Typology of kapar architecture, in Southern Half of Baluchestan, Iran

"Kapar" is a specific indigenous type of wooden architecture which is transformable due to its lightness and elements' design. Baluchistan is one of the regions in Iran where kapar has been common. Unfortunately they are being replaced by masonary buildings in the area. In addition to Baluch nomadic's domicile, kapars have been built in sedentary villages, with agricultural economics, as extension to masonary houses. The documentation of kapar architecture in this area can help protecting them and also achieving new design methods. The aim of this research is, reaching a better recognition of kapar architecture of the area. This aim can be approached differently. One of the important approaches is through kapar's Somatic Structure, through which different existential and functional causes of kapar architecture can be found. The research method is descriptive – analytical and comparative. At first necessary information has been gathered from different documentations. Then nomadic life of the area's inhabitants and different cases of kapar architecture has been observed and documented, during the researcher's expedition to different regions in the area. The collected date has been compared to each other afterward. As the result, four formal types of kapars has been identified based on their forms, in four different geographical and cultural areas, Saravan, Sarbaz, NikShahr and Chabahar. The stability system of kapars is based on their crescent shaped form and so is identical in 3 areas of Saravan, Sarbaz and Nikshahr. Their difference is because of their different plans, forms and coverages. The kapars in Chabahar area are different in structure, stability system and form from 3 the other areas.