A Phenomenological Rethinking of Residential Quality: Critiquing Housing Quality Standards in Iran

In recent decades, the notion of housing quality in Iran’s policymaking and building regulations has been predominantly defined through a quantitative and technical paradigm. Within this reductionist framework, “housing” has been treated as a measurable physical product designed to meet minimum structural and functional requirements, while the human, cultural, and experiential dimensions of dwelling have been largely overlooked. This study aims to critically rethink the concept of residential quality and to propose a contextual and phenomenological framework for revising housing quality standards in Iran. The research is motivated by the widening gap between the measurable indicators used in formal assessment systems and the lived, perceptual reality of domestic spaces -a disconnection that has led to the erosion of place attachment, the weakening of social identity, and the diminishing of spatial meaning in contemporary residential environments.
Adopting a qualitative and interpretive research design, the study operates across three complementary layers: (1) theoretical and philosophical inquiry into the nature of architectural quality, (2) comparative analysis of international housing quality standards, and (3) empirical assessment of contemporary residential projects in Shiraz. The theoretical framework draws upon the phenomenological and hermeneutic insights of Gaston Bachelard, Christian Norberg-Schulz, Juhani Pallasmaa, and Peter Zumthor to identify three interrelated levels of architectural quality: the physical–functional, the sensory–perceptual, and the cultural–existential. These levels articulate the continuum from measurable physical performance to the existential and cultural meanings embedded in the lived experience of space.
The comparative study of international certification systems -including WELL, Fitwel, LEED, BREEAM, Estidama, and DGNB- demonstrates a global paradigm shift from mere technical compliance toward integrative models that address human health, social well-being, and cultural sustainability. In contrast, the analysis of Iran’s National Building Regulations and related housing codes reveals that current frameworks remain heavily focused on structural safety, energy efficiency, and environmental control, offering little space for perceptual or cultural dimensions of dwelling.
To bridge this gap, the paper introduces a three-tier framework for assessing housing quality in Iran. This framework builds on international best practices while emphasizing localization through alignment with Iran’s climatic, social, and cultural conditions. Field evaluation of three selected award-winning residential projects in Shiraz illustrates the practical applicability of the proposed framework. Findings reveal that projects integrating sensory richness, cultural resonance, and environmental responsiveness achieve higher levels of holistic quality and foster deeper emotional attachment among residents.
The study concludes that enhancing housing quality in Iran requires a paradigmatic transition from a purely standardized, regulation-driven system to a human-centered, quality-oriented approach. Such a shift calls for multi-level, adaptive standards that integrate stakeholder participation, policy coordination, and cyclical post-occupancy evaluation. Beyond offering an analytical model, this research contributes to the theoretical discourse on the phenomenology of dwelling and provides a foundation for the development of a national qualitative housing standard. Ultimately, it argues that the revitalization of meaning, identity, and sustainability within Iranian housing can only emerge through the reconciliation of measurable technical criteria with the lived, cultural, and existential realities of human habitation.