About the Journal
The journal of Housing and Rural Environment (HRE) is a peer-reviewed, open-access quarterly journal published by the Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Iran. The journal is devoted to the fields of rural architecture, village architecture, traditional architecture, Persian architecture, Persian gardens, rural planning and design, preservation of rural historical and cultural sites and textures, and local and modern construction technologies.

English Issue: December 2026
Rural Housing and Settlements in Transition: Heritage, Resilience, and Innovation
December in Iran marks the onset of winter and the peak of the rainy season — a time that brings into sharp focus the critical intersection of rural housing, climate adaptation, and disaster resilience. This special English issue of the journal of Housing and Rural Environment (HRE) invites original research, review articles, and short communications that examine the evolving challenges and opportunities facing rural housing and settlements in Iran and beyond.
The journal particularly welcomes interdisciplinary research that examines the intersection of housing, rural development, and related social, economic, and environmental factors. We invite scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute to critical discussions that can inform housing and rural development policies and practices globally.
We encourage submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following thematic areas:

Theme 1: Climate-Resilient Rural Housing and Settlements
This theme focuses on the intersection of rural architecture, disaster management, and climate change, engaging directly with the journal's emphasis on "construction and disaster management" and "indigenous and modern building technologies."
Potential sub-topics include:

• Vernacular architecture as a model for climate adaptation
• Post-disaster reconstruction and resilient building technologies for rural areas
• Energy-efficient and sustainable housing solutions for extreme cold and flood-prone regions
• Integrating traditional knowledge with modern engineering for disaster risk reduction
• The role of Persian gardens and rural landscapes in climate mitigation
• Climate-responsive design strategies for rural settlements.

Theme 2: The Future of Rural Heritage — Conservation in the Face of Change
This theme addresses the dual challenge of preserving Iran's rich rural architectural heritage while accommodating modern development and demographic shifts. It aligns with the journal's scope on "preservation of rural historical and cultural sites and textures" and "traditional architecture."
Potential sub-topics include:

• Adaptive reuse of traditional rural structures for contemporary needs
• Digital documentation and preservation of endangered village architecture
• Balancing heritage conservation with rural development and modernization
• Community-led conservation initiatives and local stewardship
• The impact of migration and depopulation on rural historic fabrics
• Conservation of rural historical and cultural sites and structures
• Preservation of rural historic fabric and sites.

Theme 3: Rural Housing and the Modernization of Indigenous Technologies
This theme explores how traditional building methods and local materials can be innovatively combined with modern construction technologies to address housing challenges in rural Iran. It directly reflects the journal's focus on "indigenous and innovative structures and technologies" and "local and modern construction technologies."
Potential sub-topics include:

• Documentation and revival of regional building techniques
• Low-cost, sustainable construction technologies for rural housing
• The role of indigenous knowledge in designing for local climates and terrains
• Modernizing rural housing while maintaining cultural identity and aesthetic values
• Case studies of successful technology transfer and capacity building in rural communities
• Indigenous and modern building technologies
• Innovative housing solutions for rural communities.

Theme 4: Rural Landscapes and Gardens — Ecology, Identity, and Livelihood
Focusing on the "Persian gardens" and "rural landscape" themes of the journal, this theme examines the ecological, cultural, and economic dimensions of rural landscapes.
Potential sub-topics include:

• The Persian garden tradition and its influence on rural landscape design
• Rural landscapes as cultural heritage and drivers of rural tourism
• Ecological restoration and nature conservation in rural areas
• The relationship between rural housing, gardens, and sustainable livelihoods
• Landscape planning and design for rural community well-being
• Rural nature conservation
• Rural landscape and environment.

Theme 5: Rural Planning and Regional Development in a Post-Pandemic World
This theme addresses the evolving challenges and opportunities in rural planning and regional development, particularly in the context of shifting demographic patterns and economic diversification. It aligns with the journal's scope on "rural planning and design," "land use planning and regional planning," and "rural environment and development."
Potential sub-topics include:

• Revitalization strategies for depopulated and aging rural communities
• Rural housing policy and affordable housing solutions
• The role of rural areas in national and regional food security
• Integrating rural planning with disaster risk management and environmental sustainability
• The impact of digital connectivity and new economic opportunities on rural settlements
• Land use planning and regional planning
• Rural environment and development.

Additional Topics of Interest
The journal also welcomes submissions on:

• Housing policy, planning, and design
• Affordable and social housing
• Rural housing and community development
• Housing affordability and accessibility
• Sustainable and energy-efficient housing
• Housing and demographic changes (e.g., aging population, migration)
• Housing and economic development in rural areas
• Housing and natural resource management in rural settings
• Iranian village architecture
• Iranian traditional architecture
• Persian architecture
• Designs for villas, cottages, and farm buildings
• Domestic and residential architecture
• Rural conservation.

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline (Optional):     [October 15, 2026]
• Full Paper Submission Deadline:                    [November 10, 2026]
• Notification of Acceptance/Revision:             [November 25, 2026]
• Final Revised Manuscript Due:                      [December 15, 2026]
• Expected Publication Date:                            [December 28, 2026]

Note: To secure the journal's inclusion in Scopus, manuscripts featuring an international co‑author, regardless of whether they are foreign nationals or of Iranian descent, will be prioritized in the peer review and publication process.

Submission Guidelines
Manuscript Types: The journal publishes original research articles, review papers, and short communications that present new empirical findings, theoretical advancements, or practical applications.
Language: English
Citation Style: APA referencing style.
Required Files: Authors must submit the following files through the manuscript submission system:

1. Main Manuscript File (without author details, prepared using the journal template)
2. Title Page

Submission System: All manuscripts must be submitted online through the journal website: http://jhre.ir/ 

Editorial and Contact Information
Publisher: Natural Disasters Research Institute (NDRI), Iran
Scientific Sponsorship Society: Iranian Society of Range Management
Address: Office of the Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, No. 55, Natural Disasters Research Institute, 2nd Floor, 17th Street, End of 19th Street, North Sattari Highway, Tehran, Iran
Postal Code: 1593669113
Tel/Fax: +98 - 21 - 88947365
E-mail: infojhre.ir
Website: http://jhre.ir/  The journal of Housing and Rural Environment (HRE) adheres to rigorous peer-review standards and is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in its publications.
Indexing & Abstracting: AGRIS, EBSCO, EBSCOhost, TOC Premier Database, Arab World Research Source: Al Masdar, DOAJ, WorldCat, SUDoc, ISSN-ROAD, Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC), Scientific Information Database (SID), National Digital Archives of Iranian Scholarly Journals, Noormags, Magiran, Google Scholar, etc.
Article Processing Charges: No publication charges are required from the author.
Peer Review: Double-blind peer-review process.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to advancing the understanding of housing and rural development issues together.