Assessment the Physical Components of Suburban Housing in Accordance with the Lifestyle of Immigrants

Subject Areas : architecture

farzaneh khoshsima ¹ , Vahid Ahmadi ² , hero farkisch ³ , Toktam Hanaee ⁴

1 - PhD student, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
2 - Assisstant Professor, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Department of Urbanism, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

Received: 2023-11-04 Accepted : 2024-03-05 Published : 2025-03-17

Keywords: Lifestyle, migration, marginalization, architectural body, identity components,

Abstract :

The concept of housing has historically been a means of meeting various human needs influenced by social, cultural, and economic changes. Consequently, the physical architecture of housing reflects the social and cultural elements that shape residents' lifestyles, rather than their individual preferences or construction standards. This is particularly crucial in suburban areas, where the response of housing to the lifestyles of immigrants carries double significance due to their diverse ethnicities, values, and lifestyles. The unique demands of immigrants necessitate tailored responses in housing. Unfortunately, the growing emphasis on expedited construction by developers, without consideration for the identity of immigrant communities, has led to a decline in housing quality and neglect of their needs. Therefore, addressing the lifestyle of immigrants through housing requires a thorough understanding of their identity, highlighting the need for careful investigation. This study aimed to address two key subject regarding the relationship between physical housing and the lifestyle of immigrants: first, understanding the factors influencing the Components of suburban areas and the lifestyle of immigrants, and second, relation between components. The study utilized an analytical-descriptive approach, beginning with extensive library research to gather and analyze a wide range of relevant literature. The study extracted and categorized the components of physical housing in suburban areas and the lifestyle of immigrants. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with 11 architectural and sociology specialists, and the data were analyzed using MAXQDA software to define the relationship between housing components and lifestyle. The findings indicate that family structure and occupation in the social realm, as well as ethnicity and beliefs in the cultural realm, are key dimensions influencing immigrants' housing preferences. Immigrants' social and cultural identities lead to varying housing demands, influenced by their level of integration into the host society. Social analysts suggest that housing patterns reflect immigrants' social identity, with family structure and occupation being shaped by the host society, impacting housing spatial organization and type on the city outskirts. The immigrant jobs in the city outskirts include both domestic and non-domestic roles. For domestic jobs, immigrants require separate spaces within their homes to work (spatial organization8). Conversely, non-domestic jobs often require space for work tools upon entry, aiming to create a feeling of home. Hence, the presence of a yard and the housing pattern become crucial (type and pattern of housing6). Considering the expansive family life of immigrants, the family structure prioritizes shared living with relative independence and privacy (spatial organization7 and type of housing7). Furthermore, immigrants' cultural identity influences spatial organization. In general, the spatial arrangement of their housing is influenced by the ethnicity and beliefs of the immigrants, which is inherent. Additionally, immigrants tend to select housing close to others of the same ethnicity. However, if this group disregards their concealed identity and only considers the customary identity, they may choose housing in any part of the city under societal influence. Hence, it can be inferred that within the perspectives of social and cultural theorists, a shared element known as "compliance" plays a significant role in shaping housing.