Reinterpreting the Potential of Kapar Morphological Types in Iran for Urban Tourism Development

Articles in Press

Document Type : Science - Research

Authors

1 PHD student, Department of Architecture, Tourism, Architecture and Urban Planning Research Center, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Tourism, Architecture and Urban Planning Research Center, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of cultural Sociology, Department of Management, Isf.C., Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.30473/grup.2026.72488.2884

Abstract

With the rapid growth of urban tourism and the increasing demand for spaces that integrate cultural identity with indigenous potentials, Iran’s vernacular architecture, particularly Kapar structures, offers significant opportunities in this field. Kapars are traditional lightweight constructions rooted in early human settlements and are still used by various ethnic groups in Iran as nomadic and rural dwellings.
This research aims to identify and analyze the formal typologies of Kapar architecture across different regions of Iran and to examine the potential of these structures for reinterpretation in urban tourism development. The study follows a qualitative, exploratory–analytical approach based on documentary sources and field observations conducted in multiple regions of the country. The importance of this research lies in highlighting the capacity of Kapar forms to be revitalized within contemporary urban tourism frameworks. The findings reveal that Kapar architecture in Iran demonstrates considerable formal diversity, shaped by ecological context, climate, ethnicity, and livelihood patterns, resulting in domed, cubic, semi-elliptical, and semi-cylindrical forms. These results indicate that typological analysis of Kapar forms not only explains their physical and cultural logic but also enables their conscious reinterpretation as references for designing vernacular-oriented and experience-based urban tourism spaces.

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Main Subjects

Journal of Urban Ecology Researches

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 August 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 October 2024
  • Revise Date: 12 April 2026
  • Accept Date: 16 April 2026

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