Transformation in the Concept of Dwelling: A Case Study of Morteza Gerd Informal Settlement

The concept of dwelling is complex and dynamic. Therefore, the existing theories and views on the concept of dwelling, which are often presented in the conditions and structures of formal settlements, do not have the necessary effectiveness in other settlements. Due to the mental and interactive nature of the concept of dwelling, its experience and perception in different residents can be different from the universal and conventional theoretical views in the field of dwelling. Therefore, considering the development of informal settlements and the importance of studying and recognizing them accurately, as a basis for any action in the environment of informal settlements, which are recognized with different characteristics, can be thought-provoking. The purpose of this study is to identify the perception and experience of residents of dwelling and how its meaning and conceptualization in the field of informal settlement and related concepts and by examining the case study of Mortezagerd informal settlement. This research falls into the category of interpretive paradigm and from the epistemological point of view, emphasizes the researcher's action and interaction with the research subject and at least an objective separateness from the research participants. In this research, manifest inductive qualitative content analysis has been used as a research method in order to interpret the textual data obtained from semi-structured in-depth interviews and field observations. The data were analyzed through a systematic process with the aim of classifying concepts up to four levels of abstraction. The selection of participants in this study was purposeful and in line with the development of concepts to achieve saturation. The findings of this study indicate that in informal settlements, the dynamic concept of dwelling and its defining components such as peace, tranquility and security in different stages of dwelling is interpreted differently and its transformation is observed. Once (phase and first stage of residence) through living within large families and a sense of collective belonging and another time (phase and second stage of residence), through intra-group competition and contradiction, promotion of capital and quality of life. In other words, this study, through the interpretation and analysis of the content of residents' perceptions, shows two different and metamorphic stages in the concept of dwelling: First, "meaningfulness of living within large families", and then, the rotation of the concept and "intra-group competition and contradiction" with the aim of promoting capital and occupying space. Also, the development of previous research in order to achieve the concept of dwelling in informal settlements with a focus on Morteza Gerd informal settlement is considered; Concepts that express how to achieve the components of housing in the general sense, such as peace, habitation, construction, nurturing, etc., but in different ways. The novelty of the present article is to show the difference in the meaning of dwelling in formal and informal settlements and to refine the mentioned concept and the defining components of each in different stages of informal settlement.