Iranian Sustainable Building Scientific Association International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability 2538-1628 7 2 2026 04 01 Towards Biophilic Cities: An Institutional Framework for Urban Transformation in Iran 184 204 738806 10.22034/ijumes.2026.2091631.1376 EN Seyed Mohammad Shokrani Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 0009-0000-5150-8275 Homayoon Nooraie Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-6343-7117 Mahmoud Mohammadi Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-4736-8385 Journal Article 2026 06 14 Biophilic cities restore nature lost through rapid urbanization by fostering deep human–nature connections. However, implementing biophilic principles in developing countries such as Iran faces significant institutional barriers. This study aims to develop a comprehensive institutional framework for biophilic urban transformation, adapted to Iran's sociocultural and political landscape. Employing an abductive approach that blends inductive and deductive reasoning, this study utilized a systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis. In accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, databases including Scopus, Springer, and ScienceDirect were searched for English-language publications from 2011 to 2025. Of 1,147 records, 30 studies addressing institutional aspects of biophilic urbanism were synthesized to identify constructs applied to evaluate Iran's institutional environment. Analysis identified three interrelated components: legal, organizational, and cultural. Results indicate that Iran’s transition is impeded by "survivalist urbanism," characterized by a regulatory void with reactive laws, a fragmented organizational structure, and an engagement gap despite dormant cultural roots. To address these challenges, this study proposes a concentric institutional framework placing biophilic culture at its core and strengthening legal and organizational aspects through interdependence. This framework permeates all aspects of biophilic urban development and provides a basis for effective implementation. The study concludes that biophilic transformation in developing contexts is dependent on sequencing. Meaningful progress requires moving beyond "technocratic isomorphism" toward a bottom-up approach in which cultural internalization is treated as a structural prerequisite for effective regulatory enforcement. Accordingly, the proposed framework offers a transferable model for developing nations seeking to embed biophilic principles within complex institutional environments. https://www.ijumes.com/article_738806_70b368c92b8424ac8cdd76ef1f95220b.pdf