Documentation of Tabas reconstruction after the 1978 earthquake

Experiences, when are written and documented, can turn into knowledge and expand human sciences. Reconstruction after disasters, like other science branches, needs documentation of disasters and reconstruction efforts after them. In September 1978, an earthquake hit the city of Tabas in South Khorasan, Iran. Reconstruction phase was simultaneous to 1979 Iran revolution. Therefore, on the one hand, old regime was trying for relief mission and on the other hand, revolutionaries and clergymen were trying to help the survivors. Unfortunately, information about the process of the reconstruction had not been formally collected.
The research is an analytical documentation with the qualitative methodology. The main methods of data collection in this paper are direct observation, depth interviews with people who remember the reconstruction, and review of documents.
Findings: according to the findings of the research, it seems that syndication between reconstruction program and 1979 Iran revolution caused high people participation in reconstruction. Income independence of inhabitants and housing harmony to pre-disaster situation was also other reasons to its success. However, lack of attention to the pre-disaster urban fabric, lack of attention the region climate in urban design, and entrance of non-natives for using reconstruction facilities were mentioned as its defects.
Almost forty years after the reconstruction, observations and interviews shows durability of reconstructed settlements. High rate of people participation and paying attention to housing patterns before the earthquake are among the main reasons for durability of housing reconstruction.