Housing and Rural Environment
Year:2016 | Volume:35 | Issue:153|Papers Count:9

In lack of modern equipment and as a result of limited income in villages, conceiving energy efficient resolutions for rural housing is a top priority. In recent years, the only rural buildings that can receive state loans are those with urban design and construction methods. The resulting housing style and construction methods are the cause of energy deficiency and construction cost increase on one hand and in the loss of vernacular identity and rural landscape on the other.This article presents the results of research completed in the Housing Foundation of Islamic Revolution under the title of “Energy saving strategies in rural housing of Semnan Province”. Careful analysis of climatic strategies used in vernacular rural houses in Semnan province was done to uncover the conventional passive energy saving principals in rural setting. The results were accumulated through the information of 18 Semnan meteorology stations to recognize the climatic zones of this province. Field study data was gathered from 24 villages that were studied by The Housing Foundation.40 villages were selected by the research group to clarify the climatic zones. The results of this research show three main climatic/architectural zones due to topographic diversity between Alborz Mountain and desert plain with special architectural characteristics of each zone. Design strategies, materials and construction methods used in rural housing of each climatic zone provide human thermal comfort in addition to the controlling of the harmful climatic conditions. These strategies cause energy saving and sustainability of natural resources and the ecology of the villages. While introducing these strategies, this article will also present the passive principals of climatic rural housing in these three zones.

Iran’s location on the earthquake line creates constant issues that should be considered seriously in all areas, including the construction consideration and seismic retrofitting all over the country. Human casualties and financial losses of the last earthquakes in Iran show that the existing buildings are highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to exhaustion or lack of awareness and mismanagement of engineering knowledge or experts. An example of this may be found in the 4.7 Richter earthquake in Gilan province in 1369, in which 35, 000 people were killed, 60, 000 were wounded and 200, 000 houses were destroyed.The research in the seismic resistance of buildings against earthquakes might start with the study of the vernacular architecture of the different regions in the country and methods which are used to increase resistance. Therefore, the wooden houses of Imamzadeh Ibrahim’s village can be a good model to study for the construction of multi-storey earthquake resistant wood buildings.Imamzadeh Ibrahim is a village in the city of Shaft in Gilan province. Imamzadeh Ibrahim’s shrine is one of the historical and pilgrim destinations in the village and it is the main reason for the initial establishment of this settlement. Annually, about a million travelers visit this region. 75% of the visitors chose the summer to travel to this destination.The houses in this village have several floors that are built of wood and have a good resistance against earthquakes. The buildings in this village are multi-storey, with the highest being five floors, which are connected to each other by a belt passageway through wooden stairs. Each floor includes some rooms which are separated by curtains.First, the village and its unique regional architecture are introduced. Subsequently, the architecture is evaluated in terms of function, articulation or separation of spaces, transparency, and order within the examples from the village. In this research, the construction methods of the houses were investigated. Seismic resistance a random example was examined based on architectural and structural configuration and the harmony between the two. In this example, the magnitude of the gravity force on the key column, which was made of Beech surrounded by walls of Zegali, was calculated. The results of these calculations show that wooden columns in a 4-storey building in the Imamzadeh Ibrahim’s village, with a profile area of 15 by 15 centimeters, and made of beech wood can endure a force of 35 kilograms per square centimeter for the resistance of the structure against wind loads and etc., in addition to their ability to withstand the tensions.Indeed, the main cause for the unexpected seismic resistance of the buildings can be summarized in two reasons: 1. using light materials and eventually low weight houses, 2. the symmetry of the columns and the use of braces between the columns. In the end, the results showed that we are witnessing an architectural columns plan due to the particularities of the columns in the houses and the harmony between them, which results in the structural stability of the building. Also, it establishes the architectural and functional relationships and could increase the resistance of the buildings against earthquakes. Hence, Imamzadeh Ibrahim’s houses can be introduced as a native model for the construction of multi-storey earthquake resistant buildings.

Wind catchers in Yazd's traditional houses are the means to obtain optimal indoor climate against the heat in central plateau of Iran. It plays an effective role in modifying the temperature in the interior living spaces with regards to human thermal comfort. Wind-catchers are canals with the height of 3 meters mounted vertically on top of the roofs, resembling a chimney vent. The outlet openings in the upper end plays an effective role in modifying the heat and adjusting and regulating the temperature of the living space as appropriate for residents' comfort through convective wind flow using pure natural energy of nature. Relationship of the wind-catcher with the chamber and central yard has significant effect in its function. A chamber or a summer living quarter is directly and closely connected with a wind catcher. But in some instances this link is provided through the medium of an alternative space. In this research, a study of 24 houses in Yazd was conducted with an emphasis on the location and design of the wind-catchers. These houses were selected among Yazd' s houses that have central yard and confirmed historical value.The data was collected through fieldwork. The data was subsequently analyzed through logical Inference and classification in excel software. In this research the classification system was based on 3 factors: 1. orientation of wind catchers; 2. their position in the house and the connection with the summer living quarters; 3. Design of the wind-catcher for optimum reception of the dominant winds. The canal of a wind catcher is usually divided into smaller sections by means of splitting blades. These blades rise 1.5-2 meters above the ground floor of the building and continue all the way up to the wind catchers' roof. The wind catchers' plan and the design of the splitting blades are different in each instance and seem to be in concordance with the general plan of the house and with the all the considerations needed for better performance. Moreover, the wind catchers sometimes have an added evaporative cooling function with a water pool positioned at the bottom.This study was initiated with a hypothesis that in all Yazd houses with wind-catchers, there is a water pool positioned underneath. A second hypothesis suggested that the area of the wind-catchers is related to the total area of the chamber to which it connects. A third hypothesis proposed that all wind-catchers face the dominant wind and that they have a Northeast-Southwest main orientation axis. All the hypotheses were rejected through this study. The relation between the chamber’s area and the relevant wind-catcher’s area were calculated with the correlation coefficient in excel software.

Nowadays the architecture of Iran is disordered and disorganized. The attempt to eliminate and prevent the existing crisis and disorder in this era is one of the most important concerns for the contemporary architects. One of the main reasons to this problem is the lack of right and suitable patterns in today’s architecture. A pattern for spatial syntax of architecture is the result of successive years of experience by architects with the hope of improving and optimizing primary plans. One can assume that this is the result of changes in form and body of architecture which could transform it into a stable pattern and geometry through time and trial.The study of the ancient architecture in Iran indicates that one of the important and permanent patterns is the Cross vault or Crucifix pattern which has changed considerably through time and has developed into a time-honored pattern. The pattern is a square or a rectangle building with internal divisions that result in a cross-like plan in the middle and has several intersecting arches or vaults. In the eighth century the cross pattern was developed. The best examples of houses with cross patterns are found in the central cities of Iran. The pattern is one of the dominant configurations in Iranian architecture, especially in desert areas in Yazd which have changed dramatically through history. These patterns are the results of the historical mind. As one of the permanent patterns in Iranian architecture it carries different practical, functional, climate and environmental considerations. The study of cross pattern in the traditional houses in Yazd shows that this pattern is one of the important patterns in traditional houses of Yazd, especially in the summer's living quarters. Therefore, an enquiry into the qualities of this pattern which has made it permanent in the history of architecture seems relevant. This article discusses the climate qualities of this pattern by choosing statistical samples from these houses and checking the thermal behavior in these spaces in the summer's living quarters to determine the effects of this special pattern on the cooling load in these spaces. By analyzing these spaces the research reveals the fact that the cross patterns performs better than the rectangle pattern in several aspects including indoor climate adjustment and functional requirements of the summer quarters.

Tending to the main human needs is of the topmost objective and strategy of rural developments.Housing, as one of these needs, would reveal the changes and transformations due to different strategies of development. These transformations may show social-cultural situations, religious beliefs, income amount or the general level of development in the society, or they may act as major factor in stability or instability of rural settlements, and at last, they may gain primacy in the process of rural development. For this reason, regarding deep relationship between housing and the process of development in rural settlements, the study of structural and functional transformations of these residences is of major importance.After the earthquake of the region known as Zirkooh in Ghayenat County in 1997, residences and traditional fabric of many of rural settlements, including Shaskooh rural district were damaged seriously or destroyed. Then, local residents and related organizations took charge of the restoration process.The results of the research on which this paper is based on were gathered through the study of corporeal changes and functional alterations of rural housing in the mentioned region.For this purpose, an applied research has designed to address the issue with a quantitative approach using descriptive-analytic methods and deep observation. The study has relied on both document analysis and field observations. The numbers of samples was determined by Cochran formula, based on which 294 families were chosen. Analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software and Paired-samples T Test of relevant samples.General results show that with respect to physical-corporeal indicators of rural housing no meaningful change has been diecerned. Some samples show a decrease in the physical dimensions of rural residences. From a functional point of view, the common pattern like before is comprised of living quarters, service areas and space provided for domestic livelihood functions. The study confirms the fact the highest percentage is allocated to living quarters both before and after the earthquake.

Housing is the main part of the rural structure, which has an important role in the formation of the structural and architectural identity of villages. The rural house not only satisfies basic human needs but also means of livelihood and thus possess a complex form due to their multiple functions and embedded activities. Traditionally, common formal aspects of rural housing were less affected by those of the city. In rural areas, housing, either as an individual dwelling or as a collective fabric reveals specific formational directions. Regarding the available materials and local economy, the formation of rural housing and its internal configuration, multiple functionalities have been considered. In rural housing, each element has formed based on several need, and as a consequence of human thoughts, in relation to cultural, social, economic, natural, historical, etc. factors, it has always been evolving. However, the architecture of the new rural housing, which have been built mostly using loans from ‘Rural Housing Rehabilitation Program’ (RHRP), are very different from indigenous patterns, and more than being rural, are conforming to urban formal compositions. This shift has drastically affected the linkage between elements in the rural housing causing difficulty in adaptability with rural needs altering rural configurations. The issue becomes more visible as the trend goes on as a widely accepted change of taste of construction. The goal of RHRP loan beyond improving structural resistance, was to improve the quality of housing and rural structure, safety, sanitary and welfare level in villages. However, researches show that RHRP even though has led to higher resistance of rural housing but also has undermined rural configuration and its social, economic and cultural grounds. Through an analytical and descriptive approach together with surveys, theoretical literature review of rural housing, this study attempts to analyze the effects of RHRP loan system on the structure and configuration of the Nodeh village of Bojnord. The results of this research show that RHRP opportunities has also brought about certain threats including damaging domestic culture and manners, farming fields and shrinking of the responsive dwelling spaces due to tendency toward urban norms and appearances.

Landslides as one of the most prominent natural hazards are the output of local geomorphology, geologic and hydrologic conditions. In other words, changes in these processes by geodynamic factors, vegetation life, land uses, human activities, the precipitation intensity and fluctuations and earthquakes are the grassroots of landslides. The aim of this research is the evaluation of sensitivity of lands for landslide occurrence in Ilgineh-Chai basin with the application of GIS and fuzzy operators. This basin is one of the sub basins of Aras-Chai with an area of about 40683 ha that is located in 38o 58’ northern latitude and 46o 36’ eastern longitude. The criteria used for the analysis of landslide sensitivity in this basin include five parameters of gradient, aspect; lithology, fault, and land use all of which being extracted from SPOT satellite images and field works. We used fuzzy logic and GIS techniques for the initial analysis of existing variables and the distribution of landslides. The classification of variables was done through tracking the changing trends of curved histograms, present classifications and then variables’ weight was determined according to the percentage of landslide probability whereby the weight of each class was denoted between zero and one. Afterwards, the created maps under GIS were synthetized and classified in the bulk of fuzzy operators. The comparison of obtained results from landslide modeling in the area under study indicates that the gamma 0.8 has the highest capability for the zoning. Finally, the accuracy of maps was assessed by qualified sum index (QS). The final zoning map of landslide potentials was drawn by 0.8 gamma fuzzy operator as the optimum operating system in the determination of landslide risk in the area. The map was classified in five categorical zones from very low to the very extensive.

Sound development is only possible when equal opportunities are provided for all the communities within the developing territory. Small communities of dispersed rural settlements are no exceptions to this rule. However, human development indices in scattered small villages usually are usually very low. Therfore, in order to allocate proper funding and development resolutions, the study of economic and social situation in these settlements is of utmost importance. In this paper, thedistrict of Shusf in Nehbandan county, near the eastern borders of Iran with Afghanistan, has been studied. Shusf is comprised of small distant settlements with unfavorable social and economic conditions. The aims of this study were to reveal the social, economic obstacles to the Settlement Integration Program from the point of view of the inhabitants in these rural areas. The method chosen for this applied research is descriptive and analytical in consecutive steps. The study population consisted of 117 households, and sample size of 80 households. The one-sample t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze statistical data and to determine the significant levels among the variables. Results showed that the social-cultural factors within these settlements have a 1.901 score and economic factors have a 1.2 score. The mean point of infrastructural conditions in these settlements obtained 1.59 which indicates a serious weakness. Therefore it can be concluded that the social - cultural conditions of these small scattered settlements are unfavourable. Thus, some of the obstacles facing the Settlement Integration Program are the risk of losing the scarce yet existing livelihood choices and economic capacities of present setting, plus their general unwillingness to abandon their present familiar locale.

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the obstacles to the participation of the rural community in rural master plans for the development of Hamedan County.The statistical sample of the study was selected among the rural population in Hamedan County.120 individuals were selected randomly according to Cochran formula. The data was collected through participants response to questionnaires, the validity of which was tested and confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was checked by cronbach's alpha coefficient (a=0.85).According to factor analysis results, obstacles to the participation of the rural community in such plans could be catagorized under four titles:- Disregard for people’s competence- Lack of awareness, motivation and competence- Poor performance of executive organizations- General dissatisfaction of the Public with the plansAmong these factors, “Disregarding people capabilities” was determined as the most influencing factor. Overall, these four factors could explain 42.3% of the variances of obstacles to community participation. Based on the results, some solutions were recommended for the omprovement of the community participation in rural master plans.