Background and Objective: In the contemporary era, rapid urbanization, land scarcity, and increasing population density have posed significant challenges for urban habitat design. This is particularly evident in Iranian cities, where the legacy of Islamic–Iranian architecture and deep-rooted socio-cultural and spiritual values prevail. Translating traditional horizontal living principles into high-rise structures necessitates precise management of spatial, functional, and social relationships. This study aims to identify the key variables and driving forces influencing the quality of life within the framework of Islamic–Iranian architecture in the context of vertical urban living, using the Mehr Housing project in Bijar as a case study.
Methodology: The research employs a mixed-methods approach (quantitative-qualitative) utilizing the MICMAC (Impact Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification) model. Initially, various indicators and components—including cultural, economic, functional, semantic, psychological, legal, environmental, and spiritual factors—were identified. Subsequently, by mapping their mutual influence and dependency, the key variables and driving forces of the system were determined.
Findings and Results: The results indicate that Islamic–Iranian architecture in vertical urban living acts as an unstable yet dynamic system. The simultaneous realization of identity, meaning, and spatial performance depends on prioritizing specific key variables. Among these, the separation of public and private spaces (C5), the avoidance of luxurious ornamentation (D1), and the sense of place (E1) were identified as high-priority influential indicators, while proper spatial functionality (D2) and social interaction (A4) emerged as the primary driving forces. Managing these components exerts the greatest direct and indirect impact on other indicators, thereby enabling cultural–semantic and functional sustainability in vertical living.The study concludes that focusing on fundamental cultural, semantic, and functional indicators not only enhances the quality of life and sense of identity for residents but also provides a robust framework for the design and policymaking of similar projects, facilitating the reinterpretation of Islamic–Iranian architectural principles in developing urban contexts.