Soffeh
Year:2010 | Volume:20 | Issue:50|Papers Count:10

Evaluation of architectural designs is one of the routine problems in the world of building. Finding suitable criteria for evaluation on designs is an old challenge. By dividing qualitative and quantitative aspects of architectural design we can discover corresponding criteria for each of them. The quantitative aspect of architectural design is all about finding the best answers for the brief, access, climatic adaptation, and physical comfort and stability. It is possible to create universal criteria for this aspect. On the other hand, the second aspect, i.e. qualitative aspect or the aspect that deals with the cultural role of architectural design, does not readily accept any criteria. Here we should consult connoisseurship and try to find common language and scope between connoisseurs.The author has employed “significance” and “identity” as keyterms for explaining and analyzing the second aspect of architectural design.

The latest development in science and technology has had both positive and negative consequences for our environment. Construction segment consumes about 40% of our energy resource and correspondingly may be blamed for polluting our environmental in the same extent.Considering the goals of sustainability in architecture, by fully exploring the negative consequences of this industry, we can control the development and advancement of this segment in accordance with our natural potentials. The role of architects is very important here. Many schools of architecture are founding post-graduate degrees in this field. Here the authors have analyzed the application of sustainability and correspondingly its evaluation criteria in the field of architectural education, research, and practice.

Logics and logical argumentation may be among the most common terms in the area of human knowledge. The nature of these notions, which places them in the focal point of the shaping factors of all human knowledge, can well justify this fact. In the broad context of hum an knowledge, it is possible to find many areas in which gaining or attaining knowledge in a particular way is based on the strength of logics and logical argumentation in order to shape a justifiable explanation system.In other words, we-should consider logical argumentation as the only research method in the mentioned areas of intellectual knowledge. The author tries to examine the status of logical argumentation as a research method and strategy especially in architectural research. Here we also outline the specifications of a research with the use of such a strategy.

Rab’e-Rashidi dates back to more than 700 years ago when Khajeh Rasididin Fazlollah Hamedani, the minister of Ghazan Khan, the seventh ruler of the IIkhanid dynasty (llkhanate), established a big academic center in Tabrizin north-western Iran. Designed originally as university town, this scientific and educational complex was equipped with a big paper factory, a massive library, an educational treatment center (Dar-ol-Shafa), Quran Center (Dar-ol Quran), residential facilities for teachers, student’s quarter, a big caravansary and other facilities during the IIkhanid era.There are only a few archeological-remains left of this huge complex. The original plan of Rab’-e-Rashidi has been a subject of several hypothetical reconstructions. This paper proposes a new arrangement with special reference to its document of endowment (waqf).

In this article, the authors explain their experience in designing and building a heat capacitor wall by making use of indissoluble and permanent garbage, e.g. plastic bottles. The result is a more-or-Iess light weight wall made of bottles filled with water. The bottles are sandwiched between two layers of translucent polycarbonate sheets as the external surface, and an opaque fireproof layer? s the internal one. A thick cotton screen with a reflective face is used to prevent heat loss during cold and heat gain during warm seasons. The wall is structurally self-supporting and is very effective as heat and sound isolator.

After crowning as the new king of Iran, Reza Shah could manage to establish a central power after which a new period of modernization initiated that- as always had been -was manifested in urban plans and designs. In the early 30th the actions initiated by the first Pahlavi government made dramatic changes in Tehran that transformed it from a traditional city within its fortifications to a modern and progressive city.The authors in this article have focused on the evolution of urban plans and designs in Tehran from the first modernizing measures and actions in Reza Shah’s era to the first master plan of Tehran (Farmanfarma’eian’s plan, 1968); a period in which Iranian modern urbanism took form in accordance with rapid development under the influence of international ideas. Although foreign and alien ideas were effective in this period, familiar ideas also took great part in manifestation and localization of modern ideas. Many concepts that were introduced in this period remained present in the proceeding urban plans, such as the first comprehensive plan of Tehran. The main concepts and dominant urban patterns of this period are introduced and analyzed in the last part of the article.

Baqmisheh is a highly populated zone in Tabriz, which is seismically very active. We should have special considerations in designing open spaces and transportation network for mitigating seismic vulnerability.Our survey, using DELPHI method, proved that both qualitative and quantitative specifications of the open spaces and transportation network in this zone are not suitable. These important elements of city may not be of any help even in a limited disaster. The author has proposed measures for optimizing the current situation in order to mitigate seismic vulnerability, e.g. reducing human and building density, development of the transportation network, changes in distribution of open spaces.