Influencing Factors on Residential Architecture and Lifestyle in Century-old Iran (Case Study: Transformation of Housing Models in the Historical City of Lar)

In modern life, the house is the place to feel secure and comfortable; however, the degree to which comfort and security are provided varies for different types of houses. The first-hand experience of Iranian traditional houses and the memories of older generations who lived in those houses explain why so many architects study these houses to look for components of quality in their designs. In the first part of this article, the authors investigate the factors that changed traditional residential architecture throughout the last century in Iran. Next, the modern architectural and planning principles which shaped the modern part of the city, also known as “the town with no alleys,” after the earthquake of 1961 are studied. The research method includes both library and field studies carried out to collect examples of housing typology in the city of Lar. The results of the study show that housing design was significantly affected by political, social, cultural, and economic transformations during the 20th century in Iran. Although they were mainly domestic, global causes also affected the Iranian lifestyle and led to the emergence of new housing models in the last century.  Governmental interventions in urban renewal and mass housing projects have been the most influential factor of the changing urban form. As shown in the typology of houses of the past hundred years in Lar, the creativity and living experiences of previous residents and the genius of architects regarding seismic design are completely ignored in recent models.