International Journal of

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Even though the positive influences of nature on human health have been known for many decades, few studies have been carried out exclusively about the psychological benefits of exposure to water and sky as natural blue elements in built environments. Hence, close-ended questionnaire along with structured interviews (with open-ended questions) are applied to investigate the main question of this study: what are the effects of blue elements’ exposure on psychological restoration of university students? 81 students of architecture, urban design, and painting with graduate and post graduate degrees are considered as the participants and the main central courtyards of two traditional dwellings, which currently are used as educational environments, are selected as the case studies in the hot-arid climate of Yazd, Iran. The results of the close-ended questionnaire show that among natural elements, water has the most significant influence on fascination and being away (two components contributing to restoration). Besides, although in comparison to water, the sky has less effective influence on fascination and being away in the studied environments, it is as important as green elements in fostering fascination and being away. Through content analysis of structured interviews, it is revealed that not only is water the most preferred and important natural element of both courtyards but also students’ pleasantness, refreshment, and relaxation from stress are mainly due to water exposure. In conclusion, the study tries to highlight that in addition to green elements, it is essential to consider blue elements. Besides, some design strategies based on their exposure in educational environments have been recommended in order to foster the psychological restoration of university students.

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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.