Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Identification and Prioritization of Operational Characteristics of Hybrid Housing: A Comparative Case Study Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammadreza Safi Esfahani 1
Neda Sadat Sahragard Monfared 2
Mitra Ghafourian 2
Seyyed Abbas Yazdanfar 3
1 Master Student of Housing Architecture, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/uep.2025.525510.1650
Abstract
Introduction 
In recent decades, rapid urban transformations have rendered traditional design paradigms increasingly ineffective and diminished many contemporary buildings’ functional efficiency. In response to these challenges, hybrid housing has emerged as an innovative approach that integrates diverse functions within flexible and multifunctional structures, providing a sustainable solution to the complex demands of urban environments. Beyond enhancing spatial richness, this model fosters social interactions within dense urban fabrics. Nevertheless, a clear and operational definition of its key characteristics—particularly within the housing domain—has hindered theoretical evaluation and practical implementation. Accordingly, this study aims to develop a helpful framework for identifying and assessing the operational attributes of hybrid housing and subsequently prioritizing them through case study analysis. The central research question is thus formulated as follows: Which operational and implementable characteristics play a critical and distinctive role in the realization of hybrid housing?
Materials and Methods
The present study employed a mixed-method approach. In the first stage, through a descriptive-analytical method, the characteristics of hybrid housing were identified by conducting a literature review. In the second stage, a researcher-made questionnaire was developed based on these characteristics, structured on a five-point Likert scale. Subsequently, seven case studies were selected and evaluated using the questionnaire above. Data were collected from a statistical population consisting of 50 experts and faculty members in the fields of architecture and urban planning, and were analyzed using SPSS software. The Friedman test was applied to prioritize the identified characteristics within the case studies.
Findings
The findings revealed that, respectively, the attributes of “diverse scale,” “social-interactive qualities,” and “functional diversity” played the most significant roles across the case studies. Conversely, the indicator of “vertical connectivity” demonstrated the least impact. Furthermore, “Shinonome Canal Court Block I” was identified as the most successful case due to its highest degree of conformity.
Conclusion
The analysis of the case studies reveals three core characteristics. First, the notion of diverse scale, which extends beyond physical dimensions to encompass human perception, functional relationships, and spatial hierarchies ranging from micro-spaces to urban domains. This layered density of functions generates a structure comparable to a “city within a building.” Second, the presence of social-interactive space reinforces the vitality of social life by removing rigid boundaries, distributing communal areas, and designing dynamic circulation paths. Third, the functional multiplicity, achieved by the spatio-temporal integration of activities and the use of open plans, modular floors, movable partitions, and embedded urban infrastructures, enhances architectural adaptability. Among the examined projects, “SHINONOME CANAL COURT BLOCK I” demonstrates the highest level of alignment with hybrid attributes, while “SOLID 18” reflects the lowest degree of realization. The key success factors include providing collective spaces in upper levels, managing movement flows, and balancing public and private realms, all of which contribute to improving environmental quality, spatial-functional coherence, and responsiveness to contemporary housing needs. Nevertheless, implementing hybrid housing faces challenges such as high technological costs, the absence of transparent frameworks, and the inappropriate integration of public and private domains. The sustainability of this approach requires flexible and future-oriented design, while simultaneously addressing architectural, social, managerial, and policy-making dimensions. In the Iranian context, its realization necessitates revisions in urban planning regulations, enhanced spatial flexibility, and redefined ownership systems based on resident participation. At the same time, opportunities such as the adaptive reuse of abandoned spaces in dense urban fabrics can contribute to improving the quality of life and urban dynamism. Accordingly, hybrid housing architecture—through the thoughtful integration of functions and the utilization of local capacities—emerges as a practical approach for shaping sustainable and livable urban spaces, with the localization of its strategies to the Iranian context positioned as a central axis for future research.
Keywords
Architectural Hybrid Case Study
Hybrid Architecture
Hybrid Housing
Physical-Spatial Criteria
Sustainable Urban Livability Model
Urban Planning

Subjects

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Urban Economics and Planning
Volume 6, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 42-71

  • Receive Date 25 May 2025
  • Revise Date 30 August 2025
  • Accept Date 01 September 2025