierarchical evolution، which requires management and planning.

As one of Iran’ s architectural and engineering achievements، water mills have had a vital role in people’ s life. However، some constraints including drying or low water reserves of their Qanats، and economic deficiencies، have had a negative impact on their public acceptance. As a heritage representing the knowledge of ancestors، and a symbol for the proper use of environment، these constructions are a collection of different sciences and technologies (in the fields of architecture، structure، hydraulic engineering، mechanical engineering، and mining). Various types of water mills were used in Iran from old ages for grinding grains and producing milled powder. The process was especially important in producind flour and its use in baking bread، as the most important daily meal of the nation. Water mills were common where Qanats or rivers were accessible، and windmills were widespread in regions with strong airstream. Like most desert areas، Naein water mills are of Qanat and chimney types due to lack of rivers. Obviously، the depth of the Qanat would prohibit the perception of the water flow، but influence of its power can be seen in moving millstones. The process of bringing water power to the mechanical parts of the mill، and henceforth its exit from the structure is of utmost importance. Hence، there are two important points in architecture of water mills; first the provisio of water in the vortex، and second، the separation of dry and wet areas. Thus، water mills require dry spatial components، such as gate، relating canal، storage، and compartment، and wet components such as chimney، deploying area of vortex، and the incoming and outgoing water canals. Different structures and compositions of spaces are observed in Naein water mills. According to the field survey، it was found that there are only 12 surviving water mills in the proximity of Naein city، and the numerous other have been completely ruined. Therefore، analysis and documentation of the remaining number is of great value. What is considerable in documenting with these constructions is their remarkable diversity. Despite common principles and applications، the remaining mills have diverse areas، and there are little similarities between them. The positions of the main elements of water mills are also varied. Some of them are totally built underground، some are constructed on the ground، and some have midway positioning. The range of the diversities in a small region is of interest، and its reasons require further investigation. This study tries to identify the effective factors on these diversities، and presents a typology for these water mills. The results of the assessments showed that according to architectural criteria and locations، Naein water mills can be categorized into three different types، namely ground-level mills، manually carved underground and manually carved on clay walls. The type of above-ground mills are constructed on the terrain level، using Qanat water running between the plantations. The manually carved underground mills are constructed to have access to the Qanat، with its water moving in the duct under the ground towards its route and further along to the residential area (in the two water mills of Rigareh and Mehrijan). The third type includes horizontal cutout water mills. The mills of this type are built in places where the differences in ground level have created clay walls، and the mills are constructed horizontally under the ground near the terrain level. The study follows a descriptive method، based on documents and field observations. The technical drawings for the documentation of the water mills are produced for the first time in this paper. Through the documentation and typology of Naein water mills، this study hopes to take steps towards the registration of a significant heritage، and to facilities relevant studies in the future.