Explaining the Role of Tourism in the Architectural Design of Second Homes in the Lowland Villages of Mazandaran: A Case Study of the Villages in the Central District of Nur County

Abstract

This study aimed to explain the role of tourism in the architectural design of rural second homes and determine the effects of economic, socio-cultural, physical-spatial, and environmental dimensions in the Central District of Nur County. This applied study employed a descriptive-analytical, field-based mixed-methods design. Data were collected through documentary and library research, field observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The qualitative sample consisted of 20 participants selected until theoretical saturation was achieved, and the in-depth interview data were analyzed through thematic analysis using MAXQDA. The quantitative sample comprised 400 stakeholders selected using Cochran’s formula and classified into three groups: 133 architectural designers, 133 clients or employers, and 134 second-home users. Quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS using one-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Friedman tests. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive, very strong, and statistically significant relationship between tourism and second-home architectural design from the perspectives of designers, clients, and users (r=0.944, r=0.944, and r=0.942, respectively; p<0.001). The physical-spatial dimension demonstrated the strongest association with tourism across the three stakeholder groups (r=0.788–0.790), followed by the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic dimensions; all correlations were statistically significant (p<0.001). The one-sample t-tests also confirmed statistically significant effects for the socio-cultural, physical-spatial, and environmental criteria in all stakeholder groups. The Friedman tests indicated significant differences in the rankings of the tourism-related criteria and indicators (p<0.001). The economic criterion ranked first, followed by the physical-spatial, environmental, and socio-cultural criteria, respectively. Tourism plays a decisive and multidimensional role in shaping the architectural design of rural second homes. Nevertheless, the dominance of economic and physical considerations and the lower priority assigned to socio-cultural factors demonstrate the need for a balanced, context-sensitive, and sustainable design framework that simultaneously supports economic benefits, spatial quality, environmental protection, and the cultural identity of local communities.