Soffeh
Year:2002 | Volume:11 | Issue:33|Papers Count:11

Understanding the existing state of a phenomenon depends on a philosophical cognition of its general principles or its status in quo free of its temporal or spatial position, while understanding the evolutional state requires an understanding of the particular conditions as the outcome of a historical trend. A new system developed on both types of cognition, will have coherency, integration, and harmony otherwise it will only lead to confusion. As a crystallization of socio- economic relations, the modern city presents a new form as the socio- economic and cultural relations have changed. Reminiscent of changing conditions and in many aspects contrasting with the historical concepts, the new form has brought about new values and definitions for the city and the citizen: the city is now the setting for worthy and worthless. Understanding the existing and evolutional state of the city demands the transformation of the city- place to the city- time, i.e. a city with an identity, a place full of memories of the past, yet a synthesis of events of today, the incubator for dreams of future. The desire for a civil society is thus best expressed in the civic life born out of subjective and objective interactions. The socio- economic behavior and conventions of the generations who have built the city thus build its identity. The preferences and beliefs of all kind therefore accumulate, synthesize and form the mentality of the city. A living city allows these socio- cultural accumulations to realize in locations. They are in fact the setting for civic sensation and understanding. It is here that people meet, events happen, and the citizen simultaneously assumes the role of the actor and the audience. The street and the square are physical expressions of such a relationship where the actor and the audience become the same. Otherwise, there will be no reference locations in the city, no roots of understanding, and no understanding of the familiar. By creating urban space based on civic life with a sense of belonging gives an identity to the city that accumulates the experiences despite their time or place. Mental cognition now merges with the aesthetic sensation. The city square can accordingly be considered as the real center of the city, where civic life flows. The location is not just an ordinary point on the map, but it is where years of socio- cultural investments are accumulated. It becomes one of the most valuable favorable urban spaces despite its size or age.

A subject of much discussion in urban development literature, sustainable development has been treated in different contexts leading to various guidelines. The culminating point in sustainable urban planning and policy- making is a comprehensive approach necessary for determining an integrated set of socio- economic and environmental goals. This demands an evaluation of the impacts of urban systems on different aspects of urban life, while introducing fundamental changes in urban planning institutions. Notable sustainable development policies include: balanced development of small and big urban centers, the cooperation between public and private sector, and developing local strategies. In Iran, sustainable urban development has also been widely treated recently. Some organization  have also been created. Nevertheless, extensive research in other countries makes international experiences a valuable tool for clarifying the issue, and subsequently developing appropriate guidelines. The present article surveys international views and analyzes definitions, concepts, theoretical bases and strategies.

Energy and environmental conservation should be given due priority in urban design and renewal projects, as the diminishing energy resources, environmental pollution and the impact on human life has reached a level that further neglect will drastically aggravate the disaster which has already started: the increasing consumption of fossil fuels, damage to Ozone layer, pollution of land and water resources, and the "green house" effect. Inspired by urban ecology which requires environmental conservation as an essential feature of urban design, planners are currently searching for new planning methods that allow enriched social relations and enhanced dialogue between inhabitants and space.

Contemporary architecture and planning is inclined towards the assumption that spatial arrangements based on an ordered physical design can be responsive to the subjective order of the inhabitants- physical design which is based on general ordering principles such as geometric forms, symmetry, similarity, repetition, rhythm, etc. Yet ordered physical arrangements are not necessarily identical with structured arrangements. Structures in a community- subjective or physical are only found in the course of time. While a seemingly unordered, yet structured physical arrangement can be comprehensible to the user, a highly ordered composition might seem completely illegible. This points to the fact that functional principles of environmental structures that continuously follow routine social relations are developed and controlled merely by symbolic principles that follow socio- spatial products through the course of time. Neither functional nor symbolic principles can operate in the absence of the other. In other words, time and communicated information both play a fundamental role in the search for structural concept either during production or modification of the built environment. This means that the order of physical structures is responsible for transferring the subjective structure of the community through the course of time. Yet this only happens when the process of abstraction and symbolic crystallization of information and the intermediary hypotheses run parallel to each other in time. This includes both physical elements and their relations. The present paper emphasizes that symbols expressive of the unity between self, place and environment in Iranian Islamic physical centers can be dynamically preserved only in the light of the evolution of structural relations between the elements scattered in the physical space.

One of the most attractive theoretical subjects, aesthetics has become an essential feature in the philosophical discourse of recent centuries. The first part of this article is a succinct overview of subjectivism in modern philosophy, and explains the central role of epistemology in the present aesthetics.Comparing the relationship between Man and Cosmos in modern and traditional ontology and drawing on mystical definitions of ontological beauty in Islam, a different interpretation of human creativity is presented concluding with a glance at Islamic architecture.

In all communities, progress directly depends on active participation of society members. A society more exploiting the potentials of all its members thus becomes more productive. Yet all societies include the elderly and the disabled. If they have no opportunity to be employed, they become somewhat excluded and vulnerable depending on the society for their living rather than playing a productive role in the society. This paper draws on ergonomic principles in order to explain methods for adapting the working environment to the needs of disabled employees based on the type of disability. It concludes with a set of job recommendations for the disabled.

Based on the transcendental theory of Molla Sadra and later developments, the theory of "degrees of existence" can also be applied to architecture. On the basis of that theory, this article tries to interpret the architecture of the famous early 20th century master, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The choice of this master is because his works are the closest to the spirit of his age, while reflecting his personal ideas. Scientific interpretations, economic design, physical functionalism, abstraction in form and space, expressive structuralism, neo- plasticism, and careful treatment of proportions are all key points in his conceptual approach to architecture. This can be described In the light of the cosmic interpretation of knowledge.

The problems caused by condensation through the years are more severe than those caused either by leaking and broken pipes or rainwater penetration through the external envelop. Flaking, pitting, peeling and rot on walls or ceiling usually occurs because of condensation. Condensation also damages insulation and damp proof courses, which are expensive to repair. The condensation impact can be accurately modeled today. This not only improves the building effective life, but also contributes to a healthier environment indoors.