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Volume 10, Issue 1 (Semi-Annual 2025)                   CIAUJ 2025, 10(1): 93-114 | Back to browse issues page

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Ghafourifard Z, Mokhtari M, Khobiri M M, Jalilian S M. Social Analysis of the Acceptance of Earth Blocks as Building Materials for the Revival of Cultural Identity in Iran. CIAUJ 2025; 10 (1) :93-114
URL: http://ciauj-tabriziau.ir/article-1-604-en.html
Social Analysis of the Acceptance of Earth Blocks as Building Materials for the Revival of Cultural Identity in Iran
Zohreh Ghafourifard1 , Maryam Mokhtari *2 , Mohammad Mehdi Khobiri1 , Seyyed Mehrdad Jalilian3
1- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
2- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran , mokhtari@yazd.ac.ir
3- Department of Polymer and Petrochemical Research Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (699 Views)
In recent decades, cultural considerations have gained significant attention in architectural and urban planning projects. Since the use of earth in construction has historically been prevalent in Iran and deeply intertwined with its culture, a return to earth architecture can revive the ancient heritage of this country and prevent its disappearance for future generations. Soil architecture is one of the well-known construction techniques in architecture with a rich history spanning thousands of years, as soil is one of the most abundant resources on Earth and has been used as a construction material for more than thousands of years. The use of earthen materials in today's modern world depends on their acceptance by society. This research aims to examine the social acceptance of traditional earthen materials in today's world. A questionnaire was designed with questions in three sections: cultural, technical and executive, and personal preferences. After validation by experts, the questionnaire was completed by 55 individuals, including civil engineers, urban planners, architects, and university professors from South Khorasan, Yazd, and Kerman. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using SPSS software, and the responses were analyzed with the same tool. Results show that earth blocks have the highest acceptance in the cultural domain and the lowest in the technical-executive domain. The binomial test found earth blocks to be acceptable in cultural, technical-executive, personal, and social aspects. The correlation test revealed that cultural acceptance and personal preferences for earth blocks are related to gender and education level, whereas technical and executive acceptance is not linked to demographic characteristics. This study highlights that social acceptance of earth blocks in Iran is strongly influenced by cultural factors and public perceptions. Greater efforts are needed to enhance public understanding and technical skills in this area.
Keywords: Revival of Ancient Culture, Social Acceptance, Architectural Culture, Environmentally friendly materials, Earthen Materials
Full-Text [PDF 1157 kb]   (32 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: the comparative studies of Architecture and Urbanism in the realm of Cultural Iran
Received: 2025/01/7 | Accepted: 2025/05/18 | ePublished: 2025/06/30
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