Introduction: In today's dynamic world, we are witnessing significant developments in the field of architecture. These developments are influenced by technological advances and the modern and new needs of Western societies, which have gradually entered the arena of Iran. Meanwhile, this raises the question of whether these developments concern only technical aspects or also influence architectural aesthetics. The tectonic approach is a concept in architecture that offers a theoretical framework to this question. Tectonics is an architectural concept integrating technical and artistic dimensions. Contemporary Iranian architecture has experienced a gradual decline in vernacular identity during the modernization process and has neglected the principles of native and traditional architecture in its pursuit of achieving global standards. Because native and traditional Iranian architecture, with a strong and fruitful history from various perspectives such as sustainability and being focused on Iranian culture and art, can share a large and special part of this art and culture. Previous studies have expressed aspects of this architecture from three perspectives in which the continuation of vernacular architecture to the contemporary era and the future has been ignored. The first perspective aims to preserve the works left behind by vernacular architecture. The second perspective seeks ways to ensure the continued existence of vernacular architecture, and the third perspective uses vernacular architecture as a source for understanding architectural values. The characteristics that exist in vernacular architecture are one of the most influential factors in attracting tourists, and this perspective can have a significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism and introducing this approach to society. Because in today's world, where the concept of sustainable development is receiving special attention, the tourism industry, which is a dynamic industry, seeks to align its development with the principles of sustainability by understanding the balance between economic prosperity and environmental protection. In the context of contemporary Iranian architecture, one of the main challenges is to preserve the vernacular identity against global trends. Gilan Province, with its rich heritage of wooden structures and designs in harmony with the climate, is a representative example of native architecture. The main goal of this research is to apply the tectonic approach and draw inspiration from the features of native architecture of Gilan in order to design sustainable tourism accommodations. These accommodations should, in addition to environmental sustainability, strengthen visitors' sense of place in tourists and help them experience the authentic identity of the place.
Materials and Methods: The research method of this qualitative research is descriptive-analytical in nature and applied in purpose. Data collection in the form of documentary research and field observations has been pursued in two main phases to deeply understand the indicators of native architecture of Gilan by focusing on the tectonic approach.
Result and Discussion: The two phases resulted in the extraction and compilation of the final indicators of native architecture of Gilan based on the tectonic approach in order to be used in the design of sustainable tourism accommodations with a focus on the native architectural style of the region in order to develop sustainable tourism. The findings and results indicate that the vernacular architecture of Gilan, with its efficient use of native materials such as wood and the design of steeply pitched roofs, has provided an inherent and adaptive response to the region's climatic challenges (such as high humidity and heavy rainfall) and is an outstanding example of environmental sustainability and thermal comfort.
Conclusion: The important achievement of the research is the development of a comprehensive theoretical framework based on a tectonic approach to reinterpret the vernacular elements of the region's architecture. This framework allows these elements to be reproduced in contemporary designs using new technologies and materials without sacrificing cultural authenticity and climatic efficiency. The practical application of these principles in the design of tourist accommodations in the region, which provides the possibility of this conceptual and practical integration towards the development of sustainable tourism, is very important.