JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES IN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Year:2025 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (پیاپی 46)|Papers Count:7

Understanding and critiquing architecture requires examining its transformations across time—tracing its past, present, and potential future states to propose pathways for improvement. Such an analysis demands shared attributes that enable comparative study across different periods and works. Fixed attributes, as opposed to variable ones, offer a more stable foundation for assessing and guiding architectural evolution. The concept of the “center” emerges as a key shared attribute due to its universality and hierarchical role in both physical and semantic structures of architecture. Despite differing theoretical perspectives, scholars such as Arnheim, Norberg-Schulz, and Christopher Alexander acknowledge the presence of centers in all architectural works, transcending temporal and spatial boundaries. By analyzing architectural changes through the functions of these centers, it becomes possible to evaluate transformations and propose recommendations for achieving desirable states. This study adopts a systemic approach, drawing on the evolutionary framework of the “System of Wilayah” (developed by the Academy of Islamic Sciences in Qom) to understand and direct architectural change. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the research models the evolutionary stages of the center, introducing the system of agency within centers as a mechanism for identifying and guiding architectural development over time.

Geometry and proportion have served as foundational organizing principles in Iranian architecture, particularly evident in the spatial configuration of historic houses in Qom during the Qajar, late Qajar, and Pahlavi periods. This research presents a comparative analysis of spatial proportions in 23 heritage residences, examining dimensional ratios of primary spaces - including courtyards, rooms, three-door (se-dari), and five-door (panj-dari) halls - against three established proportional systems: the golden ratio (1.618), the Iranian golden rectangle (1.73), and the Gaz and Peymon (1.066). Employing an analytical-comparative methodology, the study combines field measurements with architectural plan analysis, utilizing statistical evaluation through ANOVA and one-sample t-tests in R software. The findings demonstrate that while overarching proportional principles maintained relative consistency across the three historical periods, specific spatial elements exhibited distinct patterns of alignment with the examined systems. Rooms from the Qajar period showed the most consistent correspondence with all three proportional frameworks, while late Qajar reception spaces predominantly adhered to the golden ratio. The Pahlavi era witnessed a return to Gaz and Peymon proportions in courtyard design, likely reflecting contemporary standardization efforts. Notably, courtyard proportions in earlier periods diverged from the studied systems, potentially resulting from land availability constraints, evolving domestic requirements, and broader socio-economic transformations. This investigation highlights the enduring significance of geometric principles in Persian residential architecture and proposes their thoughtful integration into contemporary design practice. Such an approach offers potential for maintaining regional architectural identity while addressing the climatic demands of Qom’s arid environment. The study contributes to ongoing scholarly discourse on Islamic architectural heritage preservation and adaptive reuse strategies.

Housing serves a dual purpose as both shelter and a vital contributor to human health and comfort. While traditional architecture successfully integrated medical and environmental knowledge to create health-oriented designs, contemporary housing often prioritizes economic factors over biological well-being, effectively transferring responsibility for occupant health from architects to medical professionals. This study investigates healthy housing patterns in hot, dry climates, using Kashan, Iran as a case study due to its well-preserved traditional houses and representative climate conditions. Employing qualitative methods with analytical and logical reasoning, the research examines traditional and modern houses through the lens of medical and architectural knowledge. The urban scale analysis reveals important patterns in residential block orientation and the structure of closed versus open spaces, proposing both ideal configurations and corrective measures for current housing. At the architectural scale, the study identifies critical zoning considerations addressing air quality, sleep cycles, and physical movement patterns. Spatial design patterns emerge for various house components, including outdoor spaces like yards and roofs, transitional spaces such as porches and terraces, and interior spaces ranging from living areas to service spaces. These patterns demonstrate how traditional design principles responsive to climate and human biology can inform contemporary housing reform. As global temperatures rise, the research offers timely solutions for healthier living in hot, arid regions by bridging historical wisdom with modern needs. The findings provide architects with actionable models to reintegrate health as a fundamental design priority, particularly relevant for regions facing increasing climate challenges. The study ultimately advocates for a return to more holistic design approaches that prioritize occupant well-being alongside functional and economic considerations.

Conventional spatial planning in Iran has traditionally emphasized strict zoning, separating residential, industrial, and agricultural areas through new towns, industrial estates, and urban boundary lines. However, this article argues that such segregation is neither the only nor the most desirable approach. Instead, it advocates for integrated land use at the household and neighborhood scales—where residence, small-scale industry, and agriculture coexist on the same plot. While mixed-use development typically refers to adjacent but separate functions, this research promotes simultaneous activity integration, proposing a model that enhances economic resilience and cultural vitality. Using a comparative methodology and Best Practice analysis, the study examines global examples of housing-agriculture and housing-industry integration, extracting lessons for Iran while critiquing current urban and regional policies. The prevailing large-scale, centralized industrial and agricultural model—justified by economies of scale—has alienated communities from nature, restricted self-employment opportunities, and concentrated wealth. In contrast, productive housing allocates per capita space for family-run workshops and agriculture within residential units, enabling households to work independently alongside their families. This approach aligns with Islamic principles of equitable wealth distribution (Article 43 of Iran’s Constitution) by decentralizing production and reducing reliance on capital-dominated industries. The proposed model organizes productive housing units into neighborhood-scale “bio-cities,” leveraging technology for efficient, small-scale production. Families can manufacture competitive industrial goods while supplementing income with agricultural activities. A decentralized distribution system (e.g., direct producer markets) eliminates intermediaries and spatial rent burdens. Findings challenge entrenched assumptions, demonstrating that: 1. Food security is not compromised by integrated housing-agriculture systems; 2. Economies of scale are not universally superior to decentralized production; and 3. Rigid urban-rural boundaries are socially and economically counterproductive. By prioritizing family-scale production, this framework fosters social justice, curbs poverty, revitalizes small settlements, and rebalances spatial planning. It calls for policy shifts—including land redistribution, knowledge-sharing systems, and fair distribution networks—to empower households as primary economic units, ultimately disrupting capital monopolies and achieving sustainable spatial equity.

Academic performance is significantly influenced by indoor thermal conditions, where discomfort can disrupt learning processes and reduce productivity. This study examines an often-overlooked factor in thermal comfort research: the Islamic practice of ablution (wudu) and its duration-dependent effects on students’ thermal perception. The research employed a controlled climate chamber experiment simulating classroom conditions at four temperature levels (17°, 21°, 25°, and 29°C). Twenty male architecture students participated in a within-subject design, testing two conditions on consecutive days: with and without pre-session ablution. Thermal comfort was measured at 30-minute intervals over a 2-hour period using standardized assessments, with data analyzed via SPSS27. Key findings reveal that ablution significantly extends thermal comfort tolerance. Participants who performed ablution maintained comfort for approximately 1.5 hours longer than their non-ablution counterparts across all temperature conditions. This effect was particularly pronounced in warmer environments (25-29°C), suggesting ablution’s cooling mechanism—through evaporative heat loss from moistened skin surfaces—effectively buffers against thermal stress. The study highlights the cultural dimension of thermal adaptation strategies, demonstrating how ritual practices can functionally interact with environmental physiology. These results offer practical implications for designing academic spaces in Islamic contexts, suggesting scheduling considerations for post-prayer classes and the potential integration of water-based cooling strategies in educational architecture. Further research should explore gender-specific responses and longer-term adaptation effects.

The concept of schema, originating in psychology, has been widely applied across disciplines, including architecture, where studies demonstrate its critical role in design success. However, psychological theories alone fail to fully explain the depth of mental schemas evident in Islamic architecture, necessitating an epistemological examination through Islamic philosophy. This research employs Mullah Sadra’s philosophical framework to investigate architects’ mental schemas, addressing three key questions: (1) Which aspects of psychological schema theory align or conflict with Sadra’s epistemology? (2) What philosophical principles of Sadra’s system are overlooked in schema theory? (3) How can architects’ mental schemas be redefined more comprehensively? As a foundational study, this research adopts a comparative methodology, analyzing psychological theories of schema alongside Sadra’s epistemology through library-based research and logical reasoning. The comparison reveals both convergences and divergences between the two perspectives. Shared elements include the subject-object relationship, hierarchical expansion of perception, and the role of schema as descriptive and procedural knowledge. However, Sadra’s philosophy introduces critical dimensions absent in psychological schema theory, such as the epistemic role of intuitive cognition (heart-based perception), the dynamic progression of knowledge through “essential movement” (al-haraka al-jawhariyya), and the teleological orientation of cognition toward the Supreme Truth. These distinctions carry significant implications for architectural practice. Architects must recognize the levels of existence in perception, allowing their schemas to evolve through ascending stages of cognition. During design, intuitive perception enables the discovery of meaning, which is then materialized through architectural form. Consequently, this study redefines architects’ mental schemas as intuitive-mental constructs rooted in the connection between the architect and multiple existential realms. These schemas embody both descriptive knowledge (interpretations derived from the soul’s ascending journey toward unity) and procedural knowledge (the descent of meaning into physical form). By integrating Sadra’s epistemology, architects can cultivate richer schemas, bridging transcendent understanding with tangible creation. This research not only expands schema theory philosophically but also provides a framework for enhancing architectural design through epistemological depth, emphasizing the synthesis of intuition, existential awareness, and material execution.

Vernacular architecture emerges from the dynamic interplay between human societies and their natural environments, embodying centuries of adaptive wisdom. However, the transition to modernity has precipitated a decline in this architectural tradition, contributing to today’s environmental and cultural crises in the built environment. This study examines the evolving conceptualization of vernacular architecture through a developmental lens, seeking to uncover sustainable principles that transcend temporal and spatial boundaries. Employing a qualitative, historical-analytical approach, the research systematically reviews existing literature and conducts a meta-synthesis of vernacular architecture’s trajectory—from its earliest manifestations to contemporary expressions. Using Gephi software for network analysis, the study identifies and evaluates key criteria through pairwise comparisons, ultimately developing a super matrix of influential components. The findings reveal vernacular architecture as a fluid, dynamic concept comprising two fundamental clusters: geographic (climate, natural resources, flora/fauna) and human (physical, economic, social, cultural, spiritual, artistic, and technical factors). These interact to produce 43 timeless sub-criteria that shape architectural expression. Crucially, the study demonstrates that vernacular architecture is not confined to historical contexts but continually re-emerges through contemporary human-environment interactions. This research challenges static perceptions of vernacular architecture, proposing instead a framework for adapting its core principles to modern design challenges. By distilling these universal yet adaptable criteria, the study provides architects with a methodological approach to reintegrate sustainable, context-responsive values into contemporary practice—bridging traditional wisdom with current needs while addressing pressing environmental concerns.