Soffeh
Year:2005 | Volume:14 | Issue:39|Papers Count:7

Employing a systematic approach, the article defines types and characteristics of problems, crisis and disasters on the basis of the degree and severity of the imbalanced situation to propose a methodology for urban problem identification. Other issues are subsequently discussed: signs of urban problems when they occur; methods to treat them; adaptability of urban systems; and urban control systems. This leads to a proposed hierarchical model for diagnosis and treatment of urban problems.    

Caused by population growth and inefficient housing policies, the so called "housing crisis" has been mainly attributed to a lack of balance between supply and demand. Nevertheless, some experts maintain that the problem is rather because of a misinterpretation of the real meaning of the "dwelling" concept. The article emphasizes on the interlinking factors which are the real causes of the situation - such as socio-economic and historical parameters to propose comprehensive planning as a strategic approach to treating the crisis.  

Despite its social and physical role as the interface between the dwelling and the urban fabric, recent housing policies have somewhat neglected the residential open space putting emphasis on responding to the existing housing shortage. Summarizing the results of a research project conducted for defining "the design principles for child-friendly and elderly-friendly residential areas", the article enumerates guidelines for design of new facilities or rehabilitation of existing residential open spaces for increased accessibility, security, and dynamicity.  

A translation of chapter 6 of Architectural Research Methods (David Wang & Linda Groat, 2002), the article explains research procedures for interpretive research in general with particular emphasis on historical interpretation. The interpretation strategies are discussed with reference to four ways of explanation: causal, Hegelian, structuralist and post-structuralist. The research tactics for identification, organization and evaluation are subsequently explained. The article then concludes with a summary of strengths and weaknesses of interpretative historical research.    

The research addresses the factors which have given the Islamic Persian Architecture its extra-temporal and extra-spatial characteristics, such as: structural  focus; physical storylines; disposition according to spatial significance; perfectionism; patterns; proportions; prudence; predilection; thriftiness; and finally strong links with nature. The contrasting features of contemporary architecture of Iran are then reviewed: individualism, nonconformity; and westernization. This leads to recommendations for channeling the contemporary architecture towards a more valid architecture.    

The eight-year Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) brought to light new approaches to architecture and opened new horizons for inter-disciplinary research. 'Panic' as a subject of psychological analyses and 'architecture' as a technical discipline are among the topics which the author explores drawing on his experience in the front lines and using qualitative research methods. As the first part of a longer essay, the article analyzes the relationship between architecture and panic from a behavioral point of view.    

Conducted as a case study of the dissertations of Shahid Beheshti School of Architecture between 1960 and 1980, the article analyzes the correlations between the dissertations, their judgment and intervening factors such as the supervisor, dissertations subject, ranking system, the jury and the duration of study period.