Abstract

Environments have fascinated humans throughout the ages. Covering approximately one-third of the Earth's land surface, these arid (dry) landscapes receive less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain per year and they support only limited plant and animal life. Sistan, in the southern east of Iran, is a big plain with high, hot and low rainfall per year. Apparently, humans controlled most of the natural forces. Environmental varieties comprise climate, land cover, topography, water and other effective factors on rural dwellings in Sistan. The annual precipitation in the lower Sistan basin is about 50 mm. The last drought was exceptionally long, transforming the lakebeds into barren desert. The infamous '120-day wind' characterizes the summers in the region; as such, by the end of the season, the wind blown sand originating from the lakebeds covers the surrounding villages. On the basis of witnesses and studies about rural dwellings, rural architectures and fruitions of simplicity of the rural dwellings units, without ornament of visual patterns, conformity of the natural environment and harmonization of the revenue of living and livelihood, local affairs and knowledge are used as valuable experiments for the population of each region.

Key words: Sistan, ventilators, energy control, traditional knowledge.