The Study of the Effect of House Structure on Iranian-Islamic Lifestyle over Time (Case Study: Kashan, Isfahan province, Iran)

The relationship between an individual and housing has constantly been mutual; however, the impact of housing on the lifestyle of its inhabitants has not been sufficiently studied so far. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of home on the farness or proximity of inhabitants from the dimensions of Iranian-Islamic life. The information of religious and national sources was initially studied in order to have the various characteristics of Iranian-Islamic life, and after they were summarized, they were placed in the formats defined by Amos Rapaport, Alfred Adler and Edward Hall.  The research method is qualitative. Accordingly, samples were selected from three residential types of apartments, middle courtyard house and traditional houses. In addition to observing and taking the map, semi-structured interviews were conducted with households. The number of samples in each category continued as much as the information reached a saturation level. The total number of cases was 12. Each household experienced living in at least one other house structure in the past, and the diversity of existing homes also provided the possibility of comparing different locative contexts.   The output in the form of Rapoport environment-behavior model diagrams indicated that apartments have caused their inhabitants to be away from the principles of entertaining guests, collective activities, such as games and collective amusement, as well as the type of interactions.  Courtyard houses in a medieval period and apartments have not properly defined privacy for individual works. Residential environments have not had a significant effect on the way of relationship with neighbors and the women's position. In current habitations, conditions for health affairs and access to service space have improved. The spatial relations of apartments in the first place and middle houses in the second place have the most difference with the Iranian-Islamic lifestyle.