Research Information System
Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
This study investigates the interrelationship between flexibility and sustainability in affordable housing through the lens of vernacular architecture in the humid-temperate region of northern Iran. Using secondary data synthesized from previously published field surveys and case documentation, five representative case clusters across Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces were analyzed to explore how spatial organization, construction logic and climatic adaptation can inform contemporary low-cost housing design. Four key performance criteria; spatial flexibility, cost-effectiveness, thermal efficiency and humidity resistance, were evaluated within a mixed-data multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework using the Weighted Sum Model (WSM). Because the original studies varied in scope and sample size, cluster data were aggregated through consistent selection rules to ensure typological comparability. Empirical indoor-climate data from the Rig Cheshmeh case served as the empirical anchor for the thermal-efficiency criterion, while comparative scores for the remaining cases were derived through architectural indicators and normalized accordingly. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness and reliability of the weighting structure and final rankings. Results indicate that vernacular typologies integrating modular layouts, passive ventilation, elevated plinths and renewable local materials achieve superior adaptability and climate resilience compared to standard affordable-housing models. Beyond studying building types, this research introduces a practical, performance-based framework that combines traditional design knowledge with modern construction methods to guide sustainable, culturally relevant and affordable housing in humid-temperate regions.