Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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Indigenous architectural masterpieces have broad dimensions that can be studied in different areas of focus and identified with their original patterns to transfer a new framework based on fundamental principles concerning the particular time and place. Architecture of each territory is the outcome of the beliefs, culture, climate, industry and the ways in which the land is built. Therefore, architecture is considered as the mirror to represent the interests, resources, knowledge and ability of its creators. An architectural work consists of forms and shapes in spatial framework the open and closed spaces and openings Shows, empty and full volumes and physical characteristics, hierarchies and measures. The color due to the extent of its role with psychological effects in social beliefs holds a special place playing an important role in the projection of an architectural expression. In the analysis of the different layers of the architectural works and the style of each architect, color has an important stance .The factor that relates architects` thoughts and emotions, on one hand and themes, theoretical principles and the cultural and social structures of the building, on the other hand. Therefore, investigating the type of color and its application in traditional architecture opens a window to recognize some of the features of this unique style of architecture and the artistic and architectural ideas, attitudes and abilities represented in the context. Although many articles and books have been edited and compiled on architectural history, building analysis, and stylistics amidst which there is a minor issue considering the color, in general, or the colors of the buildings, there is felt to be a great need to specialized researchers about painting and architecture in ecological aspects and its cultural roots in the historical civilizations. Color in architectural studies of West has been focused from psychological dimension since Bauhaus period, but in the social and ecological aspects, the most recent researches have been done on archetypes and indigenous and religious attitudes mixed with architecture. This research aims to identify and review the physical and emotional aspects of applying blue color in architectural practices of Uraman. Architecture in Kurdish territory has remained mysterious and full of legends so far in many ways, although its physical structure, more or less, has been paid attention to by many researchers but it cannot be said that researchers have been able to analyze its origin, particularly in semantic dimensions that require in-depth review. According to Uraman area, the research population is geographically widespread but considered proportional to the number of numbers required to include all aspects in order to achieve the validity. Therefore, five regions of Kamaleh, Uraman takht, palangan, naravi and hiravi were selected with suitable scattering. Among 40 aged people residing in these areas (55 to 90 years), questionnaires were filled in the form of interview. In addition in the initial evaluation and field studies, the presence of blue in the arrays, the window and Folk Literature endorses the need for research in this field. Although the present research is an effort to explore the beauty formation in the architecture based on the local culture and try to represent it in contemporary architecture, also to a large extent, it is located in the field of the fundamental studies. In this study, the influence of beliefs, geography, climate, literature and aesthetics as the independent variables on how and why to apply the paint and color in a traditional residential architecture, as the dependent variable is the focus of this paper. This research is descriptive and analytical. Part of the data has been collected through library research methods. Analysis and discussion have been on the psychology of color and hidden identity, the impact of lifestyle, climate and geography of the aesthetic and consequently, the selection of a specific color, covered in native tissue architecture and window applications. The other part of the data were collected through the field studies with architectural texture of the substrate, the distribution of questionnaires and interviews with older people of Uraman so that the obvious evidence of blue color application for residential windows becomes clear. Perhaps, what comes to mind in the first confrontation with mountain architecture is the minimal space of construction for a simple life. But in the deep investigations and comprehensive surveys, we find a collective power which analyzes the application of color in the windows from different angles and chooses the best one. Regarding the specific representation of color in architectural quality and anatomical texture, some researchers have had brief hints to color without any specific and coherent view to the issue in Uraman architecture. These points are one-dimensional and generalized. Ignoring the psychological, and belief effects and the fashion have not been mentioned with aesthetic or natural philosophy tendency. In the initial surveys and library studies, with the quality nature of the issue, there can be different views which are based on the hypotheses each research considers. But in this study, in order to obtain conclusive results and minimize the effect of researcher, by completing the questionnaire through interview and discussion with the audience of this architecture (target population), we tried to make research results clear free from vision of researchers based the current situation .Finally, according to field studies and interviews with older residents in Uraman (from the master carpenter, builders and ordinary people), opinions of scientists and psychologists and researchers in the field of architecture of Uraman, we can get the reason for the widespread application of blue in native architecture of Uraman homes to be expressed in this way that by accepting the dramatic role of geography, natural, climate and people in the unconscious memory formation followed by an indirect effect on aesthetics, it is the most important role in the widespread application of the blue traditional residential buildings of Uraman. Since each color finds value and the effect on the proximity of other colors combination of sharp blue in low area with great surface of light brown of walls brings about a beautiful color contrast. In addition, these colors also add to the comfort. Finally, the sacred hypothesis or removal of an eye sore has no originality in research findings and this view is no longer valuable in this field.

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In Islamic thought, imagination has a special importance and place in artistic creation. The nature of imagination has created such opportunity to realize this fact the each spiritual affair to be imagined should occur partially and tangibly in imagination. In fact, the imagination is the interface between meaning and material and its images, on one hand, are similar to the matter and on the other hand, are separated from the body and spirit. With regards to such nature and capability of this power, using the imagination in the creation of valuable art and architecture is highly effective. The artist, like all other human beings, enjoys all aspects of perception, but uses his imaginative perception in artistic creation more than others. The artist expresses his mental concept, within the words or images or changes them into the sound, or makes it with brick and stone. In all of these creations, what the sacred artist creates in his mind is free of sense and the physical world. Even, when he recreates the nature in his works, it is not the same as nature, but his imagination and creativity power are reflected in his work. What is formed in the artist’s mind is partial with an image and hence is in the imaginative perception area. For this reason, what is created by artist is fully dependent on his imaginative power.   
Like other arts, meaning in Islamic architecture is a fundamental and necessary concept which visualizes an imagination of the meaning world in a matter world by physical and non-physical factors. But, despite the critical role of meaning, current studies have not discussed such issue. In fact, the architect perceives the real world, but in his creation, he does not only imitate, but tries to manifest that fact. Hence, he starts recognition from the matter, but the more he progress, he makes his recognition deeper, separates from the mater and achieves the concepts and rationales. This process occurs in imagination world which is separated from the real world and the wisdom world perception is attained.
The present study aims at explaining the imagination position as the interface for manifestation of meanings in architecture design and its role in architecture design process. In this research, the background related to the imagination in Islamic thought in areas of imagination world and its steps, imaginative perception and sacred art and creation are investigated. By descriptive – analytic method focusing on the rational inference and reasoning, this study deals with the data and collected materials.
To start the design from meaning area, it is necessary to take areas of meaning into account. Meaning area in architecture is the same as the mental concepts of designers which is related to the culture, innate feelings and values of designer. Therefore, starting the design from the architectural qualities like life and presence in space paves the way to achieve the ideas with meaning substance. Trend of meaning manifestation in architectural works (architectural space and form) is made with the help of imagination. Accordingly, each concept or meaning should initially takes and imaginative aspect to become evident in the real and tangible world. Meaning comes from the designer’s entity and the imaginative images of meaning are manifested in architectural space and form. Enjoying the meaning movement is design process is: paying attention and achieving the concepts and meanings (meaning), transforming these meanings into the intellectual images and ideas creation (imagination), recreation of these images in tan bilge world while conforming with both the imagination world and limitations of tangible world (architecture work). Movement of the meaning of the tangible is understood by artist and movement of the tangible to meaning by the audience. For this reason, artist and audience, communicate through affecting each other.
 

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Nastaliq as a favorite script has appeared in architectural designs attributed to Qajar era along with Thulth script. Thus recognition and awareness of prevalent Nastaliq inscriptions and their transformations are considered crucial needs for calligraphy and architecture communities, but the subject has been neglected by most researchers. Evaluation of calligraphic transformation through paper inscriptions which are directly written by calligraphers is an excellent and professional case study. Furthermore, since the quality of scripts undergo some changes or defects when transferring to tiles, stones or other things, analysis and comparison of paper inscriptions and seven-color tile inscriptions should be paid close attention to. Actually, it is a new look at epigraphy on seven-color tiles in which not only the calligrapher but the tileralso is involved.
It can not be denied that production of calligraphic works specially Nastaliq script, is influenced by understanding transformations of scripts and manuscripts in form and structure over time; hence epigraphy and its transformation especially in holy places and the conformity of Nastaliq script with characteristics and requirements of epigraphy as well, have been overlooked by researchers. The purpose of this survey is to distinguish the differences between two methods of epigraphy, on papers and on tiles, and to realize transformations of Nastaliq letters and words when they were transferred from paper sheets to tiles. Library-based and field study resources as well as observational descriptive and analytical methods have been implemented to conduct the study. Some questions should necessarily be answered to obtain the aim of this study. Firstly, what are the differences between Mohammd Ebrahim Tehrani’s paper inscriptions kept in the museum of Abdolazim Hassani’s holy shrine and his seven-color tile inscriptions located in the veranda of Imamzadeh Taher’s holly shrine in terms of writing form of Nastaliq and its composition (tarkib)? Secondly, which attributes should be taken into consideration to classify these inscriptions? The result of evaluation in both types of epigraphy indicated some stylistic features and visual standards for the works available from second period of the Qajar era, namely, writing big sizes of words and letters plus relative structural coherence in Nastaliq writings. It was revealed that slight variations exist between the two types of epigraphy. In the tile inscriptions, for instance, letters and words were written smaller in size and they were also executed bolder in comparison to the paper inscriptions. Thestretched letters (kashidas)are noticed to be elongated shorter in this type of epigraphy, though. Individual letters Additionally, the angel between calligraphy ."ه" are not attached tothe letter of ha "و،ر" such as ra and vav pen and the paper while writing dots (noghte) varies between 36 and 50 degrees. Furthermore, fewer ‘seating’ lines (korsi) and the same type of gemination, the doubling of a consonantal sound, were conceived in composition (tarkib) of the tile inscriptions. It was observed that words and letters underwent minor changes when they were transferred from the papers to the tiles, due to direct supervision of the calligrapher and his expertise in writing on variety of surfaces in addition to theskillful tiler who neatly created the tile inscriptions. Tehrani also has signed his paper inscriptions (1291 Hijri), available in Abdolazim Hassani’s Shrine, as "Mohammd Ebrahim Tehrani" which is the calligrapher's full name. He has utilized black ink on the pale gold background papers to make the inscriptions. Another notable feature is that two types of curved and angular frames are perceived in his paper inscriptions. His tile inscriptions (1301 Hijri), however, have been signed as "Mohammd Ebrahim, Mashhor Be Mirza Amo" which includes calligrapher’s first and nick names. White ink, navy blue backgrounds and curved shape frames were noted as the characteristics of the tile inscriptions by Tehrani.