Assessment of Influential Components in Vernacular Housing Architecture of Villages in the Gilan Plain

Recent advancements in construction and shifts in traditional housing practices in the villages of the Gilan Plain have resulted in a disconnect between the newly-constructed housing and its surrounding environmental, economic, physical, social, and cultural conditions. This study aims to identify and evaluate the key components affecting traditional rural housing in the Gilan Plain and compare these with those found in the literature review. The study employed a mixed-methods design, including descriptive-analytical approaches, a survey method, and a case study approach, to examine rural housing in the Gilan Plain. The components were distilled into items and evaluated through a questionnaire distributed to 100 architectural experts, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed. The components were then ranked using the Friedman test. To observe the functions of these components, 23 case studies of rural housing in the Gilan Plain were investigated. The findings showed that livelihood played a significant role in shaping the physical structure of rural homes in the Gilan Plain compared to other rural areas of Iran. Due to the region's favorable climate conditions, including an abundance of rain and vegetation, there has been a lack of emphasis on climate adaptation strategies and resource management compared to other regions of Iran. The abundant fields and vegetation also serve important cultural functions, such as providing privacy.