International Journal of

---

Iran is located in a high-risk seismic zone of earthquakes. It has thousands of valuable historic buildings, mostly made of unreinforced masonry, which is quite vulnerable to natural hazards, especially earthquakes. The conservation and seismic upgrading of these buildings is vital for their survival. However, resources are limited and some sort of prioritization is needed in order to allocate the budget. There are several factors, which should be considered when ranking heritage buildings, but this paper mainly focuses on the values of historic buildings and describes a survey undertaken to find out whether it is possible to rank them. The method applied is choosing a particular group of people and determine whether they can classify buildings into a hierarchy? The results showed that most people could perform this task, so some sort of hierarchy exists, although different groups might choose different hierarchies.

---

The traditional architecture is the achievement of mankind experiences in different geographical/cultural and social domains. The traditional architecture of Iran as a valuable outcome is one of the live and spirited instances of the history of human life that through pondering and research and close relationship with its natural, historical and human environment would be obtained. The repeatability of it contemporarily is somehow difficult so the Iranian architects and urban planners mostly focused their attentions and efforts on preservation and conservation of it. A brief review of such literature provided within this era outlines that mostly current studies and researches focuses on the outcome of such architecture or at most consider the characteristics of their creators and are less surveyed the creation and its process context. The attitude of traditional architect toward designing context or "the place of design" is one of the least considered aspects of traditional architecture. Such attention would lead to noteworthy achievements even in today's attitudes toward design and effective factors. The evolution manner of architecture traditionally which is in place of attention in this paper, provides a method of direct reference of the traditional architect toward the place of design or "earth" even when some written documents of them are not available. To achieve such goal this paper mainly concentrated on the remaining resources. In this respect the historic habitats of Yazd could be mentioned as one of the paragons of "Iranian Traditional Architecture". This paper briefly expresses and points on this fact that the creation of architecture traditionally happened in a totally different existential scheme in compare to modern era that specifically seeks such difference within the attitude and approach toward earth (site) or the place of design. The theories of two notable personalities of contemporary architecture "Christian Nordberg Schultz" and "Christopher Alexander" are considered. This is necessary where as while fulfilling the reliability of the paper and points on some notable similarities within their theories by what's recognizable in Iranian architecture and declares the different fundamental aspects, too. In respect to the subject, part of paper considers the clarification and illumination of traditional architecture.

---

Medical plants gardens are places that primarily focused on the conservation, cultivation, research, and education of plant species that are used medicinally. These gardens have a long history. The creation of a tranquil and pleasant conditions for the visitors, as well as development of the local economy and raising citizen awareness, could be further objectives of the medicinal plants garden. Therefore, the architectural style of successful herbal botanical gardens needs to reflect a broad understanding of botany and encourage creative thinking in garden design and interpretation. It seeks a design that can maintain the virtuous cycle of the medicinal plants and at the same time maintain the spatial equilibrium of the dynamic development of urban landscapes, so as to make them have good ecological and urban functions. The aim of this study is to explore the design methods of plant landscaping in urban medical plants gardens under the concept of sustainability. We first reviewed the design of medicinal plants garden and its application to urban green space design. This research focuses on how to select principles that are adapted to the sustainability and how to promote biodiversity, and improve the quality of life of urban residents through eco-design approaches. Through the analysis of a number of domestic and international cases of medicinal plants gardens, we found that effective sustainable design is not only choosing the right areas but also includes the rational management of water resources, energy conservation, environmental impacts reduction, and creating a calm space and increasing the awareness of citizens. This study also points out socio-cultural challenges and strengths of these gardens. Finally, this paper carries out a specific analysis of the sustainable evaluation system for design of medicinal plants landscaping in urban green spaces and experimentally verifies that, compared with other styles, sustainable architecture style is better overall. This study aims to provide a practical reference and guidance for urban planners, garden designers, and environmentalists. 

---

When a specific building is examined and analysed for its architectural merits, it is the visible, superficial aspects, which are considered, for example: aesthetics, function, spatial relationships, and landscape. One of the most important invisible factors that should be considered in the design process is the safety of buildings against natural hazards, particularly against earthquakes. While the provision of earthquake resistance is accomplished through structural means, the architectural designs and decisions play a major role in determining the seismic performance of a building. In other words, the seismic design is a shared architectural and engineering responsibility, which stems from the physical relationship between architectural forms and structural systems. It is economic to incorporate earthquake resistance in the stage of design than to add it later in the structural calculation or strengthening after completion. In addition, a building with proper earthquake-proof design will be more effective against earthquakes than the one with complementary strengthening. This paper will demonstrate that evidence for this lies in many historical buildings, which have withstood earthquakes throughout the hundreds of years without having been reinforced with special material. The fact is that the master builder or Mimar (traditional architect) of historic buildings was simultaneously designing the architecture as well as choosing the suitable form, proportion, and material for the best structural performance.

---

The present paper will investigate the specific elements of architectural design based on Islamic beliefs, by taking Iranian Architectural values and vernacular climate design methods into consideration. This research will assess the spirit of experimental elements, created by the inhabitants, according to recent scientific findings. The main concentration will be on the physical design of rural areas in hot, arid and sunny regions of Iran in order to have active and healthy environments and to emphasize on transferring all these sustainable values to the future.

---

Examining the universities postgraduate landscape architecture table in Iran, indicates the increasing growth in the establishment of this major course in most universities nationwide, since almost 10 years from the beginning of the first academic course of this major in the Shahid Beheshti University (SBU). As a result, every year the number of graduated entering the market is increasing in this major. Which in this case no clear condition exist, the suitable professional contexts and prefaces for graduates and professionals entry for graduation in this major in and out of university is a big obstacle. The aim of this paper is checking the causes and most important factors to select this major in Iran, of which market conditions is one of the most important factors in the process of this research. The result of research shows the opportunity of developing the landscape architecture, the opportunity and chances of finding a job in the future and earning high fees is part of the most important general factors to choose landscape architecture major in Iran. Additionally the professors, friends and landscape architects, the most important reason for choosing the landscape architect is personal. Besides these cases, landscape architecture department credence’s, the quality of professors and location for College choice is the most important deliberation in this major.

---

This research experimentally analyzes the issue of Sociopetaloid of architecture space. Sociopetal represents spaces where people come together or stay away from each other, and when they stay away from each other it is also called sociofugal. The research methodology was primarily compiled by presenting a pattern with a theoretical standpoint regarding the Sociopetaloid of space using hypothesis testing with a case study with the aid of polling, first on-site presence technique, then a cognition map tool and a questionnaire.7 public spaces were selected amongst 3 distinguished independent the university of science and technology(IUST) faculty buildings for the case study. The data underwent correlative analysis using the SPSS statistical software and meaningful relations were determined between the variables affecting Sociopetaloid. The following main results were achieved in this research: • The psychological-social factors of users directly influenced the Sociopetaloid of the public architecture space and were considered as an establisher. • Physical-spatial factors influence Sociopetaloid. This influence has two types one with "direct affordance" and another with "indirect affordance". • Sociopetaloid of public space is achieved with proper synthesis of the spatial- physical elements of architecture and psychological-social elements of users. This Sociopetaloid increases with a high synomorphy between the space physic and interpersonal behaviors.

---

Technology has had many influences on the Iranian society in different eras. Today, information and telecommunication technologies have revolutionized the basic structures of society and a new network society has been propagated inside the traditional and semi-modern context. In countries like Iran, which are in the process of modernization, a chaos deriving from the transition period is observed that leads to a certain peculiarity. In this transition era the norms of traditional societies, which offer discipline for these societies, have been eliminated in favor of new norms that are not codified yet. The transformation to the new situation and also the confrontation with the electronic world has instigated many disorders and anomalies in the society, with its physical expression becoming visible in contemporary architecture. Today, Iranian architecture is affected by Kitsch Art and has become superficial. Using attractive visual capsules and exploiting the human habit of imitation, information viruses have spread everywhere and have changed the physical world dramatically. The propagation of networks has made this process even faster. This paper reviews the confrontation of Iranian architecture with the electronic realm and investigates the role of visual viruses in the formation of the physical fabric of Tehran. It is argued that in the future, emphasis on design supported by collective intelligence [1] and individual creativity can decrease physical anomalies in the built environment.

---

This research aimed at identifying natural organisms and their properties in the technological samples of contemporary architecture. The main questionswere: "Which properties of natural organisms are effective on the technological works of contemporary architecture?" and "How much do they affect?"This descriptive-analytic research was conducted using archival method to access the theoretical literature, and surveying method for collecting the data required. Case studies were selected and analyzed from theinternationally famous technological works made from the sixties (Hi-Tech style) till now. The case studies were divided into two periods, 20th and 21st centuries 8 works each period. The results indicated that properties such asunity, balance, proportion, hierarchy and efficiency have had most used between properties of natural organisms in technological works of contemporary architecture, and properties such as restorability, reproducibility and developability have been neglected.

---

The importance of Iranian ancient as architectural heritage have to competent international prestige a nd respect due this is important with regard to proper conservation met hods based on non-destructive evaluation methods and non-contact testing providing enough accuracy and speed to bri ng performance to stabilize while correct location and age value of valuable architectural aspect of quantification. Qu ality and originality of these valuable cultural po ints of view, maintenance, protection and restoration in principle be enough a nd intervention measures in the field of strengthening and improvement due seismic in these important historic monuments. Thus re-assessment actions shall be effective with accuracy, speed and lack of unnecessary destruction in order to maintain these buildings may be accompanied by gentility. Therefore, we should transfer the newest technical knowledge through appropriate training and non-destructive with non-contact methods in the field of architectural restoration for ancient monumental wo rks in these objectives will be achieved. Based on any particular monument, rules and technical measures appropriate to its historic monument need to be used. This paper tries to explain while doing it is specialized modern academic training and evaluating the existing technology in architecture, the importance of attitude in non-destructive observing methods, assessment, measurement and diagnostic engineering features of monuments. The methods of documentation, studies, classify scheme, explain the profile of engineering methods of pathology, evaluation, analysis and formulation process of expanding the structural weakness of monuments and finally race precision appropriate intervention measures, modeling, strengthening and durability of the architectural heritage of Iran th rough the training consideration of a new curriculum.

---

Abstract: Creativity and innovation are major drivers for developments of societies and nations. In this way, research activities have an extremely significant role whose promotion is strongly dependent on the creativity and innovation. There are several factors such as the built environment, which affect the creativity and innovation. This paper extracts a set of design rules for researchers' offices in an "architecture and urban design research center", which lead to the growth of researchers' creativity and innovation. The type of plan, namely open or closed plans, and spatial aspects of researchers’ offices are investigated from the perspective of factors influencing the creativity and innovation. The spatial aspects, chosen based on the available literature, are privacy, beauty, spatial diversity/flexibility, and proximity/visibility. Additionally, four factors affecting the creativity and innovation consist of tranquility/physical comfort, motivation, creative thinking, and communication. The survey methodology, with a 26-question four-choice questionnaire, was adopted here for the sake of numerical studies. The sample group covered 91 faculty members and Ph.D. students associated with Architecture and Urban Design Departments of several universities in Tehran. The collected data has been analyzed through a statistical method, named repeated measure analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA), and the most affected creativity and innovation factors by spatial aspects are specified.

---

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.

---

School buildings as a major part of public buildings are considered as one of the basic consumers of energy in Iran. Based on building typology and occupancy patterns, school buildings have a great potentiality for energy optimization while providing thermal comfort. This study investigates the architectural design parameters such as orientation, optimum window to wall ratio, space organization, sun shading, building shape etc. which have a great impact on the energy demand. For the purpose of this study a typical elementary school has been selected, modeled and analyzed by integrating different design measures using a dynamic simulation software tool. The optimum amounts for various architectural design parameters are calculated. The results reveal that through energy efficient architectural design the primary energy demand of the studied case has reduced by 31% while keeping visual and thermal comfort compared to the existing building.

---

---

---

---

---

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.

---

Day lighting is one of the important qualitative factors in housing, which is also effective on health and well-being of occupants. Extensive glass surfaces and Transparency in building facades provides good daylight quantity for interior spaces. However, this lighting system is not appropriate for climates faced with higher sunlight radiation (Such as hot-humid areas), due to overheating and disturbing the thermal comfort. There are efficient day lighting strategies in the traditional Iranian architecture as one of the valuable remaining heritages of Human experiences, which are useful for contemporary architecture. This article intends to investigate daylight quality in the houses of Bushehr from Qajar period by modeling and simulating in daylight calculation software (Dialux) and identify day lighting strategies utilized in these houses. As Bushehr city is located in the hot-humid region of Iran, is faced with high sunlight radiation, making balance between receiving light and heat gain through windows needs careful attention. The houses of Qajar period in Bushehr are evolved samples of traditional architecture in the city and Rashidy house (built in 1893) is one of them which its form and details can reveal many lessons on coping with climate by merely using renewable energies.

---

Traditional building technologies have much to teach us about how to design regionally appropriate structures. The Orosi is one of these useful technologies, which has been used for many centuries in order to control the harsh sunlight in Iran. This architectural element was rather important because the intensive solar radiation could easily damage valuable carpets used in most spaces in Persian buildings. The main question of this research was how much could the traditional Orosi windows reduce the harmful spectrums of sunlight? In order to investigate this effect, a combination of field study, laboratory measurements, and case study research method was applied. Nine Persian traditional Orosi windows were chosen as case studies and the windows’ geometric lattice (Gereh–Chini) and glazing color combinations were drawn and plotted. The experiment was carried out for carpeted and non–carpeted spaces. In order to measure the light transmission of the sample tinted glazing from the Orosi windows, a T80+ spectrophotometer was used. After calculating CIE and skin damage factors and visible transmittance for each piece of glass, an area weighting was used to calculate these factors for the entire Orosi. The results show a significant difference between CIE damage factors of the Orosis in carpeted and non–carpeted spaces where the carpeted spaces had the least amount of CIE damage factor.