Water, as the most fundamental human need and a vital element of life, has always been the primary concern in establishing permanent or temporary settlements. Water supply networks are among the earliest urban infrastructures, playing a crucial role in transferring life to human environments. Traditional water infrastructures in historical Iranian cities, beyond their functional role in providing water, have been influential in shaping spatial structure, strengthening place identity, and facilitating social interactions. However, amid contemporary physical transformations and disconnection from native foundations, the role of these systems has been marginalized.

This research, focusing on recognizing the physical, functional, and symbolic capacities of traditional water infrastructures, examines their position as identity-forming elements in the spatial organization of the city. Through a comparative analysis of two prominent examples, the underground Qomesh systems of Dezful and the surface Madi systems of Isfahan, it attempts to highlight their importance in reinforcing place-based urban development. The approach of this study is qualitative; through thematic analysis of field and documentary data, it investigates three dimensions—physical, functional, and symbolic—and proposes a conceptual model to explain the connection between native infrastructures and urban development.

The case studies include the underground Qomeshs of Dezful and the surface Madis of Isfahan, which have been comparatively analyzed in four stages: extracting theoretical components, analyzing historical sources, conducting semi-structured interviews with residents and experts, and field observations. Findings indicate that despite physical differences due to climatic conditions, both infrastructure systems have acted as multifunctional structures in spatial organization, meaning-making, and collective memory. The research emphasizes that the creative revitalization of these infrastructures can not only contribute to climate resilience and sustainable water resource management but also provide a suitable foundation for enhancing the sense of place, social cohesion, and sustainable urban development.