Regenerating the Sense of Place: A Dynamic Three-Layer Model for Contemporary Housing Reconstruction through a Re-reading of Qajar Houses in Kermanshah

Abstract

This study aims to develop a dynamic conceptual model for regenerating the sense of place in contemporary housing through an integrated reading of the physical, semantic, and experiential dimensions of Qajar houses in Kermanshah. Adopting a qualitative interpretive-phenomenological approach, the study employed a multiple case-study strategy. Six representative Qajar-era houses in the historic fabric of Kermanshah were purposefully selected. Data were collected through systematic field observation and architectural documentation, analysis of historical records, and semi-structured interviews with 25 participants, including 15 experts and 10 current or former residents. Data analysis was conducted using a three-stage interpretive thematic analysis comprising open coding, theme organization, and final synthesis. The analysis resulted in the formulation of a “dynamic three-layer model of form, meaning, and experience,” demonstrating that the sense of place emerges from a cyclical and non-linear interaction between spatial structure, cultural signification, and multisensory lived experience. The findings indicate that place identity can be effectively sustained only when cultural continuity, climatic responsiveness, and perceptual human-centeredness are simultaneously addressed, rather than through form-based imitation. The study concludes that regenerating identity in contemporary housing requires reactivating the meaning-making processes embedded in traditional architecture rather than replicating its formal elements, and that the proposed model offers a viable conceptual-operational framework for enhancing belonging and spatial quality in present-day residential design.