Typology of indigenous housing patterns and their construction techniques in the historic village of Algen

Algen is historic village in South Zagros, located in 63km north of Dehdasht in Charousa district, Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad Province. The existence of historical structures & socio-cultural relations that have been formed over time in the heart of the ancient fabric, and the sparse oak forests in the region, has transformed Algen into a unique biological complex that necessitates the identification of cultural assets and the preservation of its natural-historical structures. Establishment of the village beside the Algen Strait, which was the only historical way to access Lendeh & Behbahan, and the existence of water-resources and potential of agricultural plots, has led to the formation of intricate structures of historical fabric in a linear direction the northern hill. Collecting the oral history of the Village & focus on its Socio-Cultural assets, the Research emphasizes on Historical structures that shapes the general features of the village and tries to identify its indigenous housing patterns, construction techniques & their transformation process. The article seeks to recognize different aspects of Sustainability in vernacular dwellings and give accurate answers to the following questions: - Which factors have influenced on the formation of the linear historic core-zone of the settlement? - What is the typology and spatial structure of indigenous housing patterns in the village? - What is the connection between historical construction techniques and local materials? - Which parameters in the climatic design of the vernacular buildings of the village, have been considered by the local architects? Due to the lack of written studies on the history of settlements in the region, particularly Algen, the article by citing comprehensive field studies & documentation, use analytical-interpretive approach to identify the historic core zone of the village. According to the results, the linear structure of historic zone of the settlement (with a northwest-southeast direction) formed in accordance with the topographic lines of the geographical context on the northern hill, which had a good view to the Algen strait that facilitated the defense of the village against invaders. By analyzing the plans of historical residential units (30 Samples), three spatial patterns including nine-part (Tu) type, simple rooms’ type and multi Rooms with Porches (Mansion) type were identified. Although the construction techniques are consistent with local materials (carcass stone, oak trunks and gypsum mortar), but the use of local methods, their technological progress and attention to sustainability in Design process can be seen in the vernacular dwellings of the Historic Fabric.