An analysis of the vulnerability of rural dwellings (Case study: rural dwelling in Baft city)

Our country, Iran, as one of the areas in the world most prone to earthquakes, needs careful attention to housing construction and its technical requirements of safety. Meanwhile, considering rural dwellings in terms of the use of durable or non-durable materials is of paramount importance.
Accordingly, this research investigates and analyzes the rural dwelling in the county of Baft.
The purpose of this research is to identify the type of rural dwellings in the county with regard to the facilities and environmental potentials and the way the natural materials available in the region are used in the construction of rural housing, by which attempt to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the resistance of rural dwellings to natural disasters, especially earthquakes. The research method is "descriptive, analytical and surveying" which has been carried out by studying a number of villages in the county and using secondary and documentary studies. The research findings show that in most of the villages of the county, indigenous materials, especially clay and mud, have been used regardless of technical points in the construction of housing, which makes the vulnerability of rural settlements more threatened by earthquake hazards.