International Journal of Architectural Engineering & Urban Planning

Examining the Impacts of Urban Expansion on Spatial Patterns of Rurban Space; Case Study; Urmia City

Abolfazl Ghanabri

Unprecedented urbanization, characterized by population shifts from rural to urban areas and urban land expansion, has occurred globally in the past few decades. Urbanization is usually associated with land use change and urban expansion. Urban expansion, as an important social phenomenon, has a clear effect on the landscape pattern, processes, and performance on a local and global scale. Therefore, urbanization is always associated with the spatial expansion of urban land, which leads to changes in the landscape pattern. Previous studies have analyzed urbanization patterns in areas with rapid urban expansion, while urban areas with low to moderate expansion have yet to be addressed, especially in developing countries such as Iran. Therefore, the current research aims to analyze the effects of urban growth on the spatial patterns of the suburban areas in Urmia. In the present study, the first set of data will be satellite images, so the satellite images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 of Urmia city were received from Landsat satellite and processed using related software. In order to achieve the goal of the research, urban expansion was quantified with two main indicators, UEDI and UEII, and then spatial criteria were used in concentric and concentric zones to examine changes in the landscape. The results show that Urmia city expanded continuously during the studied periods, and the built-up area increased proportionately to the total area, which may indicate urban growth and population increase. Also, the findings indicate that the area with high-intensity expansion is located in the middle areas of Urmia city, and the intensity of expansion has decreased significantly in the following decades compared to the first period (1990-2000). In the first decade of 1990-2000, the greatest difference and intensity of urban expansion occurred in the direction of the east and north of Urmia city. But in the next decade, the desire to expand the built lands in the southwest, west, and northwest has increased. Finally, in the decades of 2010-2020, the pattern of urban expansion has tended toward the east and northern regions, mainly due to the increase in agricultural and industrial activities. Also, the investigation of the effects of urban expansion on urban spatial patterns using geographic spatial regression showed that the spatial pattern of Urmia city can significantly intensify urban expansion.

Performance Evaluation of Passive Heating and Cooling Systems in Zero-Energy Educational Buildings in the Humid Climate of Guilan Province: Implications for Student Comfort

Saeed Azemati

Minimizing thermal energy demand has become a key objective in sustainable building design. Indoor environmental quality is closely linked to occupants’ health and productivity, making zero-energy buildings an increasingly prominent research focus. Thermal comfort is defined as the condition in which individuals do not feel the need to take any action to modify the surrounding temperature. Passive systems, which harness renewable energy and natural resources, utilize building elements as design solutions tailored to specific climates. This study aims to identify optimal passive strategies for educational buildings in the temperate and humid climate of Guilan province and evaluate their impact on thermal performance. The analysis focuses on specific passive systems, including floor and roof insulation, double-glazed windows, shading devices, and natural ventilation. Using a combination of library research, document analysis, and software simulation, the study investigates the key factors affecting energy consumption in educational buildings. Climate Consultant software was used to assess the climatic parameters of Rasht city, while TRNSYS v18 simulated the performance of the combined passive systems under realistic building and environmental conditions. The simulation results indicate that floor insulation effectively reduces heating energy demand, although it slightly increases cooling loads. Consequently, the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index moves closer to the comfort range, indicating improved thermal satisfaction for building occupants.

The Evolution of Space in Houses from the Qajar Period to the Contemporary Period of Rasht City

Mojgan Khakpour

The studies of Iranian architecture, especially in the contemporary era, have often been centered around monumental buildings in each period and their analysis. Residential buildings, as one of the most widespread urban elements, have received comparatively less attention, even though the importance of documenting them is evident, regardless of associated debates. This study examines the physical transformations, spatial connections, and functional uses of houses in the city of Rasht. To achieve this, the research employs the Space Syntax analysis method, analyzing 24 case studies of houses in Rasht from the Qajar period to the present and producing justified graphs. Using a qualitative approach and inductive reasoning, the study identifies patterns of layout changes across historical periods. The results outline the evolution of residential layouts in four stages: the Qajar era, the First Pahlavi period, the Second Pahlavi period, and the Islamic Republic. The findings show extensive transformations in Rasht’s houses across all aspects under study: minor changes began in the First Pahlavi period, paving the way for broader transformations in subsequent years; the Second Pahlavi period witnessed comprehensive shifts that redefined domestic space; and finally, during the Islamic Republic era, houses assumed the form in which they are designed and used today.

Codification of procedural concepts of urban design process and study of their application in Iranian urban design projects

Seyyedali Nouri

Cities today face complex problems that the current urban design process is unable to address; Hence, many urban designers are looking for knowledge that can guide them in how to navigate the process, and legitimize the product of the urban design process. Therefore, The purpose of this study is to identify the concepts affecting the substantial and procedural evolution of the urban design process and to evaluate the application of these concepts in Iranian urban design projects. So by referring to the procedural theories, the basic concepts are extracted in the conceptual framework. This framework in addition to explaining all the practical concepts that guide the process describes how these concepts are applied in stages of the urban design process. In this way, obscure and sometimes abstract concepts are applied practically. Also, it allows the evaluation and analysis of the urban design process of Iranian projects using the directional qualitative content analysis method in the next step. The evaluation results show that, respectively, the concepts of public interest, power relations, and public participation are the lowest, and the concepts of multilevel intervention, contextualism, problem orientation, and flexibility, have the highest application rate in Iran's urban development projects. These results represent the prevailing strategic approach, at both theoretical and practical levels, in Iran’s urban design discourse.

Healing Cycles in Therapeutic Landscapes for Well-being: A Causal Model of Urban Green Spaces for Promoting Physical, Social and Mental Health

Elahe Mohajer

Urban residents increasingly face high levels of stress and limited access to natural environments, raising concerns about the impact on physical, mental, and social well-being. While the benefits of urban green spaces (UGSs) are widely acknowledged, the specific design elements that contribute to these benefits and their causal relationships remain unclear. This study proposes a causal model of therapeutic landscape design components in UGSs, focusing on the synergistic interactions that enhance residents’ health. A mixed-methods approach was employed in three stages: a review of existing literature and expert interviews using the Delphi method to identify health-related design indicators; administration of a user survey assessing architectural qualities of UGSs; and factor analysis combined with covariance structural equation modeling (CSEM) to validate the proposed model. Six key design components were identified, Environmental Safety and Security, Spatial Vitality, Space Adaptability, Spatial Legibility, Spatial Sociality, and Space Diversity, that work together to support healing. Among these, Space Adaptability exhibited the strongest effect, explaining 93% of its variance, while Spatial Vitality accounted for 68% of its variance. Three primary synergy cycles emerged, illustrating how these components reinforce one another over time to create vibrant, inclusive, and health-promoting environments. The findings offer practical guidance for urban planners and landscape designers seeking to enhance the therapeutic potential of UGSs.

Analysis of Structural Details in the Double Space of Conical Domes (A Comparative Study of Holy Tombs in Kashan)

Ahmad Danaeinia

Among the components of Double-Shell domes, the Stiffeners structure has a special place. The Stiffeners are responsible for transferring the load from outer shell to the bases, and therefore the form, location, how they are twisted, and how they behave in the architecture of the dome have special complexities and subtleties. This study aims to investigate the stability of the outer shell of the dome to find answers to the following two questions. What is the basis of the geometric structure and function of the Stiffeners for static and stress control in conical domes? And what is the role of clamping techniques, reducing the thickness of Khod, increasing the thickness of the Drum, Palanehsazi, A Short Cubic Brick, and connector belt in the technology of making conical domes? The result showed that Wooden Struts have a major role in the stativity of Stiffeners and are divided into five types of vertical coils, chord, orbital, radial, and Sliced, and the architect according to its dimensions, opening and rising chooses one Act of them.

Optimizing Light Shelf Configurations for Enhanced Daylighting, Glare Reduction, and Energy Efficiency in Classroom Environments

Aida Lebasi

Daylighting in educational spaces enhances energy efficiency and indoor comfort. This study investigates the optimization of light shelves in classrooms to improve lighting conditions, reduce glare, and enhance energy performance. Using simulation tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, Honeybee, and Ladybug, we modelled a representative classroom in Hamedan, Iran, to analyse the impact of light shelf configurations on Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), Glare Autonomy (GA), and total energy load. We employed a genetic algorithm to explore various configurations and identify optimal solutions. The results indicate that well-designed light shelves significantly improve UDI and reduce discomfort glare, particularly during morning and midday hours. The optimized configurations also showed a slight reduction in total energy load, demonstrating the dual benefits of enhanced daylighting and energy efficiency. Optimized light shelves increased UDI by up to 2.76% and reduced GA by up to 14.13% compared to the base case without shelves. These findings underscore the importance of precise dimensioning and angling of light shelves, tailored to specific lighting conditions at different times of the day. This study offers valuable insights for architects and designers aiming to create comfortable and energy-efficient learning environments, contributing to the broader field of sustainable building design.

From Simplicity to Intricacy: Understanding Architectural Complexity in Modern Iran Using Box-Counting Method

Elham Parvizi

Residential building facades play a crucial role in defining the visual identity and character of urban spaces, significantly influencing individuals' perceptions. This study examines the visual complexity of residential facades in award-winning buildings from Iran's Memar architectural competition (2016–2024); The Memar Award, issued yearly by Memar Magazine, is considered one of the top architectural accolades in Iran. The research evaluates complexity, encompassing visual, structural, and functional dimensions, through the application of the box-counting method—a fractal analysis technique. By analysing two-dimensional line drawings, the study calculates fractal dimensions to quantify complexity, focusing solely on the impact of lines, excluding other factors such as texture or colour. The findings provide deeper insights into the visual and structural intricacies of facade design, highlighting the role of complexity in enhancing urban aesthetics and shaping residents' experiences. This research underscores the importance of facade complexity in architectural and urban discourse, offering valuable contributions to future design practices and urban planning strategies.