Reassessing Contextualism in Contemporary Iranian Architecture with Emphasis on Plan Flexibility in Urban Apartment Design (Case Study: Tehran)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hassan Reyhani Hamedani ¹

Khalil Soroush ¹

Mahdi Beyraghshamshir ²

¹ Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran

² PhD student in Architecture, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/context.2025.95774.1030

Abstract

The rapid population growth and high urban density in Tehran have led to a decline in spatial quality and the weakening of local identity in contemporary architecture. Meanwhile, social changes, the diversity of family structures, and the need for multifunctional spaces have highlighted the necessity of rethinking approaches to urban housing design. The aim of this research is not merely to examine contextualism and flexibility as separate approaches, but rather to explore their synergistic relationship within the architectural design of urban housing in Iran. It seeks to demonstrate that integrating the principles of contextual design with the capacities of spatial flexibility can lead to a sustainable and identity-based model for apartment design in urban environments.

This study adopts a qualitative research method and a design-based approach. First, theoretical foundations related to both concepts were collected through a comprehensive literature review. Then, a proposed residential apartment design—developed by the researcher—was selected and analyzed as a case study. The evaluation criteria included climatic adaptability, physical coherence, spatial reconfigurability, and cultural continuity.

The findings indicate that employing design patterns such as a regular modular grid, a fixed service core, movable partitions, and semi-open terraces enhances spatial flexibility while maintaining strong connections with the urban fabric and local materials. The integration of contextual principles with flexible design strategies not only improves functional sustainability and livability but also provides a framework for preserving and regenerating local identity within the contemporary context. Accordingly, flexibility can be regarded as the practical manifestation of contextualism—a design approach that balances stability and change, offering a sustainable paradigm for urban housing design in Tehran and similar metropolitan contexts.

Keywords

Contextual Architecture

Flexible Housing

Urban Architectural Identity

Contemporary Iranian Architecture

Affordable Housing

Spatial Organization of Housing

Subjects

• Contemporary Theories in Architecture and Urbanism

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The author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).