Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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"Art Style" means the way of expressing the ideas, conscious or unconscious thoughts and emotions of the artist in his/her work. Social, political, economic and cultural conditions in any society has an essential role in the emergence and promotion of art styles. The changes in these conditions, will cause changes in artistic styles. In the Persian literary history, Persian poetry styles have divided into the styles of Khorasani, Iraqi, Isfahani (Hindi) and literary return period style. The styles of Iranian architecture in the Islamic era that are embodied in the construction of mosques are Khorasani, Razi, Azari and Esfahani styles. In both areas, for each of the styles, according to its historical period, we can suppose some minor styles, which these minor styles will help to more accurate evaluation.

This research tries to answer this question that "whether the specific social and cultural conditions in a historical period have had similar effects on the styles of Persian poetry and the architecture of Iranian mosques or not"; if so, "what do these similarities signify?" Moreover, can any elements be found that they be repeatable in all styles and in all eras, and if so, how can these common elements be interpreted? The importance of this issue is that, inevitably, we have to review and evaluate all aspects of our culture fields, to know our cultural identity, correctly. It is a crucial requirement of our culture that, to know that "whether the various cultural manifestations are separate Islands and apart islands from each other, that have not any relationship with each other, or a unique same sun gives life and warmth to all of them", But as far as the writer is aware, any independent research has not been done on this issue, yet. This research, which is based on descriptive analysis, at first, has explored the architectural styles of mosques and then it has studied the styles of Persian poetry. And the next step is to compare the styles of architecture and poetry, respectively.

To explain the social and cultural transformations and its impact on the development of artistic styles, among various opinions, Pytryn Alexander Sorokin comments - Russian descent sociologist, residing in America- is more eloquent. The article, in the next step, has explored socio-cultural developments and its role in the genesis of artistic styles.

The current study with comparing the stylistic of Persian poetry characteristics and mosques architecture, concludes that, poetry and architecture styles, have had profound similarities in every historical period. So that Khorasani style in architecture can be taken into account corresponding to Khorasani style in poetry; Razi style can be associated with style Seljuk period-style, and also Azeri style with Iraqi style and  Esfahani architecture with poetry Esfahani style (Hindi) were associated. These cultural similarities are due to common spirit in the different aspects of society. These common spirit, has two dimensions: 1. the temporal dimension (Zeitgeist= spirit of the age): This dimension in each period according to the requirements of the same period (Special conditions of social, economic, political and cultural), causes the emergence of similarity between the artistic styles, But because it is temporal, it also Contains differences with the pre and post periods. 2. Atemporality dimension (spirit of the Nation): This dimension contains some repeating elements that at different periods and in various artistic styles, have a constant presence, without being under the effect of external factors, or without attributing to a particular style. These repeating elements, will Make a single configuration that is "spirit of the nation" of Iran. This unit spirit of culture, like an invisible string, will collect reproduced Works in the field of thought and culture under a unit flag. This flag, is our 'cultural identity'. Perception of the spirit of "Iranian culture"  which has deep spiritual richness in companionship with "Islamic culture", only is achieved when, with insight and enlightenment, we remove the curtain from the face of spiritual and cultural heritage, to percept the unique truth that lies on its backend.

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Introduction: From the 14th century that is concurrent with Ilkhanid rule in Iran, some exquisite plaster works have been remained some of which have artist code and date; therefore, they can be considered as valuable study references for genealogy of the artists of plaster works and their individual styles. These plaster works can be seen mostly in magnificent Mihrabs, plaster inscriptions and tablets of mosques, tombs, etc. In tilings, wall drawings and the wooden works of art of this period, also, one can see the name and the code of artists and regarding their nicknames or their relations, it is possible to find their family relationship with plaster workers. In this article, the author tries to review and study the the hypotheses and theories proposed by researchers and professionals about the genealogy, individual styles of 14th-century artists. Therefore, the plaster works coded by the artists, like Kermani, Damghani, Baboyeh and the nikname Abu Shoja which are in Isfahani, Natanz, Torbat Jam, Sirjan, Bastam and Qom were selected to be studied in order to answer the question raised in this research: what are the visual features of the coded plaster works in terms of composition, motifs and inscriptions of the individual style of the every artist in 14th century? Regarding the fact that the stylistics of these decorations is a complex issue and needs to be studied in detail, the visual styles of these decorations have been described in this research and a diagram has been proposed for the family relationships between the artists who made them. In addition, some hypotheses are formulated using a historical-analytical method based on field and library researches on the remained works and historical resources.
Methodology: This research has been done using a historical-analytical method through an adaptive approach. First, the attempt has been made to describe the individual style of the artists during this period and study the most prominent plant and geometric motifs and compositions and the way they have been integrated with other motifs and inscriptions. The data was collected based on documentary resources, field researches, observations made by the authors, taking photos of the coded plaster works and drawing some samples using Matrix 7.0.
Conclusion: The results obtained from studying the coded plaster works of 14th century show cooperation among the artist groups that often had family relationship with each other. But distribution
of the works and their technical variation show that all members of an artistic family did not always
work in a certain area or on a certain profession and there were not much limitation on using the
designs and works of other artists with special skills. However, the individual style of the artist
that mainly results from their skills and creativity can not be neglected in forming these significant
works with unique visual features. In general, the visual features that were studied in the samples
include: 1) using multilayered plant compositions and large arabesque motifs with Ajdehkari and
detailed decorations that are mostly seen in Kermanian artists’ works of arts in Iran, 2) using plant
motifs with unique decorations (human and animal-like) and special plant compositions (compact
arches) and integrating geometric motifs (knots) with plant motifs in Bastam by Damghanian artists
that makes a special style in the stucco ornaments in this region, 3) plant (arabesque) proboscis-like
motifs and some margins involving simple geometric motifs in the plaster and tiling works of an
artist with the nikname Baboyeh, 4) the extensive use of strong and vivid colors, decorating the
inside parts of the ceiling with geometric (knot) motifs integrated with plant, geometric motifs and
inscriptions in the works of an artist with the nikname Abu Shoja and sometimes following some
styles n plaster working with technical differences that can be seen in the tomb of Pir Bakran.

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Around the controversial subject of Seljuq architecture in Iran, the dominion of such a style in Islamic architecture, not only following the stereotype of "Razi Style"; which was proposed by Prinya, but also includes various irrelevant architectural axis. Further, considering various schools in Islamic architecture like Khurasani, Razi, Azari, and Isfahani, does not match the existence architectural specimens. Although in his book titled “The Architecture of Islamic Iran: The Seljuk Period”, G. Hatam, tried to develop a new attitude towards Seljuk architecture in Iran, his conclusion was a reflection of previous studies in another language, focusing on describing plans and decorations; while, the architectural revolutions of structural developments were not considered. On the other hand, Hillenbrand’s classification of tower tombs and dome chamber do not suffice to clarify tangible boundaries between different regions of Iran. By analyzing architectural revolutions of Iran after Arab invaders, it can be concluded that the political stability was one of the main factors of Seljuq dominion in which for the first time after Sassanid extinction, art and architecture had reached to considerable success. Although Seljuq architecture in Iran has been assumed as a follower of Sassanid architecture style, but the formation of Seljuq dynasty in Northeast Iran territories, the gradual transition of monarchy to west and the selection of Isfahan, as the last powerful capital of Iran during 5th and 6th centuries caused distinguish architectural movements in various parts of Iran which clarifying distinctive feature of that has always been underestimated. According to the historical context, Seljuks were the first dynasty which had expanded their boundaries through Minor Asia and Anatolia for the first time. Hence, by the first half of 11th century, an unprecedented wave of Turkic groups turned to the Northwestern Iran near the Byzantine borders. In other words, the domination of Byzantine world and conquering Anatolians were not possible without having this point of Iran. It's not exaggeration if we consider here (Azerbaijan) as the collection of tombs; since, here is the frontier of Sunnis Muslim to meet the non-Muslim region Anatolia, where conflicts were in its peak. Hence, Azerbaijan was the garrison of Muslims and the presence of memorial buildings was for commemorating the ones killed in “Jihad” (The Holy War) to motivate the others to get involved in the war. So, a building as a mausoleum must be the best reflection of this desire. In this way, the distribution of tombs is considerably prominent from Northeast to the Northwest of Iran. If we titled the Northeast-Northwest axis as the axis of “Military Affairs” of Seljuk court with its powerful architecture focused on the tombs, central Iran would be the “political-religious” axis of Seljuk. Undoubtedly, the high security level of central Iran and the position of populated political cities like Isfahan, the construction of mosques, especially dome chamber shaped the framework of religious architecture there. According to the results, authors have proposed two distinguishable axes for the structure of the domes during Seljuk era. One starts from the most northeastern point of Iran and ends to the most northwestern point of Iran. Emphasizing on double layer domes with conical and pyramid shape and pointed domes in the structures like Lajim Tower, Resget Tower, Chehel Dokhtaran Tower, Radkan Tower in northeastern Iran and Mumina Khatun, Yusif-ibn-Gosair and Gonbad-e-Surkh in northwestern Iran. the outer layer of the latter has reached its maximum height to preserve the structure against its pulverous climate, guarantying the stability of the structure by channeling the forces in a more vertical angle. This axis is in connection with the other one where it starts from Kharragan’s towers and continues its direction to the central Iran in the structures. The character of this axis mainly includes double shield pointed domes whose interval is not considerable compared with the northeast-northwest axis. one important fact about northwestern Iran′s Seljuk structure is the technique of strengthening the join point where two walls meet. Taking the advantages of circular buttresses where tension could damage the whole structure gives one important character to these buildings i.e. the possibility of higher structures by decreasing the width of the wall.    
Considering climatic variations, technical characteristics of different areas as well as the architectural necessities depended on social-political conditions, two different axis including Northeast-Northwest axis with the centrality of Tomb and the central axis which is the “political-religious” axis of Seljuk's emphasizing on dome chamber, would deform the stereotype of "Razi Architectural style" in Iran. From this point of view, spotlighting the architectural technology of Tombs and dome chamber during Seljuk period in Iran would reviews the unity of Seljuk architecture and shed new lights towards Iranian architecture.
Since there has been no critical review about what is known as "The Iranian Stylistics of Architecture" which is proposed half a century before by Pirniya, this project would be the pioneer in this filed.

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Islamic texts have significant capacities in various fields of human knowledge. Among the issues raised in these religious texts is architecture and its features that on this basis, till now, some researches have been done on the Islamic architecture.
One of the main problems which have been considered during recent decades (especially in the field of urban development) is development pattern which can be classified into two main patterns: horizontal development pattern and vertical development pattern. But due to various problems, in recent decades, in most cities especially in metropolises, vertical development pattern has spread increasingly. According to the above descriptions, in this research this problem is studied from the perspective of Islamic teachings (especially Shiite jurisprudence) and so, the main problem that is investigated in this article is desirability or non-desirability of residential buildings vertical development in Islamic city.
          The research method which is used in this article is a compound method. In this way, according to the features of the various stages of this research, for gathering data, archival research method is used meanwhile logical-argumentative research and qualitative content analysis in analysis step and judgment of data has been used. In this way, propositions (especially the jurisprudential hadiths) that directly or indirectly are related to the problem of this research have been extensively investigated using qualitative content analysis method and then, using the resultant of propositions analysis by logical-argumentative method, the research findings are concluded.
According to these findings, because of various Islamic reasons (such as visual dominance and some of Imams traditions like star sightings and etc.) apartment and vertical development pattern is not desirable in Islamic cities especially for residential buildings.

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The realization of the concept of 24-hour city and urban nightlife has been controversial from the very beginning, even in the original source, the western cities. Adherents of the 24-hour city believe that the nightlife increases economic prosperity, presence of urban spaces, security enhancement, space branding, and etc. In contrast, opponents do not recommend the nightlife in cities for reasons such as energy wastage, occurrence of crime and offensive behaviors, environmental damage, increasing individuality and reducing social cohesion, and etc.
Survey on existing examples of the nightlife in different cities suggests that a single pattern for nightlife cannot be imagined. In each society, according to requirements and facilities, general culture and social relations, and even the policies of the governments and the urban managers, different examples of the urban nightlife have been obtained.
The introduction of this concept into the Islamic societies - including Iran - has also posed challenges to the urban management and citizens, including whether the same western concept of the 24-hour city and the nightlife can be realized in Iran? To what extent do those concepts and goals conform to Iranian-Islamic culture and lifestyle? And basically, what is the relationship between the concept of the 24-hour city and the nightlife with the Islamic instructions? And so the urban nightlife has had serious proponents and opponents in Iran.
A review of theoretical literature of the 24-hour city, based on the Islamic instructions and the local and the cultural capacities, can probably provide inference of the 24-hour city and the urban nightlife in accordance with the Islamic lifestyle and cities of the Islamic countries, including Iran. The present study seeks to answer the above questions with qualitative method and to provide a pattern of the 24-hour cities and the nightlife based on the Islamic culture and the local capacities.

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A brief reflection on the various works of Iranian-Islamic architecture in different periods illustrates the fact that the Iranian artist's architects have always sought the order in elements, components, spaces and buildings, and in order to achieve this important, the method There were several varieties (Bemanian and Avis-Nasab, 2012: 72). One of these methods is the use of the qiblah axis in the architecture of the mosques. What is nowadays visible in the architecture of contemporary mosques is the absence of the creation of spirituality in space for the guidance of the qibla. In this research, by revising the way of applying the Qibla axis to mosques of different periods of Iranian-Islamic architecture, it is analyzed on the qualitative role of the qibla and the attainment of ways of presenting the qualitative aspects of the qibla. Therefore, the research seeks to answer the following questions:

• The research seeks to answer the following questions: What is the best pattern of movement path from the entrance to the qibla in mosques?
• And what is the hierarchy of movement from the entrance to the qibla based on the spatial organization in mosques?

Therefore, the purpose of the research is to explain the role of qibla in the design of traditional mosques in terms of orientation, entry into the building, and placement along the qibla, the dynamics of the axis of the axis, in order to provide the basis for designing and constructing contemporary mosques. Therefore, this research has been conducted in a descriptive-analytical manner and based on library-documentary studies. Also, using the flow pattern and the relationship between activities in 18 samples of Iranian-Islamic architectural style mosques, the pattern of the path of human movement from entrance to altar, as well as the degree of proximity of each space to the other space in this motorway, has been studied.
Considering the comparison of architectural criteria to emphasize the direction of qibla in mosques, the index of periods and styles of Iranian-Islamic architecture can be said in Khorasani style, due to the form of the mosque's nave, using two criteria for increasing the number of columns and The elongation of the length of the plan defined the direction of the qibla. Architects in the style of Razi and then in the Azeri style, had the most attention to Qibla, and used more criteria to emphasize the Qibla axis in designing mosques. In the Isfahan style, the elongation of the yard with the increase in the number of columns helps the prayer in understanding the axis of the qibla. It can also be seen that the criteria for increasing the number of columns, the construction of the dome in the direction of the Qibla and on the altar, the longitudinal elongation of the plan, have the most effect on the direction of the Qibla axis in the mosque building. By studying contemporary mosques, we will find that these mosques do not have apparent effects due to the lack of theoretical principles, and the mosque's plan does not emphasize the Qibla direction. For this reason, the architecture of contemporary mosques has no effect on the principles and appearance of the Qibla axis.
Historical overview of the evolution of mosques since the beginning of Islam, indicates that paying attention to Qibla direction has played a significant role in the spatial organization of mosques in Iran. Also, observance of the principle of dynastic movement and space axis in the construction of mosques, has strengthened the direction of qibla and guided man from the interior to the outside and created the integrity of the foundation. In this research, based on the descriptive-analytical method and using the flow pattern and the diagram of the relationship of activities, the pattern of the path of human movement from the entrance to the altar, as well as the degree of proximity of each space relative to the other space in this motorway , Through a structural study of 18 samples of Iranian-Islamic style architectural mosques. Six patterns of eight flow patterns were defined as the pattern of movement from entrance to qibla in mosques, as well as motor hierarchy and the arrangement of spaces from entrance to qibla, using the activity relation diagram. A single pattern was developed for arrangement of spaces between the time of arrival and the Qibla, including: Entrance, Porch, Vestibule, Courtyard, Verandah, Shabestan, Mehrab.
The architects of traditional mosques show their thoughts in the form of geometric shapes and spaces, in which the sense of confidentiality, sanctity, immortality, and clergy preserves the space of the mosques, At the time of entering, they have been converted to a humane, perfected human being by directing and observing the dynamics of movement. In the design of contemporary mosques, not only the emphasis on the center of the qibla, but also the sanctity, spirituality and Islamic identity of these buildings have been lost.
 

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