International Journal of

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In some climates, massive buildings made of stone, masonry, concrete, earth and … can be utilized as one of the simplest and most effective ways of reducing building heating and cooling loads. Very often such savings could be achieved in the design stage of the building and with a relatively low-cost. Such declines in building envelope heat losses combined with optimized material configuration and proper amount of thermal insulation in the building envelope could help to decrease the building's cooling and heating energy demands and building related co2 emission into environment. This paper presents a typical study of thermal mass buildings, especially, a kind of masonry building called YAKHCHAL, where most of the buildings are constructed out of mud or sun-dried bricks. They behave like a thermal mass building types. In this climate, there are great many buildings which have been adapted to their climatic conditions. Such traditional solutions may help to overcome the energy crisis which the mankind faces today and may face in the future.

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Despite the utilization of several earthquake resistant traditional techniques in Iranian architecture throughout the centuries, the high seismic vulnerability of Iranian vernacular constructions is obvious. One of the latest innovations in building earthquake-proof emergency dwellings, prior to introducing the modern seismic design codes, took place during the successive destructive earthquakes of 1871, 1893 and 1895 in Quchan, located in northeast of Iran. These new shelters withstood shocks successfully during the 1893 and 1895 quakes and were in use for at least the next 30 years. Therefore, this local effort of building earthquake-proof constructions will be introduced in this paper not only as an intangible heritage of the regional knowledge, but also as a successful experience in building earthquake resistant installations. In this article, the process of innovation of these new shelters, their specific earthquake resistant features which did not have any peers in shape in the history of the construction in the region, their evolution and finally extinction is described. Furthermore, the paper comprehensively focuses on describing the capability of these shelters in comparison with similar geometrical forms of construction to indicate how local people chose the best shape alternative based on the following three factors: seismic resistance, ease of built and the amount of spatial similarity with previous local buildings.

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Abstract The Qajar dynasty was a time of civil wars as well as the wars against Russia, meanwhile, Qajarid Shahs, understanding the power of sublime art both in internal and external political relations, tried to expand and renew the style of the mural decorations which is the issue of this article. Increasing the relations with European countries like England and France, Fath Ali Shah and his court were influenced by European diplomacy, culture and art. Also they were deeply inspired by pre-Islamic royal and artistic concepts and styles. Early Qajarid murals were the obvious return to tradition this study tries to identify the sources and socio-political reasons that lead to this movement. In the other hand, realizing the function of the mural decoration and political determination of the king and his court in early Qajarid period, which moved away from the common Zand theme and function (the Persian former dynasty) and followed the imperial art of the Achaemenid and Sasanid eras, can explain their formation of historical compositions and majesty of their artworks. By the seventeenth century, as a result of extended contacts with Europe the unfamiliar tradition of painting in oil on canvas was gaining currency among Persian artists. Although the medium was borrowed from European painting, the style remained largely indigenous. The influence of imperial Sassanian and Achaemenid themes also appeared on the carved figural reliefs. Mural decoration and art were led to serve political affairs in order to legitimise the Qajar dynasty.

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Vaulted structure has been in use for nearly 4000 years and believed to have been studied by scientists and builders for nearly 2000 years. There are few publications about the geometry and constructional aspects of arches and vaults before Renaissance age. One of the most interesting works on this subject belongs to Jamshid Kashani known as a mathematician. Ghiayth Al-Din Kashani, has made some valuable contribution in the field of building construction in general and vaulted structures in particular. This paper aims to introduce and analyze a part of his work on building construction, that is on pointed arches. In this paper first we provide a short history of pointed arch. Then we will see a number of works from Roman period to Kashani age which had some contribution about arches. The third part of the paper deals with Kashani's book Meftah Al-Hesab or the key of mathematics. The final section of the paper has devoted to Kasahni's contribution to pointed arches. And finally showing one of the calculation charts which could be used to find different parts of the arches can be the best case in the point.

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Change is an essential element to Humans and foundation of their lives. Each change though requires its unique
conditions. But Change may result in total destruction instead of exaltation if it takes place without considering conditions
regarding it’s time, place and also without scientific evaluations. There are many factors and reasons for change and
transformation and once it happens, consequences would follow. Due to social, managerial and historical events, Iran’s
society has undergone changes during its modern era. Consecutively, Iran’s architecture has too experienced a drastic
transformation during the past hundred years and especially in the past six decades which some call this an interruption.
Interruption means, the connection between past and present has been cut off. Today as result of this interruption, Iran’s
society is experiencing an increase in individualism and decrease in social relations. This would seriously question objectives
of a utopia.This study is looking to clarify the interruption process and events influencing it in Iran’s architecture and
urbanization base on three fundamental questions: 1. What are the causes of interruption in historical textures and which
factor plays the main role? 2. What is the orientation of master plans, the thinking of the inhabitants and the authorities of the
historical context regarding the issue of interruption and continuity? 3. What is the relationship between social relations
governing the formation of architecture in historical contexts and the issue of interruption and continuity?This study will be
using qualitative paradigm and historical research method to review the selected time intervals. As we progress through the
study, we will have a look at the consequences of the disconnection from past in Iran’s architecture and urbanization. There is
also a time graph which includes influential historical events projecting delicate turning and decision points. Moreover,
explaining the consequence of the interruption in Iran is the achievement of this study which would assist others with the same
interest with a clearer path throughout the time.

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Abu Hamed Mohammad al-Ghazālī was a mystic, jurist, and theologian who lived in the fifth century AH and significantly influenced Iranian culture. His most significant work is Iḥyaʾ ʿŪlum al-Dīnʾ, written in his seclusion period to revive religious knowledge, with the subject being applied knowledge. Therefore, it can be regarded as an architectural information reference. This research is dedicated to understanding al-Ghazālī’s principles for architecture and its status in Iḥyaʾ. It was done by the Historical-Interpretation approach, reading and interpreting the original text of Iḥyaʾ, and that is why just for mentioning the evidence and having an improved perception of Iḥyaʾ, other al-Ḡhazālī’s books and references were used.
The outcome of this research is two architectural categories from Iḥyaʾ. These are form and content and the rules of architecture. In al-Ghazali’s opinion, the craftsmen, along with other people, can also make the spiritual journey based on their crafts. He has to do his crafts with the ḏhekr (God’s Remembrance), Seek the real contents from the world's forms, construct as an implication to the most beloved, God, and construct the world to construct his hereafter.

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Understanding the historical background of societies and the various aspects of life that has evolved over time affects the architecture of rural housing today and it's an important factor in processing the answer to today's needs. Considering the features of rural architecture and recognizing its features as the origins of the architectural tradition of any land, is one of the necessities and preservation is a fundamental principle. Therefore, this research has tried to collect various aspects of life and housing in rural settlements of Mazandaran in a historical survey based on library resources. Using the historical interpretation method, this paper examines the aspects of the relationship between different dimensions of life and the shaping and spatial structure of housing with the social, economic, and geographical factors of native societies. According to the findings of this analysis, effective variables can be identified and categorized. The results of the research show that geographical location, financial resources, location capability, geographical and social security and, finally, family structure are factors that affect the habitat patterns and vernacular houses in different areas of the villages of the region. These determine five species of mountainous, forest, plain, rural citadel, and rocky habitats. The impact of these factors on the three modes of fixed-dwelling, two-spatial and nomadism has been studied.

 

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Political stability and economic security have led to forming small and independent agricultural units in different regions of Iran in a period. They were shaped by combining water with residential, religious, service, and agricultural elements and are referred to in local communities as the "Farmstead" The historical documentation recorded their presence from the 4th century AH until the Safavid era from an economic and jurisprudential approach. Then, domestic and foreign elites introduced them in the form of books and travelogues in the Qajar era; however, they did not mention the architecture of the farmsteads and their features.  in 2008, for the first time, some Farmsteads are introduced by field surveys in Niasar, and the qualities of their formation and structure are considered by publishing papers. The Landlords have built them with two types of agricultural castles and agricultural complexes. In addition, they have determined the location of farmstead by water resources, and their formation was subject to economic and security equations.
The main research problem is insufficient knowledge of the historical farmstead of Iran in the national and international communities. These monuments are ruined due to various reasons in a period, and eventually, the people have forgotten their names.The current study aims to introduce the historical farmsteads of Iran by investigating their past and present status and A main question in this research is: What are the physical and functional characteristics of Iran's historical farmsteads? according to this,The interpretive-historical method is used to read the written documents and survey their historical propertise to reach the research aim  and question. Thus, interviews with farmstead dwellers observation and review maps of historical monuments, and library studies to examine written documents constitute research tools.
These farmsteads were studied in the central plateau of Iran, especially in the cities of Kashan, Qom and Yazd. Some of them were known as castles until now. But in this article, by examining their physical and functional characteristics, it has been determined that they are farmstead and in addition to agricultural land and water, they have physical elements such as Castle, mills, water reservoirs, baths and mosques. Thus the Castle has been a part of the farmstead-related elements. they also have social, cultural, and economic systems. The current research can help to register farmsteads in the list of national monuments of Iran as an independent collection.

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The design of religious spaces around the world is of particular importance. Spaces such as churches, synagogues, graveyards, cemeteries, and shrines are among religious buildings. Such spaces are specially designed for each religion and faith. All forms of architecture should be easily reflected in form and space, given the meaning of the word “religion”
(faith, religion, method, tradition, sharia, method, and way [rule of life]) based on the more manifest concepts in religion. The purpose of this study is to investigate approaches and methods for measuring sensory factors in architectural environments, in the form of a review [article] and literature review, on how to measure sentiments in architectural space. Therefore, this study seeks to answer this question: What are the methods for measuring sensory factors in architectural environments? This study is desk research in nature, to define all the issues raised in the theoretical section using a descriptive-analytical method to analyze the content and logical reasoning and collect the required data on the concepts by doing a literature review. Findings indicate that the architecture in the past sought to take advantage of the formal dimensions of religious buildings, such as mosques and churches, as a medium for a spiritual leap into the world of truth and meaning. Religious (sacral or sacred) architecture can also be translated into organizing components to navigate the appearance of phenomena and remember their interior to enhance the spiritual spatial quality. One has to note that the effects of the architectural body and buildings built affect people's minds. Thus, if this issue is ignored, the created space will cause confusion and a negative effect on the minds of the users of the space for sure. In the field of sensory factors in architecture, architects and urban designers can answer most of the hypotheses by using cognitive sciences.

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One of the most famous historical squares of Iran is the Naghsh-e Jahan Complex, of which many studies have been done about its features and its effects on the urban space of Isfahan. The measurement of the geometric system governing the physical structure of this complex is considered an important part, of which no comprehensive research has ever been conducted. Accordingly, this study, aiming at analyzing the impact of the geometric organization and its order on the structure of the Square, and in particular on the location of its multiple accesses, seeks to evaluate this topic by using the relative measuring system based on the geometric rules as a process for the regularization of the space. The relative measurement system is one of the first ones, resulting in the application of geometry to the physical structure of the city and architecture. Its valuable benefits can be the application of dimensions and sizes with the identified coefficients in the cited plan. The present study is classified in the category of historical research, and descriptive and exploratory methods have been used in the historical research. Also, research on library data has provided the basis for analyzing the geometric structure of the Square and its dependent buildings. The research question can be formulated as follows: What is the relationship between the location of multiple entrances to the Naghsh-e Jahan square and its geometric system? The research findings indicate that the structure of the Naghsh-e Jahan Complex is following a geometric system with relative lengths based on the square shape, so the accesses location and the organization of the peripheral elements have all been subject to the mentioned system. Also, the results emphasize the benefit of a continuous process in planning the structure of the recent urban space, including its components, and considering it based on rational and inferential thinking, which, according to the geometric rules, is forming the hidden and revealed relations between the elements of the Safavid city.
 

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Given that newly constructed commercial complexes and the trend toward luxury are negatively impacting socio-economic structures, it is essential to establish principles for sustainable development, with social considerations being a fundamental aspect. Applying the social elements of sustainable development is especially critical in historical and ancient contexts. As previously mentioned, both new and old commercial buildings often appear as stylish but empty structures devoid of businesses. The concept of public space and community perception is at odds with modern shopping centers, which differ significantly from traditional markets. This disparity arises because many modern shopping centers cater to specific social groups, defined by particular tastes and ages. This article aims to analyze the social aspects of bazaars and identify key sub-indicators of social sustainability to propose suitable solutions for future market designs. Bazaars are vital places with complex and extensive social significance, particularly in Iran. The study’s findings suggest that incorporating sustainable development indicators into urban design can significantly enhance productivity and foster a sense of community in emerging markets. The current study highlighted the impact of various attributes—physical, environmental, cultural, and social—on enhancing the sociability and spatial quality of the area. The study revealed that structural-semantic values, as a cultural feature, have the greatest influence on bazaar socialization, with an effective coefficient of 0.410. Other significant factors include physical attributes (0.381), socio-political-cultural components (0.285), visual exposure (0.264), physical quality (0.235), and social capital (0.255). Finally, the study proposed appropriate solutions, such as establishing access pathways, employing diverse shapes and proportions in design, creating visible depth, ensuring permeability at the margins, varying roof shapes, and revitalizing the marketplace system.

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Shrines, as part of the most magnificent works of Islamic art, not only play an essential role in the social life of cities but also reflect the architecture and arts of their time. Sometimes, these buildings are grouped and have been constructed over various periods. In the present study, the shrine of Al-Kadhimiya is examined. The
Al-Kadhimiya shrine complex, located in Baghdad, includes the tombs of two Shiite Imams. The construction of this complex began in the ninth century. The oldest inscription in this collection dates back to 1519 AD. According to historical evidence, the structure was built during the Safavid period. However, the construction rules, proportions, and principles of covering the space, as well as the design of the dome and the surrounding porch, incorporate pre-Safavid (Azeri) and Timurid art styles. This raises the question: how can a comparative study of the dome of the Al-Kadhimiya shrine with similar examples from the Timurid period prove that the change in artistic styles is a gradual process and not necessarily subject to changes in government? Therefore, this study examines the following hypothesis: the historical discontinuation of governments does not directly affect the architectural structures related to the subsequent period, which instead follow a gradual developmental course. This article employs a historical research method and comparative analysis. It compares the Al-Kadhimiya shrine with two complexes: the shrine of the eighth Imam of the Shiites in Mashhad, Iran, and the tomb of Shah Nematullah Vali in Kerman, Iran, as well as other Timurid domes. The results indicate that architectural techniques and structures are not necessarily updated with changes in government but follow a gradual process.