Social Area versus Private Space in Current Tehran Housing: A Case Study of District 9 Apartments

This study examines the prioritization of collective versus individual space in current urban housing in Tehran, focusing on District 9. A quantitative analysis of interior floor plans assessed the distribution between social area (living room, dining room, salon) and private space (bedrooms). Despite excluding open kitchen, social area averaged approximately 45% of space compared to 25% for private bedrooms. Bedroom sizes frequently approached or fell below mandatory minimums, while social area occupied the largest proportion of space. This lack of emphasis on private space occurred not only in smaller units but also in many larger ones with more generous overall area. Other interior spaces such as bathroom were often limited to minimum area and positioned to enhance social area functionality. In units smaller than 75m², space distribution was more balanced due to adherence to mandatory regulations. However, in larger units, the tendency towards disproportionately larger social area was even more pronounced, with over half featuring only two bedrooms. The findings suggest that the preference for collective activities and family interactions significantly influences Iranian home design in District 9, as evidenced by prevalent large social area and comparatively smaller private space. This study underscores the need for residential designs that harmonize traditional Iranian values with modern privacy requirements.