Nasim Ashrafi - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Art and Architecture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

The following study aims to present a consistent framework for the sustainable development of the troglodyte village of Kandovan, taking into consideration the present situation of the village and the paramount importance of preserving its unique way of life with the ultimate goal of making efficient improvements on the living conditions of its inhabitants. Located in north-western Iran, this tourist location, which is the sole troglodyte village in the world still occupied by human dwellers, is carved entirely out of a chain of cliffs. This stone-age lifestyle in the midst of our modern times has bestowed incomparable charmsto Kandovan, turning it into a major source of wonderment and fascination. Regrettably, however, the emigration of its inhabitants has placed the village and what it stands for under serious threat. This research will attempt to identify and analyze the reasons for the diminishing of the local population, and goes some way to providing practical solutions to tackle this problem, utilizing an effective application of the principles of sustainable development on both environmental and architectural aspects.

Kandovan village, Human Life, Sustainable development, Tourism, revival