JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
Year:2011 | Volume:3 | Issue:6|Papers Count:9

Globalization, development of sciences and technology, and an increasing in public expectations from the conditions of societies are changing every day. Increasing awareness and information dissemination through the media and internet have paved the way for increasing public knowledge, and has caused technical and academic training to face with new conditions. In other words, the duties of expert and academic training have become more difficult and sensitive. At present, educational planning shall continuously trace the internal and external threats, opportunities, goals, and strategies that have emerged recently. Since a decade ago the Urban Development discipline was introduced into the universities of the country. The initial goal of this course was to foster consistency in all levels of urban development as an academic discipline, and respond to the changing needs and developments in urban society. During previous years, a great number of university students graduated in the mentioned discipline and were whether absorbed in the labour market or started studying at higher levels. Since evaluating the effectiveness of the graduates of an educational department illustrates the quantitative and qualitative conditions of the training programs as well as training and research methods in the past and at the present time, this study tries to closely review and analyse the extent of effectiveness of the graduates of urban development at B.A. level in the University of Arts. Regarding the scope and description of research techniques, this review includes an evaluation of a seven-year period (students who entered university from 1999 to 2005 and graduated from 2003 to 2009). In this connection, the indicators for measuring the effectiveness of the training system used in Urban development faculty, such as the extent of absorption in labour market, and the extent they fulfill professional and general needs, and ultimately, promotion to higher levels will be studied and analyzed. Generally, this research is an applied one that draws on descriptive, survey based, and analytical methods. In order to reach to a theoretical framework and compile evaluation indicators, this research has adopted a method that is based on documents and library works. The tools of the research that have been used for data gathering were mainly questionnaires that were compiled based on research questions and hypothesis.The information gathered was analyzed through SPSS software and statistical models (especially Chisquare test). The outcomes of these researches suggest that largely, this group had been successful in realization of its research objectives. However, the existing conditions are far from desirable and require accurate educational planning and reviewing the course book contents and training methods.

Each City as a dynamic and alive organic, in order to attainment health and survival for residents, needs to have a good quality urban environment. In fact, this property means everything that leads to improving people’s quality of life and their relationship with city. Nowadays, Iranian cities in terms of quality of life face with a variety of problems of economic, social, physical, governance, infrastructural and environmental issues that related directly with urban environment quality. The most important problem in this issue is the significant differences between various spaces in urban neighborhoods. Unfortunately there is no comprehensive study for identifying the indicators of environmental quality for assuming the difference of manmade places. This problem can cause a gradual decline at quality of life and environment. Continuing consequence of this issue can lead to decrement of human excellence which is the most important requirement for sustainability of present and future generations. There fore, among the main goals of this research is Such as explanation the urban quality factors as well as surveying the differences between organic and planned communities in orders of this features. Therefore, for achieving the Mentioned goal, Khiaban and Elgoli neighborhoods were selected as organic and planned communities in Tabriz. This Research is based on two hypotheses. The first Hypothesis examines that physical- spatial and factors environmental are better quality in planned neighborhoods, against the organic community have upper quality related to socio-cultural criteria. Theoretical framework and factors affecting the quality of environment in this thesis are extracted through Lynch, Appleyard, and Nasar ones. Appraisal model of sustainable urban environmental quality is creative in five main modules: physical–spatial, social–cultural, economic, and environmental and governance – management. This model is a form of hierarchy structure with ‘top-down’ approach that is called a “value tree”.The main methodology of this research is descriptive-analytical approach and AHP method (hierarchy process) is applied for analyzing the data.For collecting the necessary information field observation, expert interviews and questionnaire are used. The most interview respondents are consisting of each neighborhood residential. The findings and the showed that any of the organic and planned neighborhoods in the different urban contexts have difference qualities about indicators of urban environmental quality. As a consequence, the authors found that, Elgoli planned neighborhood with 0.656 point is more qualified than organic Khiaban community with 0.344 point. The factors such as physical, spatial, environmental ones have better position in Elgoli neighborhood while socio-cultural and economical criteria are better in Khiaban neighborhood. The main determinant of environmental quality in Elgoli neighborhood is the objective and functional indicators. Dwelling quality, accessibility quality and function, activities quality can better define this neighborhood quality. Adherence to traditions, Top social interactions, Efforts to achieve justice and Poverty reduction class Causes Improving the quality of social and cultural factors in Khiaban neighborhood. Governance factor are alike in both neighborhoods. In total, counting the five values and priorities of the main components environmental quality, Tabriz Elgoly neighborhood as a planned Environment is confirmed than Khiaban neighborhood as an organic urban context. The desirability of 80% of residents also want them to live in planned neighborhoods are confirmed.

This paper provides a review of some of the key urban design approaches and an analysis examining the paradigm shift in urban design principles from physical, social and perceptual components towards a place-making approach. It argues that the place-making in the last two decades has become the dominant approach in urban design. Focusing on local communities’ assets and aspiration, placemaking seeks to enhance the socio-spatial role of public spaces with distinctive character. Since its emergence and rise to significance over the past 50 years urban design has been defined as a practice that gives shape to the built environment and human settlement. As an activity that has been rediscovered and reinvigorated in recent years, urban design has become a serious and significant area of academic literature, as well as the public policy and professional practice. The term ‘urban design’ came into currency in North America in the late 1950s, replacing and superseding the more traditional and the term ‘civic design’ with its narrower scope. Traditional approaches, before the early stages of urban design formation, mainly concerned with the superficial and architectural aspects; predominantly product-oriented, which focused on physical, aesthetic and visual factors of urban spaces, rather than on the social aspects. The essential value of townscape approach developed in the early 1960s lies in its uninhibited, personal and expressive response to space. Despite being greatly criticized, townscape tradition is often regarded as an artistic approach to urban design, in which the sense of place and public perception has generally been neglected. Between early 1960s and1980s, the physical components paled into insignificance in comparison with the social approach. Attempts to develope a more comprehensive framework began to be published in the 1970s and 1980s. There were several publications in which re-formulation of aesthetic factors were based on human behavior, aspirations and expectations. These design considerations were explicitly reflected in design criteria, resulted in emerging a number of principles. Synthesizing the earlier approaches, urban design faced with urban space as an aesthetic entity and behavioral setting with the conception of diversity, activity and integrity. The main consequence of this broader idea was place-making notion in early 1990s, - the new interest in urban design as a form of - and a contribution to - primarily resulting from a process-oriented approach to urban design, in which, the quality of the public realm – (both physical and socio-cultural) – as well as making and managing the meaningful ‘places’ for people to enjoy and utilize have substantially been concerned. More recently, the quest for more sustainable urban form has become a more explicit component. Places are of crucial importance for enhancing the true meaning of urban life and increasing the sense of place, social cohesion and interaction.The method applied in this work is largely descriptive and interpretive based on secondary data analysis. This article, with a substantial contribution from the literature of the past five decades, concludes the rising significance of place-making approach in design principles with emphasis on sustainable development. The evidence shows that a good design ensures attractive. Usable, durable and adaptable places; and is a key element in achieving sustainable development.

The structure is among others concept in which it can be studied in the Urban Historic physical Texture system of Yazd city. This texture is spread and complex. The mentioned system includes different structures. For discussing about the structure of this system, it was needed to be studied its texture. The frequency of subjects of the texture is caused to indicate to only some cases that it is connected by its structure. This research has been studied by systematic approach. The method of this research is a descriptive-analytical one. First the structure concept was definite and then the structure connection model was designed by the structure concept and connection theory model.The framework and theoretical foundation of this research was formed on base system theory and abovementioned cases. These subjects formed the theoretical foundation and outlook of this research in order to compose the structure of this system. This research is produced by observations and studies as well as the analysis of the system. Studies showed that the Urban Historic physic texture system of Yazd city is the resultant of different subsystems textures. For example: landuses, districts texture, superblocks texture, blocks and unites subsystem texture (internal texture). External textures are produced by this texture relation with containing and equivalent systems of it. Woof, Wrap, Knot and Web are elements of it as well as its subsystems. The Webs were produced by woofs, wraps, and knots arrangement in next together. Many different varieties of these webs have been observed in them.They were formed connections by relations between woof, wrap, knot and web in each of subsystems.Weaving and adhesiveness are two origin relationships in the connections between texture elements.Matrix is adhesiveness factor of elements in the Urban Historic physic texture of Yazd city and its subsystems. This texture has been produced by horizontal and vertical textures of landuse, districts, superblocks, blocks, and unites subsystem. The structures of subsystems are match with their textures.They have been created by different structures of landuse, districts, superblocks, blocks, unites subsystem. Units division, connectors, nods and boundaries are elements of structure. These elements have different varieties of connection in each of subsystems of the Urban Historic physic texture of Yazd city and they have made separate structure in them. It is resultant all of them. In this system and its subsystems were considered bus, central, organic, checkered, and Hybrid Structures. Furthermore, It was recognized horizontal and vertical Structure in some Subsystems of this system. Totaling of these studies showed that the structure of the Urban Historic physic texture of Yazd city is resultant of the horizontal and vertical Structure. Each of these structures are created by a lot of internal and external connections, for example: one by one, one by some and some by some connections of shapes of landuse Subsystems and their relationships with together in intermediate, shapes of districts and their relationships with together in the intermediate, shapes of superblocks and their relationships with together in the intermediate, shapes of blocks and their relationships with together in the intermediate, and shapes of unites of the Urban Historic physic texture system of Yazd city and their relationships with together in the intermediate. This structure follows hierarchy principle.

Nowadays, a socio-economic program or process which conserves natural resources, yet can response the needs of present generations of the society and posterity, is considered as a Sustainable System.A type of this kind of planning for development could be observed in traditional Islamic societies which is a one thousand years old one, and is called Vaghf (endowment). In Islamic cities, we usually encounter some complex structures that because of the accomplishment of the tradition of Vaghf are more persistent than the other structures and have survived with their same original function, because in their deed of endowment, the benefactors mentioned to the function of the building as an unalterable provision. Furthermore, most of the revenues of endowed properties were spent for restoration and conservation of the buildings. Also some of these revenues were spent for subsidizing the students, teachers and other employees in the schools which it caused students to educate without worry. So these types of complexes protected their endowed properties and brought forth their sustainability. By the time of legitimization of “Shiism” religion in “Safavid era”, the clergy paid attention to religious schools to develop and promote the religion. So, many schools were built in this era. Another evolution occurred in this period; the tradition of “endowment” was prevailed, that it led to a relative independence of schools. Because the revenues of consecrated places were spent for expenditures of schools, so before the formation of a governmental organization for education, people constructed Maktab and Madrasa (primary schools and high schools) and devoted them to Muslims, so this way helped popularity and persistence of the structures over the time. On the other hand, in the deeds of endowments, different functions of Madrasas were mentioned during the provisions and it was emphasized that the schools should be multipurpose. In fact these spaces were used for public utilizations such as performance of daily prayers by locals. This public usage alongside with the main educational functions caused that attention be paid to the important role of these schools as multipurpose structures in urban construction. This caused to link schools with the community. By investigation and analyzing of these educational spaces, it is inferred that structures of these schools were flexible and responsible to the different needs. So, we can define the effects of endowment over the Madrasas in two parts; the first part does not have any anatomic aspect, like subsidizing the grant to the students of the schools, and the second part is directly concerned with structural and architectural specifications of schools and their physical visual appearance. Therefore, in this essay, by investigation into deeds of endowments and itineraries of Safavid period, and analyzing the space of the Madrasas of this period, the authors have tried to explain the effects of endowment on curriculum and architecture of Safavid schools, and finally they will make clear the impact of its effects on sustainability of the schools of the mentioned era.

The present study aims to examine the programs and projects related to vulnerability reduction and to deal with earthquakes in neighborhood areas, and also to plan disaster risk mitigation in Ekbatan Complex, Phase 1. Since Tehran Metropolis is located on earthquake-rising faults, planning for different areas of this metropolis, such as neighborhoods risk reduction management tasks, is one of the crucial priorities in order to organize a pre-planning disaster activities and operations. Such programming may decrease the possibilities of the number of fatalities, as well as the losses and damages.Having studied the experiences of Iran and disaster prone-countries with regard to planning for earthquakes confrontation in the residential buildings reveals the significance of suitability of community-based approaches in order to achieve appropriate and on-time responses on emergency conditions. The available evidence indicates that working with communities not for them is a key point in successful programs. Using local knowledge and active resident participation in pre-disaster planning projects has resulted in using appropriate local resources and a sufficient relationship with authorities and relief organizations. In addition, such cooperation may pave the ways of achieving of the objectives, priorities and planning strategies. Additionally in this course, a number of activities are placed at the center of focus, such as absorption of the inhabitants’ involvement and enabling them to take some actions to improve safety measures, to set up institutions in the neighborhoods, and to attract the governmental offices’ support with the purpose of vulnerability reduction. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods in Ekbatan Complex has led to represent a model for planning to face earthquake risks within the neighborhoods. The proposed model includes four stages such as, organization of the resources and setting up the planning team, risk assessment, planning and implementation. According to the findings derived from the risk assessment of the field study, social-cultural programs and managerial arrangements may be considered more significance with regard to planning as well as the physical programs can be focused on retrofitting non-structural and infrastructural elements, due to the average vulnerability level of this area. Considering the results of the field study and risk evaluation, several programs have been organized such as setting up the volunteer teams amongst the inhabitants, training programs and safe keeping as well as maintaining the buildings, properly. Furthermore, it seems that there is an appropriate ground to set up a local council independent institution in the Ekbatan neighborhood or township. Such institution, which benefits greatly from the financial and technological support of the Disaster Management Center of the Fifth Zone in Tehran Municipality, may act as a connecting means among the state organizations, non-state ones and the local people and may organize various programs to reduce the vulnerability in the Ekbatan Complex.

Architectural works of the Atabakan era are among the Iranian works which rarely have been considered in the course of chronologic studies. At first Atabakan were appointed by the Seljuqid as stewards and assistants for the Seljuk princes and as the central power of Seljuqid grew faint, they gained more power and turned into local dynasties. In this era, which is simultaneous with the extensive attack of Moguls to Iran, the areas under their controls remained free of involvements and destructions, because of their scheme and foresight. Based on the tranquility that was rendered in the central areas of Iran, great scientific, cultural, mystic and even economical personalities of Iran had tendencies to live in these areas. The result was the extension of cities and creation of various architectural works with the especial land-related character. Yazd went under control of the Atabaki government from 1141 to 1318 and faced with lots of positive changes because of them, that their effects in the aspects of architecture and other types of art on later eras is undeniable. This article tries to recognize and analyze the governmental court complex of Atabak Qotb-Al’Din, through referring to the historical texts.According to existing documents this complex included a house (governmental palace), a school, a tomb and a square in front of them (most likely for social rituals), but right now nothing has remained from the square and what we have today is a house at the beginning of Fahadan neighborhood from the East and inside the destructed tower of the city known as the Taq-Bolandha or Hosseinian House, the tomb which is known as Gonbad e Hasht, and the school as Hosseinieh Hasht. These are examples of the building that has been build in Atabakan era and can present valuable guidance for recognition of architectural and artistic properties of this era, and so it can be used widely in writing the history of Iran’s architecture. The complex of Dowlat-Khaneh of Atabak Qotb-Al’Din was build during the reign of Atabak Esfahsalar Abi Mansour known as Sultan Qotb-Al’Din between 1218 and 1226. He, who was the sixth Emir of the Atabaki Emirs of Yazd, had a mystic tendency and liked the companion of the mystics and devotees, because of this, people accepted his government and he could largely improve the welfare of Yazd. The interpretational-historical research method is related to the historical texts and comparison and matching of related buildings. The study of the sample complex shows that in the composition of the Atabaki buildings, the school or the high dome-house (Gonbad-khaneh) as the tomb existed beside the big houses of the rich or the governors. Meanwhile, elements like two campaniles in two sides of the entry, single-layered domes on a square-shaped plan, octagonal neck of the dome and using azure color composed with gold for interior decoration were common in this era and can be generalized to other architectural works of Atabakan era of Yazd.

Evaluation of Iranian architectural typology shows that the formation of building (s), either in single form or as a complex- is combined based on three models of open spaces, as well as the closed and covered ones. In historical houses, yard as the Main open space, represents coexistence with nature.From the viewpoint of space organization in historical houses, courtyard is an open room to the sky, with specified body which its floor is adorned with trees, soil and water. The best sample of courtyard with some climatic consideration can be observed in historical parts of the tropical desert cities of Iran. Architectural buildings in this climate, by constructing a central courtyard in the building and insertion water pond and garden in it, create suitable climatic conditions for human comfort. In cold climates, according to the issue of confidentiality, nobility and adherence to the traditional houses in desert areas, buildings were built with a central courtyard. But because of the mountainous characteristic of areas, the climates or weather often have cold; so using the courtyard was limited to the summers, and therefore they were smaller than the courtyards of the central plateau regions of Iran.According to what central courtyard in cold climates usually locker ability at improving climatic condition.This study introduces a courtyard with climatic performance in cold condition for cold climate with close attention to solar greenhouses. This paper describes the function of summer and winter operations given by modeling in energy calculation software, called “Energy Plus”. The final output of computer simulation is the average of air temperature of winter yard during one-year period for comparing thermal comfort condition in this space with outdoor one. In order to evaluate the thermal conditions from human’s comfort viewpoint and determining the importance of each climatic element in open spaces, Olgey bioclimatic tables are been used. In this study, the city of Ardabil has been selected as a sample for checking the thermal comfort conditions in open spaces. According to bioclimatic graph of Ardabil, shows that in this city, winter weather is so cold, even in the hottest hours of sunny days. Notably in open spaces the weather condition is not acceptable even with solar energy, winter clothing and suitable metabolic rate. In this city, there are 144 days in a year (39%) that could be comfort in outdoor spaces, but rest of the year is not. that is possible to create a comfort condition in 244 days in a year (67%) by recommendations which have been presented in this paper, which is built a winter courtyard. Winter courtyard beyond the advantages witch mentioned above, can reduce surrounding building heat loads in two ways: by glasses and increasing temperature in winter court yard because of sun radiation, heat loss of surrounding shell decreased by 75%. This causes a 10% decrease in building heating loads and because of 41 days of a year that the temperature is fairly above the comfort level it could be use a to preheat the indoor temperature. Totally winter yard can reduces building heating loads about 18%.

The historicalAli-Quli-Aqa complex is the second important fine architectural created after glorious Bazar, Madresa, Carvansarai of Charbaq, Isfahan belonging to Soltan Hossein period, the last king of Safavid. The architecture context from Tabriz to Isfahan interchange were periodically strong or elegant, at the last duration became delicate and poetic and architectural materials, ornaments and inscription’s content emphasis this idea. Unlike several similar buildings of this period which contain many signs referring to name ofShiaa’ Imam Ali on the mosaic surface of entrance panels, there is no such apparent, but a few epigraphs ofQuran’s Ayat -verses- however when scrutinized, one could find myriad of meaningful symbols, which implicitly refer the same holly names ofShiaa’ -Ali the first Imam and Immaculate. What hide these names are the keys such “Allah”, the first article of “Allah” -in Farsiand also a lot of motives called “Pili” and patterns named “Gereh”. The structure of these motives, signs and patterns are formed paper hypothesis. There is a likely curtain covered on known architectural elements and content by a few unknown simple signs. A symbolized number -110- which abode to Ali is emphasized and formed the panels the analogy of entrance elements. Based on in-site studies and survey, this paper reveals the hidden secrets embedded in the motives ofAli-Quli-Aqa mosque.Furthermore, it is demonstrated how these secrets make the basis for the proportions employed in the entrance of mosque.The reasons of such effort would be the emotion and delight’s address because of decode the addresser –architect and designers– and addressed –priers and people– coherence, which used for wrap around fine arts like literary, geometric patterns and ornamentals related to architecture.These fine techniques, in this case were not understood easily.Hence, complicating and exaggerating semantic–Ali–Quli–Aqa mosque and Charbaq Madresa-school -for example were both wisely and beautiful. On the other hand these observations would related to psychical and social circumstance as the ”ا“ well as the political ones. At the frontal panels of Sardar –entrance– there are two motives like These words (or signs).- الله- first article of “Allah”, and on the two sides panels two “Allah” completely appear in cases seemed normally, but no relationship between them makes us curious.Questions: What the motives are? What are their significations? What relationship they explain among the other signs, motives ofSardar and also between themselves? What are the contents.These questions formed a hypothesis: The motives, like curtains are covered the intelligible of signs and their relations, and these secrets are found out by the symbolized number and geometric patterns.This paper compares few similar portal details built at this period and also emphasizes onAli-quli-aqa mosqueand Chaharbaq school portal which are completed at the same time. The proportions basic geometric pattern named -konde 2panj - are the same panels of “Allah” background proportions which make the wholeSardar proportions.