IRANIAN ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
Year:2018 | Volume:9 | Issue:15 |Papers Count:13

After the development of transportation and the decline of environmental quality, especially in central context of cities, improving people’ s living conditions and returning urban spaces to them became important. During the past five decades, many cities from all over the word have focused on the policy of constructing footpaths in order to make the cities walkable. However, constructing footpaths in various cities has had different outcomes, so far in some places that it has led to the closure of footpaths due to their failure and the reopening of the path to vehicles. Therefore, in this research we identify valid indicators for comparing successful examples of Iranian and foreign footpaths. With this we could identify the most important weaknesses of Iranian pathways compared to their foreign counterparts. This research is descriptive-analytic and is based on documentary and field studies. Also, Analytical Network Process (ANP) method has been used in order to compare the case studies, and to preserve all the relationships between clusters and nodes in the assessment. Furthermore, Delphi method (opinions of expert group) has been used for comparing the paired nodes and clusters. The results of this research show that the quality of Iranian footpaths is considerably lower than the quality of foreign footpaths. One of the main reasons for this is the absence of adequate attention towards “ Social and Management” parameters in the planning and designing process of footpaths. Therefore, it is suggested that these factors are taken into consideration: paying attention to the needs of the “ Beneficiaries’ in the designing process” , the “ variety of users” , and “ Project flexibility” .

The development of cities and uncontrolled increase in the number of vehicles have led to the inability of children to use many spaces and lands appropriate for play. This is while urban areas, especially urban parks, can have the greatest impact on fostering children's creativity. The aim of this study is to identify physical components that affect the creativity of Iranian children aged 6 to 12 in playgrounds located in urban parks, and to explain the most important index of each of the components and the relation between them. In this study, by combining theories related to the subject, survey research method is used. Also, in order to determine the view of professionals on effective physical factors, targeted self-made questionnaires were distributed between 154 Iranian experts in the area of urban planning, architecture, phycology, and educational science and 94 acceptable responses were received. The collected data was analyzed and ranked using SPSS22 and statistical tests; then, with Path Analysis Method and the help of Smart PLS software, the research model was developed based on relationships between variables. The results, according to experts' view, show that the most important components influencing the enhancement of the children's creativity are diversity, vitality and physical flexibility in urban play spaces. With this said, material diversity and sitting spaces have the greatest direct and indirect impact on children’ s creativity.

Analyzing the spatial features of Islamic-Iranian cities has been a dominant mode in studies related to urban history in Iran. The research investigates the socio-political structure of Iran after the Safavid dynasty up to the Constitutional reform in order to get a better understanding of different influential factors in governing cities. This research offers an alternative way of reading Islamic-Iranian cities through which urban space becomes a reflection of power relation and interaction between different institutions involved in urban government. Starting with introduction of state-society structure in pre-modern Iran, the article suggests three institutions that are directly involved in urban government. These three institutions are: the institution of the sovereign (Nahad-e-Hakemiatن, the institution of shari’ a (Nahad-e Mazhab), and the institution of custom (Nahad-e-Urf) corresponding respectively to the state, religion, and communal affiliations. The negotiation and interaction between these three institutions were fundamental for maintaining secutiy, stability, public morality and social welfare of inhabitants in one coherent urban system. Accordingly, the produced space in traditional Iranian cities was a result of collective interaction between the state’ s authority, customs, and religious culture realized in different functional zones of cities which are politico-administrative zone of citadel (arg), socio-economical zone of bazar and semi-autonomous zone of residential neighbourhoods.

The capacity of buildings to use solar radiance to supply their energy needs via absorbing sun-light energy through the outer envelope makes it so vital to have a substantial consideration to the design of buildings’ shell as an energy-efficient element. The amount of electrical energy output of a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) relates to various factors such as solar incidence of its platform, optimum orientation of building toward the Sun, form of its shell as well as the efficiency of photovoltaic modules used within the system as electricity generator. From mentioned factors, the form of a building envelope can intensify the yield of a BIPV system by being integrated to solar plain concentrators which known as CPV system. This research tries to monitor the effect of reflection on BIPV envelope efficiency improvement by doing an experimental test in which the increase of the output of a south-oriented photovoltaic module under a flat mirror reflection has been evaluated. The research concludes an improvement equal to 13. 19% in output power by adding the flat mirror on the east/west sides of the module and 11. 19% increase for a flat horizontal mirror perpendicular to the PV on southern faç ade. On the other hand, the research recommends the angle of 26 degrees inclination from the east and west for mirrors to reach to their best solar situation in which there is no shading effect on the PV surface. Moreover, results of this research shows that the best proportion for a rectangular mirror as a reflector is when its depth to height ratio is 0. 5 or D/H=0. 5. The research is categorized as an applied research which uses experimental-descriptive method to reach the goals.

From among the vast domain of household needs in Iran, those which change throughout time and demand family adaptation are the most evident ones. To enhance the qualitative properties of housing, interior space flexibility and adaptability factors are regarded as appropriate solutions to the households' changing needs. The present study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative oriented approaches, benefitting from content analysis method. To do so, data collection procedure was carried out based on library references and previous related literature to establish a framework for conducting interviews with experts and scholars along with analyzing their views. The designed questionnaire was then delivered to 15 conversant experts. The results obtained from analyzing and evaluating their opinions and ideas introduced four types of flexibility according to priority, namely: expansibility, possibility of different furnishings, divisibility, and multi-functionality of space. Each one of these spatial qualities responds to a specific changing need of an Iranian core family, enhancing the flexibility of housing.

Traditionally, among sources of renewable energy, solar energy has played a great role in providing heating and lighting for the building. The heat gain from solar energy, especially in winters, can reduce the need for heating systems and as a result the consumption of energy. However, this issue in summer time can increase space cooling Loads. One of the most important factors for improving energy efficiency in the building is controlling direct solar radiation. Considering that windows are the only part of a building, which allow solar radiation to enter directly, shading is essential to prevent solar radiation penetrating the interior. Shutters are one type of these elements which have been used in Iran's architecture. The wooden type with fixed louvers were common in residential buildings of Tehran in Pahlavi period. Despite the fact that shutters have a great impact on thermal performance, they are not used by contemporary architects in Iran. This research aims to investigate energy efficiency of window shutters with different parameters: installation place, control method and material. The results show that the external shutters with movable louvers and intelligent control have greater effect on reducing thermal loads compared to the other types.

During the past decades many design strategies have been used in urban spaces of Iranian cities to increase the inclusiveness of these spaces. But still, there are some problems and worries that many groups such as elderly citizens have when it comes to urban public spaces. One of the principles necessary in providing comfort for users of urban spaces is prompting environmental security. The pleasance of an urban spaces depends, on one hand, on being protected against danger and physical injury and, on the other, on mental protection against insecurity and fear of crime. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of physical components of Khan square as an urban space on sense of security in old citizens. A total of 200 people with the age of 55 and above participated in the survey. The research method used is survey type which is a type of applied study in which techniques such as library documents and references as well as Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, multiple regression and Pearson's Correlation Test are used. Findings of the research indicate that components such as security, light and urban texture have the most effect on the sense of safety in urban space.

User-oriented change management in educational spaces will provide an opportunity to maintain productivity at an acceptable level through minimal time and capital. The current study attempted to enhance productivity in educational spaces. By a comparative analysis of student needs throughout the change management of school spaces, this paper explored what changes are essential to bring an educational space to desirable conditions, and whether the change priorities are identical for all students from different classes. In achieving these objectives, effort was made to adopt a hybrid model (quantitative-qualitative) to evaluate the physical elements of classroom space based on drawings received from a total of 150 female third-graders at 6 different classes in Ardabil, Iran. The results demonstrated that change priorities varied from the perspective of students from each classroom depending on their specific preferences. This emphasized the significance of individualistic attitude and decision-making on physical transformation of primary schools. In that light, it is crucial to focus on users of educational spaces throughout the change process, thereby to ensure each change will promote the quality of spaces and meet both user preferences and organizational productivity.

Nowadays, with the development of cities and urbanization, the need for security in various areas is felt more than ever, yet, it is different from what it was before. Meanwhile, psychological security is considered as one of the main and decisive parts of the security concept in urban spaces which is greatly affected by different variables. One of these variables, the effect of which on the sense of security in a place is the subject of this article, is physical visibility in urban environment. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the visibility of the body of urban squares-as a type of urban space-and the psychological security of the said spaces in the mind of pedestrians. In this context, a review and evaluation will be discussed in Saat and Namaz Squares of Tabriz. In order to evaluate and analyze visual data based on the natural movement of the observer in the urban space, Isovist 3D technique, and Geoweb3D software were used. Moreover, digital interactive modeling (simulated by Unity 3D software) was used to assess the impact of physical changes on visibility and in turn, the psychological security of the environments under study. In this study, from among the various components affecting psychological security in urban spaces, four components, i. e. space, form of space, visual comfort and permeability, were investigated as the most important physical factors affecting the psychological security. The results of assessments carried out showed that spaces with better indices of visibility (such as the volume of visibility, the layout of forms defining the volumetric structure of space, location and dominance of remarkable anchor points visible in space, etc. ) are much more effective in altering the perception of the environment compared to other physical aspects, and contribute to a sense of psychological security. This research is a descriptive-analytic and applied research and field, library and documentary methods (with interviews and questionnaires) were used for data collections. Also, visual data analysis modeling has been utilized. The results of data analyses show that Saat Square of Tabriz, with limited sight range and more spatially defined familiarity, is more successful compared to Namaz square in providing a better and safer place in the minds of citizens.

In addition to conserving non-renewable resources, saving fossil fuels will result in reducing environmental pollution. Preventing the loss of heat when heating is required as well as using renewable energies are some solutions for saving energy. South greenhouse (sunspace) is one of the systems for creating passive heating. This study was conducted to investigate south greenhouses in residential apartments and this model, which was constructed in Shahrud (a city with cold climate) was selected as the case study. To measure temperature control buffer zone (the greenhouse), field method and data loggers (digital thermometer) were employed. After measuring the temperature of the space (sunspace and living room) during specified hours and comparing the temperature of the weather outside the building (data derived from Meteorology Department), heat dissipation of the living room was calculated using experimental method. Results show that greenhouse on the south side of the building reduces heat loss in the adjacent space (living room) for about 33 percent and prevents the direct heat exchange between this space and the exterior of the building.

Historic district regeneration process searches for sustainable physical, socio-cultural and economic development and therefore, its main principle is socio-economic revitalization. In this regard, intervention method in public spaces to gain socio-economic revitalization of historic district in compliance with realization of regeneration goals, has become the main challenge of modern urban regeneration knowledge. To answer this challenge, recent academic literature in the field of urban planning and design confirms the necessity of pedestrian flow analysis in urban districts to explain how much citizens benefit from environmental qualities, and also the role of appropriate flow distribution in socialization, reinforcing social capital and local economic growth of urban districts. Therefore, in this research, in compliance with historic district regeneration with focus on public urban spaces, the subject of pedestrian flow demand analysis is considered to assess the status-quo plans and also suggest efficient solutions for proper pedestrian flows distribution in historic district, by using the given results. Realizing this operative goal, firstly increases the amount of environmental qualities citizens benefit from, due to the implementation of regenerating plans. This results in the improvement of the district’ s vitality, sociality of urban spaces, and reinforcement of social capital to retain local citizens. Secondly, correct pedestrian flow distribution in districts would lead to appropriate distribution of economic opportunities and hence create local economic growth and revitalization of the district’ s economy. Therefore, in this research estimating pedestrian trip demand function, as the first step in the comprehensive study of pedestrian flow, is considered as an operative goal and which is a basis for appropriate pedestrian flow distribution in districts. This triggers the realization of socio-economic revitalization of districts and results in the regeneration of the district as the ultimate goal. This research, in terms of goal, is an applied research and in terms of method, is a correlation research. Researched indexes, as independent variables, are based on literature review. A part of the historic district of Tehran is selected as the case study of the proposed process, and as well as assessing the district maps, the raw data for modeling is gathered by using questionnaires. Finally, step by step regression is used to explain the relationship between independent and dependent variables, and also to estimate pedestrian trip demand with regards to demand goals. The results of regression, are tested in terms of meaningfulness of the whole regression and also every independent variable, and finally, the proposed relations to estimate pedestrian flow demand are provided. Based on quantitative relations given by regression and also suggestions of the legitimate elaborate plan of the district, it is determined that the suggestions of this detailed plan for the appropriate distribution of pedestrian flow, is not effective. Consequently, major reviews in the plan suggestions, as an upper-hand plan, is required in order to revitalize socio-economic life and achieve the regeneration goals of the studied district. Therefore, the proposed process could be highly effective and efficient in assessing and enriching the historic districts’ regeneration plans.

One of the most important issues in architectural education, is the learning process and attention to individual differences in this field. In architectural education, the architects utalize other disciplines, including education and training sciences to optimally critique their own work during assessments and evaluations. This is considered as one of the important requirements for improving design quality and the lack of it will lead to a gap between research and professional environments. However, education in a social system based on Islamic tenets, must be different from others. Islam recognizes the importance and necessity of utilizing the benefits of the science and knowledge of other lands; but in order to correctly apply these achievements in any area such as architecture, it is necessary to harmonize their components with native values and religious concepts. Combining different scientific, philosophical and religious methods can help to better explain phenomena such as learning that has different aspects. One of the noticible theories in the field of education is Kolb's learning theory, which is referred to in the field learning sciences and more accepted among researchers. This theory examines the different ways that people receive and process information. This research has been conducted with aim to review and evaluate Kolb's learning theory based on Islamic principles and values in architectural education, and to also answer the question of whether Kolb's learning theory is close to Islamic theoretical foundations in learning and teaching architecture or not? For this purpose, a comparative study has been done between this theory and the relevant Islamic structure, which has the capability of being used in all human processes (Such as learning, teaching and creating works of art, architecture and urbanism). Given the interdisciplinary nature of architecture, a combination of research methods are used in this article including logical reasoning and analytical-commentary methods based on two sources: reason and quote. The findings indicate that Kolb's learning model is based on experience and individual differences in learning, which from an Islamic view has been confirmed and emphasis on. But due to its interdisciplinary nature, in order to utilize this in a correct and Islamic education of architecture, additional topics have been suggested. This model corresponds with parts of the Islamic model, but has weaknesses in anthropological topics. Also, this model can't evaluate concepts such as Intuition and Inspiration, which are related to higher levels of learning in human beings. Achieving these levels leads to the establishment of wisdom and recognition of its necessity in the higher education system of the country.

Using semiotics as a tool for analyzing and interpreting explicit and implied implications present in the phenomena as a system of socio-cultural signs, the current research intends to decode and understand semantic concepts and metaphors in how to organize the space and main concepts constituting space and architecture of Arg of Karim Khan. Using a historical interpretation method and cultural semiotic strategies, the current research seeks to identify cultural meanings and the impacts of Zandiyeh’ s life style on the monument and the matching of the unique characteristics of the monument with the themes underlying Zandiyeh tribal culture. In this regard, the current article presents some interpretations consistent with the monument which are of utmost significance in the interpretation of the architecture influenced by ethnic culture and art. The results indicate that tribal art sis capable of creating a non-representational world in which the visual reality of the phenomena is shaped independent from any representational and expressive feature. It can be said that, paying attention to this process (factors such as simplicity, not extravagant, connection with nature, euphoria and happiness, and peace) confirms the absence of any mere functional and conservative perspective in the content of art and architecture of Zandiyeh period, also specifies that “ deliberative functionalism of ethnic art” as the third important theme of ethnic art after “ naturalism” and “ simplification resulting from abstraction of meanings” has been influential on spatial pattern and the ornamentation of Arg of Karim Khan. Other reasons include a wide variety and strong presence of the monument’ s murals conveying the geometrical and abstract motifs of natural elements with the technique of implementation in the School of Shiraz.