Reading an adaptable urban form: Exploring the morphological patterns of the Iranian traditional bazaar

In order to keep pace with the speed of the new era, modified patterns from the past can help generate faster and more reliable solutions, along with new ideas in the urban design process. Meanwhile, the urban traditional forms serve as a valuable knowledge source, offering guidance for contemporary designers. Iran's traditional bazaars represent urban complexes with a history dating back to the formation of cities. Endowed with both physical and functional flexibility, these bazaars have grown and evolved, enduring long lives to reach the present age. This article delves into the reasons behind the adaptation ability of these historical urban complexes employing the morphological method. The analysis focuses on the bazaars' structure, anatomy, and diversity. Consequently, the established physical patterns of Iran's traditional bazaars unveil the key to their remarkable resilience against various physical changes over time. The results derived from this research can help better preserve these historical phenomena as they face the threat of isolation every day. Additionally, lessons from these adaptable patterns hold relevance not only for the bazaar's future but also for urban design within the Iranian context and beyond.