Recognition of the socio-cultural sustainability criteria in the design of Iranian women architects (selected works of 2003-2023)

Socio-cultural sustainability is one of the main factors of sustainable development. Due to its importance in architecture to promote social development and cultural identity of the society, this research conducted with the purpose of achieving these objectives in the works of Iranian female architects due to their special attention to socio-cultural values and the decisive role of gender that has long played in the social and cultural identity of society. Studying the selected works of these architects with a sustainable approach can be an effective step in recognizing socio-cultural problems. Thus, the present paper scrutinizes eight selected works of Iranian female architects between 2004 and 2024 from the socio-cultural sustainability view. The research method of this paper is comparative-analytical, which after recognizing the criteria of socio-cultural sustainability; their characteristics are analyzed with the selected buildings by comparative method. The results show that these buildings are designed based on the criteria of socio-cultural sustainability with an emphasis on justice and social development, citizen participation, localism, relation with nature and harmony with the site. Studying the mentioned features in selected cases can be used as a strategy in architecture design to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.