Developing Design Approaches for Traditional Urban Guesthouses Based on the Analysis of Physical Characteristics of Historic Houses in Rasht

Problem statement:

 Eco-tourism resorts as basic infrastructures play a key role in achieving eco-tourism goals. Considering the potential of the city of Rasht, having strategies for designing eco-tourism resorts in this city seems essential. This expresses the importance of reviewing the architectural patterns of historic houses in Rasht as a reliable source for recognizing the ancient architectural patterns of the region to obtain design guidelines for eco-tourism resorts.

This study aims to examine the physical characteristics of historic houses in Rasht and to achieve architectural solutions for the design of eco-tourism resorts.

This is a case study applied research employing a descriptive-analytical method. Moreover, this study is qualitative in nature, and the data collection was performed through comparison and interpretation. Fifteen samples of houses from the Qajar and Pahlavi eras were purposefully selected and surveyed through non-random sampling. Research data sources are based on library studies and field observations.

By examining the physical space of selected houses and analyzing factors such as mass and space, organizing the plan, semi-open space, facade, and vertical circulations and decorations, guidelines for designing and developing eco-tourism resorts in Rasht were obtained as follows: 1) Entrance directly or through the vestibule or covered passage; 2) Maximum occupancy level of 60%; 3) One or two-story buildings; 4) The building is surrounded by a courtyard on one, two and three sides and adjacent to the main passages the location of the building in accordance with the shape of the ground; 5) One to one and a half and one-to-three ratios in the plan; 6) The use of semi-open space; 7) The use of multiple windows and the decorations of the façade with brickwork, cement work, and lime work; 8) Interior decoration of parget, mirror work, mural, and porcelain; 9) Wooden doors and windows; 10) Hip roof.