Investigating the Effect of Vernacular Architecture on Sustainable Rural Development (Case Study: Isfahan Southwest Area)

Rural living has been the most usual way of life all through history until the last two decades. Rural architecture, in its pure local sense, is among the sustainable features of rural areas that have undergone noticeable changes recently. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of vernacular architecture on sustainable rural development. This research is practical and descriptive-analytical based on the survey method. Data were collected using both library and field methods. Participants were from two groups of residents and experts. Thirty experts and 354 residents were surveyed based on the Cochran formula. Nine villages were selected using the cluster-spatial metod. Then, the household proportion questionnaires were distributed. The results indicate that in the sight of both local residents and experts with the frequency of 25.60% and 33.34% most important obstacle to vernacular architecture rural development is residents’ tendency toward modernity. The most crucial solution to this issue according to the local residents is the cultivation and use of local knowledge (with a frequency of 16.5%). However, experts consider creating desirable facilities in villages (with a frequency of 30%) as the most important factor. Regarding house architecture changes, the highest average for both groups (3.6 and 3.63) is related to the architecture change toward modernization. Results of the one-sample t-test revealed that, regarding environmental aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.27 and the experts’ average was 3.98. Regarding economic aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.50 and the experts’ average was 3.63; regarding social aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.70 and the experts’ average was 3.83. Thus, this research suggests that rural architecture strongly affects sustainable rural development. Regarding environmental aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.27 and the experts’ average was 3.98. With respect to economic aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.50 and the experts’ average was 3.63. Considering social aspects, the local inhabitants’ sample average was 3.70 and the experts’ average was 3.83. Therefore, considering that the results are above the average (3), it can be said that native architecture has a great impact on sustainable rural development from the point of view of both groups.