Journal of Revitalization School
Year:2024 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:6

In urban literature and restoration, a variety of interventions such as renovation, rehabilitation, revitalization, and re-generation are used to address the issue of dysfunctional tissues. The type of intervention is affected by the temporal and spatial features of the context. Apart from that, various constituent layers of the context determine social, economic, and physical characteristics.  Regardless of the nature and complexity of these concepts, two fundamental issues need to be taken into consideration: 1) to be theory-based and 2) to be context-oriented. Many concerned people acknowledge that one of the reasons for the failure of urban development plans and programs is the lack of a written theory. A  theory primarily serves as a structured framework to shed light on phenomena by describing the relationship between its various constituent elements and provides a foundation for critical thought. Also, the grounded theory serves as a foundation for practical approaches and prepares a better understanding of the problem with regard to the context in the first stage and offers a solution in the next steps. With such a background and focusing on the concept of urban regeneration as a more recent and all-inclusive approach, we can expect a clearer and more tangible practical result. To do so, we need to adapt the approach to its biological equivalent based on "transformation-permanence" and use it as a theory. In intergenerational biological reproduction, the focus is on how the traits of a living organism are transformed through heredity or genetics, and in other words, what changes and what remains the same. In such a view, offspring, as the product of a process, inherit traits in the form of genetic characteristics from their environment and parents. Such characteristics can manifest in physiological and behavioral aspects. As comparing the city and the living creature can be sometimes misleading, it is necessary to take into account the essential differences between the two. We can expect that such a differentiation will be applied in urban regeneration as well. Among other things, this inheritance is not only limited to the form but will be affected by the geographical, social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Understanding the similarities and discrepancies between generations has encountered limits and gaps, but it is always possible to confirm the hereditary relationship definitively through scientific means. So far, such hereditary characteristics have been transferred in the form of traits through genes from the early generations to the next generations and evolved under the influence of the environment. These features can be obvious and impressive in some aspects and internal and invisible in some aspects. The important point highlighted by this theory is that after the intervention and regeneration, the new context cannot completely disassociate from the previous generation(s) and its geographical, cultural, and social background.

The city is the most complex achievement of human civilization, and the most intricate aspect of the city is its development. This development must respond to various material and spiritual needs. It must be both this and that, rather than either this or that. One of the simplest yet most challenging urban issues and aspects of its development is the matter of deteriorated fabrics and their renovation. Much has been written on this subject, and numerous plans and programs have been designed and implemented based on it. However, the fundamental question has remained: “Which renovation?” This is the most significant question we have faced today and for many years. Which renovation will serve Iranian contexts the best, and what characteristics should this renovation possess? The present article aims to address the questions efficiently by examining the current conditions of deteriorated fabrics and their renovation in Iran. The response is presented as a model titled the “Smart Balanced Renovation Model,” based on the “Balanced Renovation Theory of Urban Deteriorated Fabrics”.

Geometry in architecture is used as a tool to create diversity in designs, which is a highly significant topic. Wooden “minbars” are one of the special elements of Islamic art in Iran, showcasing creativity, innovations, and the beauty of wood craftsmanship. The Grand Mosque of Isfahan, with several wooden minbars constructed in different periods, holds special value for the study of the decorations of historical minbars. Among these is the Minbar of Oljaito, located in the Oljaito prayer hall of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan. In this research, the authors aim to analyze the structure of the wooden decorations of this minbar. Research question of this article is: 1. What are the characteristics and features of the geometric decorations of the Oljaito Minbar of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan? 2. What innovations do the Oljaito Minbar of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan exhibit based on its technical and artistic features? The objectives of this research include geometric analysis, understanding the geometry of Gereh, and examining the physical and aesthetic characteristics of the Oljaito Minbar and its innovations based on the technical and artistic features of this artwork. This study employed a descriptive-analytical method. The Minbar of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan was analyzed qualitatively using library, documentary, and field data. The findings of this article show that the Minbar of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan is decorated with “Gereh Hasht” and “Tabl”, “Dahe Kond” and “Shol”, ten slow knots, and “Hasht” and “ChaharLengeh”. Ultimately, these geometric decorations are depicted and presented more precisely. The geometric analysis of the Gereh used in the Minbar of the Grand Mosque of Isfahan plays an important role in understanding the geometric decorations of its historical period. This analysis can lead to a better understanding of how wooden structures were constructed and designed in the past and contribute to preserving historical wooden decorations.

The intentional destruction of historical buildings is a global issue that poses a threat to cultural and historical heritage. These demolitions, caused by human factors, can have various motivations. In cases where parts of a structure have been demolished, actions such as reconstruction and infill design may provide a way to address these destructions. This research aims to offer strategies for combating the intentional destruction of historical buildings and identifying its motivations to effectively manage the reconstruction process of historically demolished structures over time. The study seeks to answer the question: What actions should be taken in response to the demolished sections and remaining parts of historical buildings to prevent such unfortunate events? This research employed a qualitative, descriptive-analytical method to gain a deep understanding of the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge of individuals regarding the intentional destruction of historical buildings. This study also focused on the methods of preventing and reconstructing remaining sections, as well as infill design for completely demolished areas. The focus was on the central area of Mashhad city, including the historical fabric surrounding the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and the adjacent area in the Sarab neighborhood. This method was based on the analysis of primary texts and qualitative interviews with individuals involved in these demolitions, along with expert analysis in this field. This research examines the factors influencing the intentional destruction of historical buildings and demonstrates that economic motivations and poor management policies are among the main reasons for the destruction of these structures in the central area of Mashhad, specifically in the Sarab neighborhood. Most individuals experience regret after demolition. Instead of complete destruction or abandonment of semi-demolished buildings, infill design for demolished sections and reconstruction of remaining parts can be an effective solution that not only aids in the revival of these structures but also considers economic factors, social dimensions, collective memories, and urban development.

Urban green landscape as a part of the urban landscape has multiple impacts on various aspects of citizens' lives and how it is developed is of great importance. In contemporary development plans, green landscape is considered merely as a decorative phenomenon for recreation and its environmental benefits are considered, which in the sustainable development approach, economic and social aspects are also considered. The development of contemporary green space in the vicinity of Khuzestan rivers has reduced the multiple functions and identity role of the river and green landscape to recreational elements in the city, and as a result, the separation of these two from the daily lives of residents. In recent development plans, a comprehensive model is often presented for all cities, while the spatial capacities and needs of residents are considered a determining factor in the development process. The river cities of Khuzestan also have their own characteristics and capacities that determine the style of green landscape based on the needs of residents in these cities. Therefore, understanding this style and its characteristics is essential for place-based development. This study, by reading the landscapes, identified these features through field observations using the exploratory method and in some cases, examined historical documents. The results of the observations showed that the green landscape in the cities of Dezful, Susa, and Shushtar was organized as an oasis in order to adapt to the climate, located in the pause poimts and focal points of the city in order to connect with daily activities, selected native palm and kenar trees with sacred status as monocultures, and in general, the green landscape is multifunctional. The green landscape, in continuous connection with people's lives, has met the needs of residents and has been created based on the functional, climatic, cultural, social, economic, and identity capacities of the place. Therefore, the native green landscape of these cities, with its place-making components, can play a fundamental role in place-based development, which needs to be considered in the development process.

Minarets, the tallest Iranian architectural elements, include special construction technology. Oral history of the architecture reveals minaret construction technology. This research reveals the forgotten aspects of the construction of Iranian brick minarets. Nowadays the technology of construction minarets has been forgotten. The latest generation of traditional architects still contains some of the mysteries associated with the process of Construction of such buildings. Most of the studies have historical aspects and very few studies have been done on their practical geometry (how construction and method of design). Researchers have been investigating the minarets using comparative methods only in the departments of morphology, ornamentations, construction, etc. but, the present research examines and analyzes for the first time the practical geometry. This research is the first to analyze the process of construction minarets from the perspective of traditional craftsmen. The most important reference in understanding the construction technology of minarets after desk studies was interviewing craftsmen. In this research, the minarets of Isfahan city have been studied in different historical periods. These surveys divulge the construction methods and different types of minarets in Isfahan.