International Journal of

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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.

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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.