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Ghaemi S, Bagheritehrani M. Designing Support Spaces for Residential Complexes: An Earthquake Scenario for Tehran, Iran (Case Study: Venus Residential Complex in District 22). Disaster Prev. Manag. Know. 2026; 16 (2) :418-449
URL: http://dpmk.ir/article-1-789-en.html

Background and objective Tehran Province, Iran, as a megacity, is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, particularly due to its location on active faults and high population density, especially in high-rise and densely populated residential complexes like those in District 22. This vulnerability necessitates a reevaluation of traditional crisis management paradigms. The inability of external emergency response systems to provide immediate assistance in the first hours of a crisis highlights the critical need for self-help and shelter solutions at the building scale. This research aimed to design a support space for residential complexes in the event of an earthquake in Tehran Province, Iran. It seeks to establish and validate an efficient, resilient, and multi-functional design framework for support spaces within high-rise residential complexes, envisioning them as a local “resilience core” to ensure resident survival and safety during critical conditions.
Method This research adopts a mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) approach with a descriptive-analytical nature. It investigates District 22 of Tehran Province and the “Venus Residential Complex” as a case study. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to 30 experts and 50 residents. For data analysis, the Delphi method was employed to validate criteria, and Pearson’s correlation tests along and structural equation modeling (SEM) were utilized in SPSS software.
Results The results indicate that the design framework should be based on four main dimensions: physical resilience, functional resilience, social resilience, and flexibility. The Delphi process confirmed all 16 proposed indicators. SEM affirmed a positive and significant relationship between these dimensions and overall resilience enhancement (RMSEA =0.001). Pearson’s correlation test, used for prioritization, revealed that from the experts’ perspective, flexibility (r=0.731) and functional resilience (r=0.722) had the greatest impact on the success of the design.
Conclusion This research concludes that an effective solution involves transitioning from the concept of a “crisis shelter” to a “multipurpose resilience core.” This space should be integrated into residents’ daily lives through everyday uses (e.g. as a gym or community hall) to ensure economic justification and social acceptance. The validated design framework and practical architectural solutions presented in this study provide an efficient tool for transforming vulnerable residential complexes into self-sufficient and earthquake-resilient communities.