Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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Seljuk period is one of the important periods of Islamic Art in Iran architecture. The Seljuk brickworks represent Iran architectural perfection in aspects of techniques and variety. The magnificence of Seljuk brickworks is not found in other later periods. Therefore, further investigation is needed due to the importance of this issue. In this research, literature reviews, field studies and survey is done by analytical- descriptive method. The aims of research are as followed introducing the important motifs of brickworks identify, variety of layout types, and the sustain modality of brickworks during the historical periods. According to the aims, all of Seljuk monuments in Iran which have brickwork decoration were detected and their brickwork decorations identified. The decorations which were unique at that time and were repeated, has been determined as index motifs. Afterward, these motifs and the techniques were found in Khwarezmid and Ilkhanid monuments and their changes or conversions to other decorations have been identified. Most of the architectural exterior surfaces are decorated by the brickwork in Seljuk period funerary monuments with polygonal plan have the most decorative surfaces such as Kharaghan tombs and minarets. In this period, the simplicity of minarets was changed to richest drawing and decorative forms such as Menar-e Ziar and Cheheldokhtaran. It is noteworthy that in addition to this, the monuments including the Robatsharaf Inn and Jame mosque of Golpayegan are decorated with verity brick motifs which combine with stucco reliefs. In general, decorative designs and prolific body of brickwork is one of the special features of Seljuk architecture. Various brick rows are used in the Seljuk monuments and they are categorized to Golchin, Jenaghi, Hasiri, Doraj, Kofi Magheli and Bannaie inscriptions. Golchin’s motifs have some “mother” patterns which are combined tomake various designs. Golchin motifs perform in tow groups “simple” and “compound”. Jenaghi brickwork, perhaps because of its easy performance,has usually been used in corner of the dome and arches. Also some different technique of brickworks such as “Khofteraste” (relieve motifs), Moshabak, Gerehbannaie perform in outer surfaces of Seljuk monuments. Khofteraste brickwork technique was used in high altitudesin order to relieve its motifs. Moshabak technique was used in doorway to pass light through andGerehbannaie generally was used for minaret decorations Selengeh, Chaharlengeh, Sheshvahasht are the prevalent motifs of Ghereh in Seljuk period. An innovative technique: combination of brick with different materials used in Seljuk period that followed in later periods. Hence, Seljuk monuments are decorated by different brickwork in motifs and techniques including the Golchin and Gereh. In addition, initiative techniques such as the incorporation of brick with tile (glazed brick) or stucco were created by artists as well as Kofie-bannaie. Accordingly, it is obvious that Seljuk brickwork decoration is the rising point of Persian brickworks. In Khwarezmid and Ilkhanid periods, brickwork decorations were not used as extent as before. In these periods, brickwork was replaced with stucco and tile. However, some of brickwork decorations such as Golchin, Doraj, Magheli and Bannaie inscriptions were followed by the next periods. Also, the Gereh motifs of Seljuk period became the source of compound decoration for the next time. In Khwarezmid period, molded bricks with relief motifs were developed. This kind of molded bricks in combination with glazed molded brick or the tile, which were pre-cut or insitu-cut, became very common throughout, Khwarezmid and Ilkhanid periods. In such way that incorporation of brick with tile included the hole of decorations during the following periods. Pre-cut brick and pre-cut tile techniques at the end of Seljuk period were used in GonbadKabud in Maragheh and it became the beginning point of this type of decorations in the following periods. The techniques of brick and tile combination so called-Moarraq (mosaic) exists in Khwarezmid monuments such as ForoumadJame mosque and Malekzozan. Also, some skillfully combination of brick and tile were used in two important Ilkhanid monuments including Gonbad-e Soltaniye and Bayazid-e Bastami treasury. It could be argued that combined decorations (combining brick with tile) belongs to the culmination of Ilkhanid decorations. Hence, variety of techniques and innovations that happened in the brickworks of Seljuk periods caused some changes in the decorations of the following periods. Gradually, new types of architectural decoration over the motif, function, and accomplishment were developed based on changes done during Seljuk period.

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The mosque has served as a ritual space for Muslims since the emergence of Islam; in every era it has been designed and constructed based on terms and conditions of performance and the technology. But there are almost some fixed and unchanged elements that distinguish the mosque from the other places. In the mosque architecture, the dome is considered as an important symbol and element, and in addition to the concepts hidden in the space of the dome, many designers suppose its existence as a reason for the symbolic architecture of Islam. Therefore, the study of the construction of domes seems necessary, while today the progress of the construction and implementation methods doubles the need for understanding their structures. Meanwhile, in a place like the mosque, it is required to provide the user comfort in terms of the minimal situation to improve the spiritual state of the worshipers, which is needed additionally in the hot and dry climate due to the distance between the natural conditions and the scope of the human welfare. The mosque is at least a safe place where the audience or prayer tries to upgrade his/her spiritual modes and preferably in the zones of hot and dry climate people try twice more to go to the mosque for the development of their spiritual modes and natural comfort. For this purpose, the present study compares three kinds of materials in the prefabricated domes and evaluates the traditional materials (brick) in comparison with the concrete and fiberglass structures. The method of prefabricating was selected from the operational details of the Dk domes Company that has constructed many domes in the Islamic world, including Wilayah mosque of Kuala Lumpur and the form of samples was taken from the Imam Mosque of Isfahan. Thermal behaviour is one of the effective factors for the user comfort and has been selected as the research variable and the samples were analysed based on the behavioural differences. This study aims to find which type of dome provides better response in terms of the studied parameters in hot and dry climates. The paper is to answer the following questions by the utilization of software analyses:
1) Which dome has appropriate thermal behavior in the hot and dry climate zones?
2) Is it possible to construct a dome such as the dome of The Imam Mosque in Isfahan by the implementation of the modern systems?
The paper has been classified into two sections including- The main subject and the case study to answer precisely the above questions. Firstly, the concept of the thermal behavior is evaluated; performance of dome roofs and the thermal studies and then the domes made of prefabricated concrete, brick and fiberglass are analyzed. The research methodology is descriptive analytic of the case study, quantitative and empirical aspects of the samples through more precise calculations. The analyses were done with Ecotect software in the cities of Yazd, and Isfahan and the results show that in the selected cities, the brick provides more hours of comfort in the climatic conditions of Yazd and the concrete structure of the dome provides more comfort in Isfahan. In both cases, regarding energy exchanges in the dome structure during the night and day and the total of the year, the concrete moderates the temperature and the brick and fiberglass create medium and maximum behavioural differences respectively.
It is concluded that brick dome structures provide more comfort for the prayers to the mosque for the advancement of their spiritual modes in Yazd but concrete domes in Isfahan. In both samples, the concrete is moderator of the temperature; both brick and fiberglass changed the thermal behavior of the domed roof to average and maximum levels respectively both round-the –clock and annually. Whereas the concrete always has a mild linear behavior; always develops uniform conditions even when you need temperature differences to reduce the thermal load in the mosque. It seems that such a moderate behavior is not so suitable in hot and dry zones for the existence of more powerful parameters in these zones. The temperature differences are more in hotter and dryer zones at night and during the day in cold and hot seasons. Concrete can’t provide comfort for the prayers due to the constant load of thermal energy and the energy convection. The dome roof made of fiberglass material provides less comfort out of 8760 hours in a year. The concrete dome can produce more comfort than that of the fiberglass in Isfahan with 0.9 percent difference in comfort condition than that of the fiberglass. But in Yazd, the difference in comfort condition is 1percent for the domes made of brick, then it is concluded that the concrete domes provide more comfort for the prayer in Yazd. Generally, it is concluded that brick is more suitable for hot and dry climate zones; although with a very trivial change in the weather, the concrete showed better thermal behavior than that of brick both in Yazd and Isfahan.