JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE STUDIES
Year:2019 | Volume:8 | Issue:15 |Papers Count:12

The architectural remains of the past can be studied from different perspectives and with different approaches. Architectural form, structures, construction techniques, decorations and details of buildings, and their evolution through time are general issues that can be examined. In addition to the monuments, some elements of historical architecture are also worthy of consideration because of their unique and interesting features. This article specifically deals with the minaret of the Jame‘ Mosque of Kashan, which is considered to be the earliest dated building in Kashan of the Islamic period. The stability of this building through centuries despite numerous earthquakes in Kashan justifies this study. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to research the historical background of the minaret and carry out detailed documentation of its various components, examine the structure of each of these components, examine the structural form and the flow of forces, and finally perform a seismic analysis. To reach this purpose, a significant part of the research data was collected at the site of the Jame‘ Mosque of Kashan by surveying the minaret, and library and oral sources were used to control the field data and provide the history of the minaret. The main strategy of the research is descriptive-analytical. The seismic analysis of the minaret was performed using SAP2000 software. The results of this study show that some of the measures taken in the construction of the mosque’ s minaret (dating to the Seljuq period as attested in its inscription) include: the tapering form of the minaret, decreasing thickness of its components by increasing height, decreased rigidity of construction, incorporation of two empty spaces for staircases, and the incorporation of wood in the construction. It is for such architectural arrangements that the minaret has remained intact from serious damage over the centuries.

This study aims to investigate the origins, concepts, and symbolic and formal functions of the Gunbad-i Qā bus tomb-tower based on interpretation of its inscription. This hermeneutic analysis addresses the historical context of the building formation, rethinking the concepts presented in its ten-piece inscription using philological methods, and compares it with the inscriptions of some other tomb-towers of Iran. Findings show that after the fall of Samanid dynasty, Qā bus b. Voshmgī r erected the symbol (tower) of his authority and charter of governance on the road from Gurgā n to Khurasan to show off his power and ensure his sovereignty against powerful enemies like the Buyids. The original intention of Qā bus to build the monument beyond its funerary function was the foundation of an eternal monument glorifying his virtues, grandeur, and ambitions. In addition, this landmark is a symbol of the consolidation of Qā bus’ s power in the political arena, and his perfection and eminence in art and literature.

Comfort is one of the key factors for urban open spaces to be used by citizens, so creating a suitable environment through protection against tough climatic conditions seems essential. Comfort is also a basic human need, and the way it is provided affects the quality of space. Due to the importance of thermal comfort in the quality of urban and neighborhood open spaces, as well as the impact of these spaces on comfort in residential exterior and interior spaces, this research attempts to assess and compare thermal conditions in open spaces of two residential neighborhoods with different physical structures and examine the comfort temperature and comfort zone for each. Hence, the neighborhood of ‘ Ali-Qoli Aqa, located in the traditional fabric, and Dashtestan neighborhood in the contemporary fabric of Isfahan city were studied in terms of thermal comfort. Accordingly, Nicol’ s method in level III and transverse sampling were used in field studies and setting the variables. The sample size includes residents and users of open spaces in the two neighborhoods in which four-hundred questionnaires were completed randomly within four days during the two cold and hot seasons. The standard effective temperature index was used to compare field observations with the results of calculating the thermal index. The results of the study show that although the comfort temperature and comfort zones are close to each other, at the same time they are different. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is because of differences in the type of structure and fabric of the residential area, as well as economic, social, and cultural conditions that the thermal perceptions of residents differ.

The lack of sense of belonging to place in urban spaces is one of the problems widely stated. There are objective and subjective factors in space that create sense of place. The combined effect of these factors create meaning for place and endow the environment with identity. This research seeks to find the relationship between the objective and subjective factors of space and the levels of sense of place. Using a qualitative-analytical method, the theoretical framework is presented through diagrams. The result of this research is a model for identifying the factors influencing sense of place and collective memory. The model divides the factors that influence sense of place into two categories: objective and subjective. Objective factors are physical criteria that create behavior settings and subjective factors are individual and collective mental images that create memorable places. Through qualitative questionnaires and field observations, these factors and the efficiency of the proposed model were evaluated at the Dez riverside. The diagrams developed in the first section of this study can be used as a framework for evaluating the characteristics of any place. Analysis of the questionnaires shows that the mills, the old bridge, and the Dez River have deep meanings for people and also a high sense of place and memory. This level of sense of place was evident in all three categories of participants (residents of Dezful, residents of Tehran who were born in Dezful, and tourists). The case study also indicates that there is a significant correlation between the level of meaning of place and level of sense of place.

Architecture is a multidimensional and multifaceted discipline. For this reason, learning and realization of architecture require that one gain knowledge and wisdom. The present study reviews the content required for architectural education and analyzes the success rate of a bachelor's degree program in the transfer of this content. This research is an applied quantitative survey. First, the educational content was discussed. Next, professors, employers, students, and graduated architects’ perspectives regarding the success rate of the bachelors’ degree program in the transfer of this content were asked in a questionnaire and assessed. The findings revealed that the three foundations of knowledge, competence, and wisdom constitute the content of architectural education. The evaluation of the success rate of the bachelors’ degree program in the transfer of this content shows that the most success is seen in the transfer of competence standing at a moderate level, while the success of the two components of knowledge and wisdom stay at a level generally lower than moderate.

Despite numerous studies regarding the development history of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, there are still many questions which have not been accurately answered to date. Some of them include the history of the square, the exact date of initiation and completion of construction of different elements of the square, and the order of their completion. This article tries to answer these questions accurately based on historical sources and documents. The research method is historical analysis of historical texts including historical books written in the Safavid period, travelogues of that era, and field studies such as review of the text of historical epigraphs. The main outcomes of this research are: 1. Answers to the ambiguities regarding the subject of research and delineating a clear time-line of Naqsh-e Jahan Square’ s development history; 2. collecting the most important relative pictorial documents and historical texts, and; 3. Presentation of multiple pictorial documents, for the first time, of the history and development of the square during the Safavid era.

Iranian miniature paintings very well reflect the structure and decorations of Iranian monuments. Therefore, they are good secondary sources to refer to and compensate for the lack of information in the study of Iranian architecture. In the present article, the plaster ornaments (stuccowork) that are reflected in Behzad’ s and Mirak’ s paintings— two famous painters of the Herat school of painting— have been studied and analyzed. The present article claims that there were no Tong-bori ornaments in either Timurid miniatures or Timurid architecture. The ornament which is depicted both in Timurid miniatures and seen in Timurid buildings is “ Mehrab-bori” (plaster cutting in the shape of a mehrab). The faces of Tong-bori ornaments are similar to ewers and pitchers, whereas the faces of Mehrab-bori ornaments are similar to mehrabs. Therefore, it is better to name the motifs as Mehrab-bori. Based on the analysis of miniature paintings and historical texts, it can be said that Mehrab-bori was designed to decorate grand buildings like palaces, pavilions, and mausoleums and it was also used for exhibiting exquisite objects in buildings of the Timurid era. Some royal buildings that have Mehrab-bori ornaments can be called chini-khaneh.

Any historical monument may have lost some fragments due to various factors. The extent of defects, whether in quantity or quality, directly relates to the loss of identity and integrity of the building, and reduces the accuracy of its physical or virtual reconstruction. On the other hand, a lack of understanding of the complete form of a building affects the degree of justification for its conservation. The Mosaic Iwan in Bishapur, which has suffered the named damages, is selected as a case study. The floor mosaic decorations of the iwan were sent to the National Museum of Iran and the Louvre Museum in Paris during excavations and nothing remains of the vault above the room. The lack of understanding of the original form of the building has derailed the protective measures, i. e., supporting walls are constructed regardless of the original form of the building and the location of mosaic floorings. The interpretive-historical strategy based on documentary and visual evidence was selected along with the simulation strategy for the research method. In this research, the current state of the building is compared with existing images of mosaic designs first, the damage caused by the lack of proper understanding of the original form of the building is identified, and then, the possibility and the role of virtual reconstruction in the preservation of the monument and its values are expressed. For this, the damaged architectural elements and decorations were reconstructed virtually. According to the principles of preserving the authenticity of works in a historical site, and that physical reconstruction can lead to the production of imitative and fake pieces, the production of virtual heritage is one of the ways to provide a visualization of the initial form of the building with minimal physical interference. Visualization of the imaginable initial form of a monument guides the main preservation plans. In other words, the outcome of this study is that the virtual reconstruction of the Mosaic Iwan can protect it from damage caused by the lack of understanding of its original form.

The subject of outdoor thermal comfort has been researched since 1970. Due to its differences with indoor thermal comfort, it must be assessed with the proper indices. Also, the outdoor thermal comfort of each geographical region must be assessed independently. This research aims to study the measurement indices of outdoor thermal comfort and subsequently determine the most relevant index to assess outdoor thermal comfort in the hot arid climate of Sistan Region (situated east of Iran in Sistan and Baluchestan Province). Next, the structural factors effective in moderating outdoor thermal comfort are identified. For this purpose, two sites with different types and densities of vegetation, floor area ratios, and pavement types were selected in Sistan Region. Field measurements were performed during certain days of June-August of 2016 (representing the hottest days of summer) during daytime in three-hour intervals. A review of past studies showed that physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) is the most relevant and the most used index for assessing outdoor thermal comfort. Based on the results of the descriptive analysis of the selected sites, the PET index was 1. 5° C lower in site 1, which consisted only of vegetation and no buildings, as compared to site 2, which consisted of both vegetation and buildings, showing that site 1 had better comfort conditions. In addition, it was shown that the overall state of thermal sensation in Sistan Region is “ very hot” during summer, except for areas that have shading and dense vegetation in which the state is “ hot” . Furthermore, inferential statistical analysis of data indicated that there is a significant correlation between the PET index and climate variables such as air temperature, relative humidity, and mean radiant temperature, as well as the structural factors of plant species and vegetation density. The PET index is highest in areas with no vegetation; average in areas with sparse bushy vegetation; and lowest in areas with dense vegetation and trees.

Nowadays, the reduced sense of place, sense of belonging, and identity in inhabitants of many urban areas especially in historical contexts that are undergone extensive and disproportionate redevelopment are an important issue in dealing with these districts. This descriptive-analytical research explores the multidimensional concept of sense of place and identifies its constituent factors in the historical neighborhood of Imamzadeh Yahya as a case study. For this, semi-structured questionnaires and interviews were used to measure sense of place and evaluate the influencing factors. Then, using the correlation test, significant relationships, as well as their strength and direction, were identified between the influencing factors. The results indicate that the perceived sense of place is weak in the residents of the selected neighborhood. This may be linked to the residents’ dissatisfaction with physical, social, activity-related and semantic features of the neighborhood. Also, the findings showed that there is a significant relationship between the residents’ sense of place and their sense of honor of residing in that neighborhood (P<0. 05). A higher level of sense of place improves the sense of community belonging among the inhabitants and their tendency to live and stay in their neighborhood. To the contrary, there was no significant relationship between the residents’ place attachment and wayfinding (navigation) in the context (P>0. 05, r=0. 156). The results also revealed that the existence of historical monuments in the neighborhood does not strengthen sense of place in residents, in spite of their interests in them (mean=4. 76), rather, they are only considered as existing potentials in the area. Therefore, it is possible to induce a higher level of sense of place, sense of belonging, and place identity with the help of all potential features and thoughtful planning.

The purposeful and applied learning of Structures as a pillar of architectural design is very important. The current educational content of Structures in architecture departments is based on theoretical discussions, mathematical formulas, and lecture-oriented material. As a result, students are incompetent in applying practical concepts and structural formal analyses to architectural design. Effective and applied learning of Structures is an important part of the educational process in all architectural programs. For this, the introduction of a course about New Structures and their efficient use throughout the design process in the architecture curriculum is very much needed to improve the students’ design skills. This study aims to delineate an effective educational solution for improving architectural design skills with design-based learning of new structural technologies. This scientific solution is a fusion of design skills development with a constructivist approach in interactive learning. The goal is to measure the effect of integration and interface of New Structures and students’ architectural design skills. The study was carried out in two stages of pre-testing (pilot) and post-testing (main) in an architectural design studio as an interactive and constructivist learning environment. The statistical population of the study consisted of the students of the third semester of the master’ s program of architecture in Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Branch, who were divided into three 15-member groups, one of which was the experimental group and the two others were control groups. The data were collected, assessed and analyzed based on the main components of the study and consecutive tests and according to scientific appraisal criteria. The findings indicate a positive correlation between the interactive learning of new structural technologies in the design studio and improvement of the main components of design skills.

Urban neighborhoods are a suitable context to form sustainable social relationships and increase trust and social participation. With the development of cities and fundamental changes in the lifestyles of residents, we are faced with widespread changes and even disconnections in close relationships. For this, the concept of social capital in local communities can be effectively employed for improving sustainable social development and quality of life. The purpose of this research is to identify the dimensions of social capital and quality of life at the level of urban neighborhoods and to measure the mutual effects between social capital and quality of life in the two neighborhoods of Sultan Mir-Ahmad and Fin in Kashan. This is an applied research using combinatorial data analysis (qualitative literature analysis and quantification methods). Multi-stage sampling was used and data was gathered through questionnaires. The t-test, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling were used to assess the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate a significant relationship between all dimensions of social capital with those of quality of life. The most effective dimension of social capital on quality of life is the trust index (0. 85), while the most effective dimension of quality of life on social capital is the environmental health index (0. 88). Therefore, by improving trust as the most effective social capital index, it is possible to improve the quality of life in urban neighborhoods, and by improving environmental health indicators that improve quality of life in urban neighborhoods it is possible to the optimal social capital. The mutual effects of the dimensions of social capital and quality of life can be used to regenerate rich capital and better quality of life in urban neighborhoods.