Sustainable Development in Earthen Urbanism and Architecture  in Iran Hot and Arid Zone Case study : Yazd

Elham Lashkari

Although urbanism and architecture has been replaced with new cities and buildings using modern materials, native urbanism and architecture in hot and arid zone of Iran consists of worthy features called " Sustainable concepts ".
It seems that the concept of sustainable development is compatible enough with the purposes and objectives of new urban theories and as a result, the analysis of earthen urbanism and architecture ( native in Iran hot and arid zone ) can be considered as effective and useful strategies to implement objectives of sustainability.
Iran earthen cities has reflected the best kind of sustainability in the past. Considering environmental and ecological conditions such as water, soil and vegetation, development compatible with natural features, placement of buildings and passages, economizing in the use of fossil fuels, using traditional and native materials ( earthen materials ), inventing and using effective and suitable ways for water distribution such as Qanat, Abe anbar and etc has been essential reasons for sustainability of earthen cities
In this article, in addition to investigating the concept of sustainability, some of the characteristics of sustainability in earthen urbanism and architecture and the ways to appreciate this concept have been introduced

Keywords
 Earthen urbanism and architecture, Iran hot and arid zone, Sustainable development, Sustainable city