Cultural Integration of the Built Environment -the case of displaced Pakistanis on the outskirts of Tehran

Abstract

Amid an unprecedented rise in global displacement, over 122 million individuals now face the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar cultural and living environments. Despite separate studies on post-displacement acculturation and the built environment, their intersection remains largely neglected. This study used grounded theory ethnography over three years to investigate a displaced Pakistani community near Tehran, their Iranian hosts and their respective dwellings, and the behaviors they harbor. Based on the findings, a model was developed to study post-displacement cultural integration of the built environment. The study explores acculturation outcomes in the built environment—integration, separation, and assimilation—shaped by internal cultural shifts and external factors like surroundings, legalities, and social context. The Pakistani population in particular, exhibited minimal cultural change, influencing their spatial organization and behavior settings. Furthermore, this model can assist practitioners and academics in addressing displaced population's built environment.