Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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Natural light has been an important element in Iranian architecture and shaping the interior spaces of monuments. During different historical periods, the presence of light in various Architectural works, In addition to the functional aspect, has always been under focus from spiritual religious aspects. The incentive to turn to the light during worshiping God has existed in different religions and still exists. Daylight had have a special place and value in Islam and the Islamic worldview. With the emerge of Islam, usage and application of light in architecture increased especially in mosques as the most important monuments of Islamic architecture In mosques, daylight in addition to functional aspect is considered as a mystical symbol and a sign of God's presence that raises the human sense of reverence and humility in front of God. To this end, for centuries, Iranian architectures have been trying to use traditional architectural elements and daylighting solutions to better deploy the natural light in their designs. This study attempts to investigate and evaluate the application of light-catching elements in Iranian mosques, particularly in mosques and mosque–schools from Qajar period. We use a descriptive and analytical research method and our study is mainly on the basis of resources and the literature available in Iranian libraries. After describing the theoretical foundations of our research, we analyze a number of common light-catching elements in selected mosques. Although a multitude number of studies have been done on the concepts of light and its role and function in the traditional architectural monuments, particularly mosques and homes, little study has been done on light-catching elements in mosques of a specific period as done in this research. Structural elements which have been used in Iranian traditional architecture for utilizing daylight are studied from two directions. In the first direction, light-catching elements often have the task of transmitting light into the interior space. In the second direction, light controlling elements adjust the entered light into the building (similar to canopies). The subject of this research is in line with the first direction. We only study light-catching elements and we chose among them common elements such as door and window, Shabak, Horno, Rozan and Roshandan. Although these elements are different in term of material, type and location of application in the building, all of them are used for light-catching even though some of them have also ventilation application. We chose 10 mosques and mosque-schools of Qajar period in Tehran. The examined mosques and mosque-schools in this research were selected based on the following criteria: first, all the selected mosques and mosque-schools are located in old and valuable region of the city and they are tourists attraction. They have architectural values and are well-known among people and experts. Secondly, the building of selected samples reflect prominent features of Qajar’s architecture. Also the sufficient information (including maps and images) are available for these monuments. We chose 5 mosques and 5 mosque-schools among Qajar’s architectural works. Then, the usage and the application rate of light-catching elements in these buildings are evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively by the use of maps and the available visual data. Quantitative analysis is based on the approximate numbers of elements used in these mosques which have been extracted from the available images and maps. To qualitatively evaluate the application rate of various methods of light-catching in these mosques, we specify four levels of usage: "insignificant","low","medium" and "high". We provide the results of quantitative as well as qualitative analysis in this paper. Our analytical studies indicate that although door and window, Shabak, Horno, Rozan and Roshandan had been considered as innovative lighting elements inside mosques of Qajar period, architectures of this period still mainly utilized door and windows as the main lighting elements. Next to doors and windows, Rozan stands at the second place, Horno in the third place, and then Shabak and Roshandan. The utilization rate of doors and windows among considered mosques and mosque–schools has been similar. Nevertheless, the usage of Horno as a lighting element in mosques has been more than mosque–schools, Rozan and Shabak have been used more in mosque –schools rather than mosques. Roshandan has been barely used in the mosque-schools, and only few samples could be found within some mosques of this period.

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This research studies the concept of transparency behaviour of domes in Islamic mosque, with emphasis on the notion of the spiritual lighting.The topic of this study is important not only because it allows for a better understanding of the different types and purposes of these domes, but also because through calculating the veiling and revealing factor of each type, one can regenerate the use of dome in the architecture.In the analysis of quantitative factors, the quality of light in space and how to show the influence of Iranian architecture, structural elements play a prominent role.In the other words:Phrases related architectural lighting control within architecture elements that define spatial quality, are to identify and understand the value and meaning of the concept of light, began to attention to the importance of light in architecture.
The research method was used for which it is the consecutive combination explanation. Here, in the first stage, the quantitative data collected and analyzed, then in the second stage qualitative data collected and analyzed. Finally, both qualitative and quantitative analyzes are interpreted together.
The present study uses field measurements that the instrument used to collect the data, cameras and imaging and to take accurate of brightness quantitative information, and the digital photometer and simple devices were used, and its information has been gathered from documents and fieldwork. In this way the fieldwork for photometry to factors of physical and quantitative impact on the quality of light were studied and after identifying the physical factors affecting the quality of lighting the domes, the defining quality components transparency in relation to the characteristics of quality discussed and with quality components explaining to evaluate the degree of transparency of the domes of mosques reviewed, were studied. After examining different examples, seven residential mosque (Taj al-Mulk dome Isfahan Jame Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque of Isfahan, Blue Mosque of Tabriz, Barsian mosque, Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Jame Mosque of Yazd, Jame Mosque Ardestān) werechosen in the Iranian Islamic architecture.
The tools used to gather the data were cameras for photography and videorecording and a photometer for measuring light levels. The analysis of the information gathered indicates that the differentcharacteristics of domes all in their own way affect the level of spirituality and purity and transparency that the domesprovides. By examining the physical properties dome, transparency evokes components include: Unity (Unity means the harmony of the whole composition. The parts of a composition made to work together as a total visual theme. Unity is the relationship among the elements of a visual that helps all the elements function together. Unity gives a sense of oneness to a visual image. In other words, the words and the images work together to create meaning.), spatial continuity of light (a way to show how one type of space is directly linked to another by the light elements), the relationship between inside and outside (Physical or sensual links between inside and outside must be defined in some way that can characterize unique identity of each space and also establish proper interaction in whole architectural space. This proper interaction can create sense of consistency and integrity between this two spatial realms and furthermore express a link and boundary that if it is developed causes to creation another space that it is not inside or outside but it poses some character of each kind; this ambiguous moment of spatial experience, with focus as a connection between inside and outside, can be named “in-between”), lightness and dematerialization, resilience and adaptability, utility and readability (reading space is a process of using spatial knowledge appropriately after acquiring it and processing it in the mind), expansion spatial and light balance in space, was determined, each of which is associated with the physical properties of the atmosphere of a traditional mosque dome were examined, that indicated the highest degree of transparency in the dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque with 95%, and lowest degree of transparency is in the dome of Ardestān Mosque with 50%. The data analysis shows, all different characteristic domes with our way affectson the spirituality and the skylights creates transparency, and show that expression of spiritual clarity on the architecture of mosques in their bilateral relations with cover and illumination. By better understanding the effects of these characteristics, it is possible to design modern domes and skylight that arebetter suited to contemporary tasks.

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The Holy Quran and hadiths as the most important Islamic religious texts have significant capacities in various fields of human knowledge which have been often neglected. Among the issues raised in this religious texts are some of architectural problems. One of these problems is quality of bedroom design. In this article, this problem will be probed by citing verses and hadiths to deduct bedroom design principles. These principles will be presented in four main areas, including location, geometry, light and color.
Search in religious texts is done by using two main sources. To search in the verses, the holy Quran has been used to gather verses which are related to the problem of this article especially verses related to the introduction of night and its features and to explore hadiths, “Jame-al-ahadith” software has been used which contains hundreds of narrative books. After searching the key words related to the bedroom design, those verses and hadiths that allow inference architectural results were analyzed using qualitative content method and finally, the results of this analysis are explained in the presented table in conclusion section of the article.
The most important verses discussed in this article are the verses related to night, because it seems that the bedroom (as sleeping location) and night (as sleeping time), have common features. Some of these verses are as follows: «He splits the sky into dawn. He has ordained the night for rest and the sun, and the moon for reckoning. Such is the ordinance of the Almighty, the Knowing» (Sura 6/ Verse 96); «He it is who has made the night for your rest and the day to see. Surely, in this there are signs for people who listen» (Sura 10/ Verse 67); «Have they not seen how We have made the night for them to rest in and the day to see? Surely, there are signs in this for the nation who believe» (Sura 27/ Verse 86); «It is He who has appointed the night a mantle for you and sleep for a rest. The day He has appointed for rising» (Sura 25/ Verse 47).
In addition to above verses, some other verses like these verses are related with topics such as location, color and light of bedroom: «Believers, let those your right hand owns and those who have not come of age ask permission of you three times before the dawn prayer, when you put aside your garments, in the heat of noon, and after the night prayer. These are the three occasions of privacy. There is no fault in you or them, apart from these, that they go about you, you are of each other. As such Allah makes plain to you His verses, Allah is the Knower, the Wise. And when children reach the age of puberty, let them ask permission as those before them asked permission. As such Allah makes clear to you His verses. Allah is the Knower, the Wise»(Sura 24/ Verses 58-59); «When you depart from them and from what they worship, other than Allah, seek refuge in the Cave. Allah will extend His Mercy to you and will furnish you with a gentle issue of your affair. You might have seen the rising sun incline towards the right of their Cave, and, as it set go past them on the left, while they stayed within an open space in the Cave. That was one of the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides is rightly guided; but he whom He leads astray you shall not find for him a guardian to guide him» (Sura 18/ Verses 16-17); «›Call on your Lord, ‹ they said, ‹to make known to us what her color shall be.’ ‹Your Lord says: The cow is yellow, a rich yellow pleasing to the onlookers» (Sura 2/ Verses 69).
In this article, by analyzing the above verses, bedroom design principles are deduced (For position, geometry, color and light of bedroom). Implementation of this article results not only helps to better performance of bedrooms, but also is a step forward towards the achievement to original Islamic architecture.

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One of the valuable arts in the Iranian Islamic architecture was Girih which has showcased the beauty of the Iranian art by relying on a unique and unprecedented geometry. The generative nature of such an art coupled with granting style to the woodworks through taking advantage of elegant colorful glass and the use of geometrical carvings has been perfected during the course of history.

Girih are lines (strap work) which decorate the tiles. The tiles are used to form Girih patterns, from the Persian word, meaning "knot". In most cases, only the Girih (and other minor decorations like flowers) are visible rather than the boundaries of the tiles themselves. Girih are elaborate interlacing patterns formed of five standardized shapes. The style is used in Persian Islamic architecture and also in decorative woodwork, it could be applied either as lattice frames, left plain or inset with panels such as of colored glass; or as mosaic panels used to decorate walls and ceilings, whether sacred or secular. In architecture, Girih forms decorative interlaced strap work surfaces from the 15th century to the 20th century. Most designs are based on a partially hidden geometric grid which provides a regular array of points While there are various materials regarding the aesthetic aspects and the incorporeal and theosophical origin of such art as Girih but it seems that the climatic dimensions has been less dealt with. In the present study, there is proposed this presumption that the Girih is not merely an ornamental furnishing art and that it is in a functional interaction with day lighting meanwhile avoiding vanity and uselessness in its architecture and also that it takes advantage of masonry proportionate to the regional climate through its adoption of a vernacular approach. Thus, it looks necessary to find an answer to the question that “whether the Girih used in the buildings constructed based on the Islamic architecture designs can be defined in fields with climatic functions?”

Another question which can be set forth here is that “whether the Iranian architect has been successful in taking advantage of Girih works in realizing and deploying masonries, and making use of the daylight and natural ventilation?” To answer the mentioned questions, there is made use of the qualitative research strategies and the subjective information and data have been categorized in terms of the content they bear through exploiting rational reasoning via performing library studies in order to be able to extract the effective functional factors related to the Girih work from the background literature and then, in the next step, select the main target samples encompassing the residential homes from Qajar era (1-Forugh-Al molk, 2-Asadollah Shojaat Asad, 3-Akbar Javanmardi, 4-Parviz Amooee, 5-Jalal Sahebolamr, 6-Habibi Pishehvari, 7-Hossein Ali Tasmim Haghighi, 8-Dabagh Manesh, 9-Seyyed Mahmood Fateminejad, 10-Aliakbar Asgharzadeh).

In order to be able to evaluate and assess the case samples and finally the Girih application frequency in the case samples and the type of their application can be obtained through making use of various sampling methods.

Related to case studies and comparing them to documents wood and glass is the most useful materials in Girih structure.

After finding documents about quantity of Girih in each case study authors started to explore the Girih area into façade area which showcased by “f”. As authors mentioned “f” is made by dividing Girih area (Ag) multiplied by Girih numbers (Ng) in each façade side into window area (Aw) multiplied numbers of each window (Nw).

The study findings indicated that there exists a significant difference between the Girih frequency distribution rates along the western side in respect to the other fronts which concomitantly accompanied by the use of a pier’s vertical parasol the same as a similar configuration in the modern climatic radiation protection system provide for the unfavorable western side light effective control.

The absence of the Girih along the southern side is due to the need for making complete use of the sun light and radiation in this front because the interior spaces situated along this side of the house were used during the winters. The use of the vernacular or the regional climate-compliant masonries in Girih provides for the walls’ thermal control and the non-accumulation of the thermal and heat load along the western side.

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Daylight historic spaces were the only source of lighting supplier and traditional architects to artistic style as a tool to increase the visual quality of space and concepts used. The light is considered to be integral elements of space and Iranian architectural pattern should also be followed. Lighting pattern of Natural light and provide criteria main research question is historic mosques. This article is to discover the laws governing the lighting of the building and the windows in natural light distribution pattern in the dome By examining the five-dome mosques of Isfahan (Emam mosque, Sheikh lotfollah mosque, Hakim mosque of the Safavid period and Seyyed mosque and Rahim khan mosque of the Ghajariyeh period) Tries to extract pattern designed lighting Traditional architects And solutions to contemporary mosque architects was designed to provide natural lighting.
Data collection style is field and library. This study photometry instruments, field data at three times the length of the day is taken and then Radiance software was extended to one year. According to the criteria presented in the books of lighting standards, brightness, uniformity, light distribution and visual quality of the plan and the observer on the surface were analysed. In addition Time lapse photography to study the movement of light in space from sunrise to sunset as observers from the Field measurements Obtained.
Manifestation of the spiritual aspects of light can be seen in the architecture of mosques prominent Islamic monuments. So not only the most important and most prominent mosque of Islam, but Islamic architecture is the key to understanding.
In mosques to create a spiritual atmosphere of light as something beyond the material has been used and to guide it better indoors, methods and various techniques have been proposed that this has been made possible by designing the windows.
How light distribution, light direction and angle, brightness and glare light the way for quality properties are in space. If the quality of the space light with uniform light distribution pattern is no glare and brightness the direction and angle of the light, was significant and could lead to direct worship activities, design elements windows are designed to create a spiritual atmosphere. Field observations, simulations and photography time lapse all agree on the accuracy of a comment.
On Time lapse photography in field study day, light Direction in the sunrise from altar started and by moving on the west wall of altar, goes toward the floor.
Stains of light in space until around 10 am to the end And then uniform illumination without light spots flows in space Then, at about 3.5 pm stains slowly began to emerge in the middle of the dome home And approaching the sunset, Moving them from the floor started And to the east wall and Grive are to be continued.
There is no stain in Hakim Mosque due to lack of windows in Grive But the other four mosques as is apparent.
Natural light distribution pattern, the distribution, direction and angle of the light in mosques other than Sheikh lotfollah mosque has a lot of similarities. Although the mosques mentioned in terms of dimensions, space proportions and geometry of windows are different But lighting¢s are very similar. If the observer in the dome home sit for hours fixed in position, through the direction light (sunrise to sunset) in the space noticed the passage of time and the approximate time of day. In all the mosques, if someone sunrise at dome to sit expected, the first light stains on altar or near it to attract his attention. Movement of light in all five mosques are the same. In the gaze of the viewer of the altar, the altar of the entire space in the entire day seems brighter. Although the plan for software simulation, light intensity at the beginning of the arrival of more show floor But from a visual point of view, the altar brighter. Of course this pattern in the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque due to differences in the way in to space is somewhat different. Altar in the plan and the visual appearance is brighter than the entire space. Brightness reaches sixty lux but the average brightness of one hundred to three hundred lux varies between four mosques.
Despite the differences in the historical period architectural features of mosques and the domes, but they warrant the same lighting pattern. Iranian architecture, despite the complexity and diversity of the immense space of a few uses spatial patterns.
In fact, the pattern can lead to mixed results in its products. Lighting contemporary mosques, free from dependency on artificial lighting, natural light also does not have a meaningful pattern. Although the pattern does not dam architectural creativity in creating new spaces and its formation, is inherently creative process But the meaning of creativity in contemporary architectural culture has changed.

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Introduction:
The Transparency is a basic principle in Iranian architecture that has reached prosperity during the time. Isfahan is an important city in architecture because it has been as the political capital in the two important periods. So many valuable buildings have been built in these periods that the houses are more important between them.
 
Literature review:
The architecture was more transparent until the Qajar era but after that in Pahlavi era and contemporary architecture, it be used in different way and has lost the Iranian Islamic patterns. Unfortunately, this principle that has been improved fundamental and theoretical principles of Iranian architecture today will be ignored or less used in design and architecture. If these principles are also applied, its concept and appearance in architecture has changed and has been forgotten Iranian Islamic models. The authors try to answer these questions: How the transparency become manifest in the form of Isfahan traditional houses? How the transparency has been manifested in different era and in which era it has been more evident? Thus, due to this point that the Isfahan homes architecture has become more transparent during the time and different eras, this article studied the transparency principle in the houses forms of two important Isfahan eras.
 
Methodology:
This paper contains the parts are as follows: the theory part that introduces and defines the fundamental of transparency, and the field part that reviewing the principals that make the buildings more transparent in two different periods. So the theoretical part of paper, accomplished by using the library resources and the field studies is done by using authentic maps, direct observation of these houses and interview with experts. Numerous of significant historical houses related to Safavid and Qajar era has been reviewed because the transparency in Isfahan’s architecture is more manifested in these two eras. This comparison between these houses shows the difference of transparency in different periods. The collection of historic homes that have been registered with the National Monuments insist of 83 houses of the Qajar period, 38 houses related to the Safavid period, five houses related to Safavid- Qajar era and 12 houses from the Qajar- Pahlavi era. Among these houses, the buildings those are more impressive in architecture and their plans and map are existed, has selected to review. So 14 houses were evaluated.
 
Discussion:
So this paper has studied and compared the principle of transparency in the design of Safavid and Qajar's homes to recognize and reuse the transparency principle in the contemporary residential architecture. Reviewing different opinion and studies have been done about transparency; show that there are different aspects about this issue. The transparency in Europe and Islamic architecture is different but there are common in some concepts and factors. So it is necessary to set a clear definition. In this article transparency is a kind of design that contains “Reducing the Materials and Lightness”, “Opening the Space”," Permeability and Reflection", "Fluidity and Dynamism "," Hierarchy and Sequence” and “Visual Continuity”.
 
Results:
The transparency is appeared in Isfahan historical houses as the concepts such as “Reducing the Materials and Lightness”, “Opening the Space”," Permeability and Reflection", "Fluidity and Dynamism "," Hierarchy and Sequence” and “Visual Continuity”. Different strategies applied in designing the forms and body of building during the Qajar and Safavid period to create the transparency. So the transparency as a Basic and effective principle in Isfahan architecture, has become more obvious during the time and different periods
 
Conclusion:
The design of the historical houses of Isfahan becomes more and more transparent during the time. Models and strategies that are used in each period are derived from the previous strategies. But these strategies will be completed and more visible in the next period. An obvious example can be seen in the porch (Eivan) of these houses. During Safavid period the porch in addition to climate issues, has been created to opening the space, visual continuity, fluidity and dynamism and lightness in the building. This space applied and with small size in some walls of Safavid houses. But in Qajar houses, these patterns are more completed and developed than previous periods. The size, number of columns, width, height and even decoration of these spaces has increased and become more developed in Qajar houses. These two eras are common in some strategies that applied to make the building transparent. Some of these solutions are: using multiple courtyards, Eivancheh, Mahtabi, Hozkhaneh, and numerous vaults.
Finally; if the transparency is defined as “Reducing the Materials and Lightness”, “Opening the Space”," Permeability and Reflection", "Fluidity and dynamism "," Hierarchy and Sequence” and “Visual Continuity”, the Qajar architecture is considered as the evolved architecture. So it can be said that, Qajar architecture has improved the theories and patterns that applied in the design of Safavid houses and even in some cases has been created innovation in the forms of buildings.

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Architecture is the product of different contexts؛ so, the way of dealing the builders of a building with the architectural elements, has different semantic and physical manifestations in different contexts, despite the similarity in general. As an example, the light in the Shia religion of Islam is a symbol of the divine essence and expression of existence and it has always been considered by Muslim architects. To the extent that the spatial perception of many buildings of this period, regardless of the semantic position of light, leads to an incomplete understanding of space. This is especially visible in the design of religious buildings in general and mosques in particular. The mosque, which is the manifestation of the most ideal religious ideas and the most complete symbol of Islamic architecture, has been the best place to observe and study the theoretical and practical connections of its builders. However, today, in the construction of mosques, the role of light has been reduced only as one of the climatic elements and only for the function of lighting. The semantic aspects of light as they existed in the past are no longer known. The premise of this research is that light has appeared in the architecture of Isfahan in the Safavi period by emphasizing the semantic principles of the art. So the aim of this study is investigation of the qualitative characteristics of the presence of light in the architecture of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan. The statistical population of this research is the mosques of the Safavi period in Isfahan. Among them, three mosques of Sheikh Lotfollah, Hakim and Imam have been studied. The research method of this study is descriptive-analytical and case study. The required data for this research have been collected through field observations, photography and library studies and have been qualitatively analyzed. After a semantic study of the presence of light in Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, a three-dimensional hierarchical system was identified. This structure includes three stages of separation, transfer and connection (pause, ‌movement and emphasis) in the design of this building. A system that seeks to move from matter to spirituality, to move from darkness to light, to move from heaviness to light, and to move from the underworld to the world of divinity. The result is an all-spiritual space in which the presence of God is felt everywhere.

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