Soffeh
Year:2014 | Volume:24 | Issue:64|Papers Count:11

A primary generator is an initial concept or structural idea that the designer chooses at the beginning of the design process as the basis for all the next design steps. As initiators and developers of design, and due to complexity of their formation for designers and design students, primary generators have been the subject of recent design research.Design practice and education demonstrates that initial studies and data collection do not play an effective role in formation of a primary generator or initiation of design because of their analytical nature. This paper presents another type of knowledge more influential in design, i.e. tacit knowing. While explicit knowledge is of a general nature and readily expressed, tacit knowing is personal and unexpressed and is acquired through experience. Tacit knowing thus depends on a meaningful holistic understanding of the design problem integrated with designer’s preferences and beliefs. A comparison of characteristics of these two types of knowing and those of primary generators, demonstrates that tacit knowing plays an effective role in formation of primary generators.

Earth-Sheltered Architecture is an architectural concept extensively used in traditional Persian architecture of hot arid climates. It is now gaining popularity as a means for energy saving in buildings. This paper explains diverse typologies of subterranean and semi-subterranean buildings. Key advantages of this construction include its energy efficiency, improved building protection, lower maintenance costs and increased privacy. Its main disadvantages include increased excavation and soil solidification costs, drainage and waterproofing problems, claustrophobic spaces and ventilation problems. By presenting scientific data and some case studies showing the impact of depth on the thermal stability of the subterranean spaces, recommendations are made for promotion of this architectural typology in contemporary Iranian situation.

The environmental quality of housing provided for the low-income population is a challenging problem since the increasing demand versus limited resource allocation leads to an emphasis on quantitative solutions with less emphasis on, or even neglect of, the qualitative aspects of housing as a multidimensional entity. In recent years, the Government has invested significantly in construction of residential complexes for low-income population under the title of Mehr Housing Scheme. This paper reports the results of an environmental qualityassessment study conducted in two of these Mehr Housing complexes built on the suburbs of Takestan City.For the purpose of this study, a survey was undertaken in both of these complexes with a sample size of 360, covering both genders in different age groups and with diverse employment and education levels. The responses were then analyzed to develop a value tree at four levels. At the second level, the quality of residential environment was broken into: (i) the quality of building environment; (ii) the quality of complex environment; and (iii) the quality of the city. These categories were further broken at third and fourth levels to some 47 independent indicators. The results indicate that the residents are not generally satisfied with the quality of their housing environment. It was further noted that contrary to a common belief, social factors such as security, social interaction and place attachment are more important for the lowincome population than economic factors or the cost of housing.

This paper tries to explain the impact of the physical characteristics of the human being in formation of mental criteria for aesthetical judgment by employing a bio-psychological approach. It first presents the views of philosophers and psychologists on key foundations of aesthetical judgment, i.e. instinct and experience. Then the role of human body in shaping instincts is explained. In particular, it is hypothesized that self-centered instincts of the human being lead to the attribution of human characteristics to his surrounding objects and environment. This anthropomorphized understanding constitutes the basis for a value system for aesthetical judgment. Several samples of such anthropomorphism can be found in literature, art and architecture.

Qualitative research is conducted using diverse methodologies such as phenomenology, ethnography, case study, action research and grounded theory. These methodologies vary in their focus and applicability and are used in urban design research. Grounded theory is a methodology for qualitative research first used in 1967 by Galser and Strauss in sociological studies. It is based on deep interviews, the results of which is systematically coded to formulate a hypothesis or theory.This methodology can be employed in both urban design practice as well as theoretical research. This paper explains the grounded theory methodology and process and gives examples of its application to urban design research. It further tires to determine its place within urban design research methodologies.

This research reviews the trends of indicators for residential density for Tehran metropolitan area between 1996~2011. These indicators include gross residential density, net residential density, floor to area ratio, per capita residential area, and mean housing area. These indicators are then compared for 22 different districts of the city as measures of urban equity. It is demonstrated that all density indicators have increased in the study period, while population distribution and densities have become uniform across the city. Nevertheless, per capita residential area and mean housing area show drastic differences between diverse urban districts. This is indicative of a growing housing inequity throughout the city.

The constant increase in the number of inscribed properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List is indicative of the desire shown by countries for the inscription of their natural and cultural properties on this List. This is accompanied by an increasing demand for education and training of specialists in heritage management and conservation.This paper surveys courses dealing with this topic in diverse universities around the world. Key features and the curricula of these courses, as well as challenges in establishing such a course in Iran is then reviewed.In conclusion, recommendations are made for establishing a heritage management and conservation course in Iranian Universities.