Habitation in the Historical District of Kerman between Continuity and Change

ABSTRACT
This article examines the condition of habitation in the historical district of Kerman, focusing on the relationship between “continuity” and “change” through the conceptual framework of “residential strategies.” The study aims to explain how patterns of habitation are formed and reproduced in this area within the context of broader urban transformations. Therefore, the study addresses two key questions: How does the historical district of Kerman position itself between continuity and change? And how do residents, through their residential strategies, contribute to the reproduction of continuity or the production of change in this context? The research adopts a qualitative approach, gathering data through semi-structured interviews, field observations, photography, and note-taking. The findings demonstrate that continuity and change in historical urban fabrics are not necessarily in opposition; rather, they occur simultaneously and in dynamic interaction. The results further indicate that households’ residential choices are shaped by a combination of preferences, attachments, constraints, and resources - both financial and non-financial. Accordingly, habitation in Kerman’s historical district encompasses a spectrum ranging from conscious, voluntary choice to constrained or necessity-driven settlement. Within this spectrum, certain residential strategies contribute to sustaining the residential function, reproducing social relations, and preserving neighborhood identity, while others lead to demographic, physical, and functional transformations. Drawing on the case of Kerman, the study argues that habitation extends beyond merely having a dwelling; rather, residential choice constitutes a simultaneous decision regarding both the living environment and the type of housing.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Since the mid-twentieth century, numerous cities around the world have experienced a decline in their historic urban centers following the expansion of new urban areas and the relocation of populations to these newly developed zones. However, from the 1970s onward, a reverse trend began to emerge; Many historic centers, after a period of decline, regained their value, underwent processes of revitalization, and attracted new populations. These processes of decline and revitalization are not limited to developed countries; they are also evident in developing contexts. In Iran, over the past half century, the historic cores of various cities have undergone deterioration and have lost a significant portion of their residents and urban functions.
Despite these transformations, one of the most important yet understudied issues is “habitation” in historic urban centers. Although a growing body of research has examined historical urban areas in Iran, relatively little attention has been paid to their residential function and the dynamics of habitation. Addressing this gap, this article examines habitation in the historic district of Kerman, a city in southern Iran that exemplifies significant urban transformations. In recent decades, Kerman has undergone substantial horizontal expansion, accompanied by the development of new residential areas around its historic core. This process has led to considerable population relocation. At the same time, the expansion of commercial activities around the traditional bazaar and their gradual penetration—particularly through uses such as warehouses—into residential neighborhoods have altered both the functional and spatial structure of these neighborhoods.
In this context, a set of interrelated questions emerged that shaped the direction of this research and informed its analytical approach: To what extent have the neighborhoods within Kerman’s historic district maintained their authenticity, dignity, and residential function? And to what extent have they endured transformation? To address these primary questions, this study employs the concepts of “continuity” and “change” as analytical lenses for understanding the ongoing processes shaping these neighborhoods. The main objective is to investigate how historic neighborhoods persist while facing multiple pressures of transformation. Accordingly, the study seeks to answer two main questions: How do Kerman’s historic neighborhoods evolve through the interplay of continuity and change? How do residents, through their residential strategies, contribute to shaping continuity or change in the historic neighborhoods? To answer these questions, habitation in the historic district is conceptualized as part of households’ “residential pathways,” in which decisions and choices are formed through the interaction between constraints and opportunities. Through the concept of residential strategies, this study aims to demonstrate how continuity and change in the residential function of these neighborhoods are shaped through residents’ lived experiences and decision-making within the broader context of urban growth.
This article argues that residential dynamics in historic neighborhoods cannot be understood solely as the outcome of macro-level urban forces. Rather, they emerge from the continuous interaction between these forces and the practices, experiences, and decisions of residents.
The contribution of this study can be articulated at three levels. First, from an empirical perspective, it provides field-based evidence from an Iranian city, offering a detailed account of how residential functions in historic centers are maintained or transformed. Second, from a conceptual perspective, by emphasizing the simultaneity and intertwinement of “continuity” and “change,” it moves beyond linear narratives of decline or revitalization. Third, from an analytical perspective, by focusing on residential strategies, it foregrounds the role of residents as active agents in shaping, reproducing, or transforming habitation in historic neighborhoods.
 
Methodology
This study adopts a qualitative, interpretive approach aimed at understanding habitation in the historic district of Kerman, through residents’ lived experiences and their housing-related decisions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, note-taking, and photography. In total, 48 interviews were conducted with residents. The interviews were carried out between November and December 2024, using purposive sampling. Participants were selected based on criteria such as residence in the study area, willingness to participate, and the ability to provide relevant insights. Efforts were also made to ensure relative diversity among participants in terms of gender, age, ownership status, and type of residence. Interviews were conducted in a variety of settings, including alleys, mosques, and participants’ homes. The interview questions addressed themes such as duration of residence, reasons for choosing the current dwelling, neighborhood relations, perceptions of the neighborhood, and future residential plans. All interviews were conducted with participants’ consent, recorded, and fully transcribed. Data were analyzed utilizing thematic analysis.
Several supplementary strategies were implemented to enhance the analytical rigor of the study. Primarily, coding and theme development were conducted independently by all members of the research team, after which the results were compared. A high degree of similarity—estimated at over 90%—was observed among the codes and themes generated by different team members, with differences mainly related to variations in labeling or conceptual formulation. Following this initial stage of independent analysis, discussions and exchanges among the research team played a crucial role in refining the themes and reducing individual bias. Next, member checking was used to validate the interpretations. Due to the inability to access all participants, this process was conducted with only five participants with whom follow-up communication was possible. Lastly, triangulation was achieved by integrating multiple sources of data, including interviews, field observations, notes, and photographs. This triangulation contributed to strengthening the credibility of the findings.
 
Results and Discussion
The findings indicate that habitation in the historic district of Kerman is shaped by a complex interaction between structural conditions and residents’ actions, which is manifested through diverse residential strategies. One of the most imperative dimensions of continuity is the presence of long-standing residents and the persistence of family-based residence in these neighborhoods. Many of these residents live in inherited houses and express a strong desire to remain in place, rooted in their sense of belonging, long-standing social relations, and familiarity with the environment. This sense of belonging operates not only individually but also collectively. Interestingly, religious spaces, such as mosques, play a significant role in reinforcing social ties and sustaining neighborhood cohesion.
Despite the presence of a significant proportion of long-standing residents in these neighborhoods as an indicator of continuity, different forms of change are also evident. Many residents have intervened in their homes in response to evolving needs, including demolishing older structures and replacing them with multi-story buildings, adding new rooms alongside existing spaces, or undertaking incremental renovations. These practices suggest that continuity does not imply stasis; rather, it often involves adaptive transformations that enable residents to remain in the neighborhood.
In addition, the outmigration of an important part of long-standing residents represents a major dimension of change. Especially, younger residents tend to be less inclined to remain in these neighborhoods due to the lack of recreational amenities, shifting lifestyles, and aspirations toward more modern living environments. The departure of long-established families has created opportunities for the arrival of new residents. However, the attachment of these newcomers to the neighborhood is generally weaker, and in many cases, residential choice is shaped more by economic considerations than by social or cultural ties. Specifically, the departure of long-standing residents has facilitated the settlement of immigrant populations, particularly Afghan migrants. These groups often reside old houses that have been rented out by owners unwilling to continue living in them. The growing presence of immigrants has contributed to changes in the demographic composition and social structure of Kerman’s historic neighborhoods.
These transformations have also generated contradictory perceptions among long-standing residents. Some express concern that the increasing presence of newcomers, including both migrants and residents from other parts of the city, has affected the perceived authenticity of the neighborhood. Others point specifically to Afghan migrant households, noting issues such as large family size and limited attachment to place as factors contributing to inadequate maintenance of buildings. This, in turn, has accelerated the deterioration of houses, many of which possess significant historical and architectural value.
Regarding the physical dimension, the findings reveal extensive transformations in the spatial structure of these neighborhoods. Interventions such as new streets construction have disrupted the traditional spatial organization and contributed to the fragmentation of the urban fabric. A noteworthy consequence of these changes is the erosion of both physical and perceived neighborhood boundaries. Today, residents often hold diverse understandings of neighborhood limits and may even refer to the same area by different names.
Alongside street construction and widening, substantial changes have also occurred at the level of buildings. A considerable number of older houses have been demolished and replaced by new constructions, in some cases with multiple stories. Although in recent years new regulations have been introduced to control construction within the historical zone—typically limiting building heights to one or two stories—earlier allowed the construction of four- or five-story buildings.
Other processes, such as the increase in vacant land as a result of demolition of dilapidated buildings, the conversion of houses into warehouses, and the decline of residential use in certain areas, further illustrate ongoing functional transformations.
Overall, the findings suggest that habitation in Kerman’s historic district is characterized by a precarious equilibrium between continuity and change. More broadly, these findings demonstrate that while structural factors—such as housing markets and urban policies—clearly shape the conditions of habitation, they do not operate in a deterministic manner. Rather, residents actively interpret, negotiate, and respond to these conditions through their residential strategies. This highlights the importance of viewing habitation as a socially embedded and processual phenomenon, closely linked to households’ residential pathways. In this sense, the coexistence of continuity and change is a persistent condition produced through the interaction between structural constraints and residents’ practices.
 
Conclusion
This study, by concentration on the historic district of Kerman, examined the processes of “continuity” and “change” in relation to habitation, through the concept of “residential strategies.” The findings demonstrate that continuity and change do not operate as opposing states; rather, they unfold as intertwined and simultaneous processes. What occurs in the historic context of Kerman is therefore neither a simple continuation of the past nor a complete rupture from it, but an ongoing reconfiguration of social relations, patterns of habitation, and spatial structures in response to changing conditions.
At a theoretical level, the study suggests that habitation should be understood as part of households’ residential pathways, in which decisions, constraints, and future aspirations are formed in an interconnected and evolving manner. The findings show that the historic district of Kerman occupies different positions within these pathways for different groups: for some, it represents a site for the continuation of family life and the reproduction of social relations; for others, it functions as a temporary stage during a transitional period, in which residents reside in the area while seeking better housing opportunities; and for another group, it serves as a constrained choice shaped primarily by economic constraints. Accordingly, residents’ housing strategies can be conceptualized along an analytical spectrum, ranging from continuity-oriented to change-oriented practices.
In Kerman, development policies—such as street widening and new construction—have played a major role in transforming the historic fabric of the city, often contributing to the demolition of older buildings and the reconfiguration of neighborhood structures. At the same time, conservation policies have sought to preserve historical values, though often with restricted attention to social and residential dynamics and the needs of contemporary life. Recognizing habitation as a socio-spatial and processual phenomenon highlights the need for integrated policies that address development pressures alongside conservation goals while engaging with the social and experiential dimensions of habitation. Such an approach can better support the continuity of residential function and social life while guiding change in ways that sustain the historical and spatial qualities of historic urban contexts.
 
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or
not-for-profit sectors.

Authors’ Contribution
All authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript.

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their valuable
comments and constructive remarks.