Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

Prioritizing environmental components affecting children’s health in residential complexes (comparing the views of child specialists in architecture and psychology with parents and educators of children)

Neda-Sadat Sahragard Monfared

Childhood is the most crucial period of human life, and the well-being of children is essential for the growth of any society. Given that children spend a significant amount of time at home, the design of residential environments profoundly impacts their health. Unfortunately, current residential designs are often based solely on the preferences of adults, leading to alarming changes in children’s daily habits. These changes contribute to various health issues, including depression, obesity, aggressive behavior, asthma, attention deficit disorders, and heart disease, often confining children to virtual spaces and depriving them of a healthy childhood.
This research aims to prioritize design components in residential complexes that most effectively promote children’s health and to identify the most important physical criteria for fostering healthy environments for children. To achieve this, a survey questionnaire was developed based on a descriptive-analytical review of relevant literature, targeting four groups: child architects, child psychologists, parents, and educators, totaling 100 participants. The collected data were analyzed using Friedman’s test and Shannon’s entropy, revealing the most significant environmental components affecting children’s health in residential complexes from each group’s perspective.
The results indicate that the most critical shared concern among all four groups is safety and security, which is a fundamental requirement for creating child-friendly environments. Following this, children’s architects emphasize the importance of play spaces as multifunctional areas that support educational, social, psychological, and cultural development. In contrast, parents prioritize adequate lighting and peace of mind regarding their children’s well-being. Psychologists focus on fostering social connections among children to enhance their life skills and independence, while educators share parents’ concerns about sufficient lighting for children’s developmental needs.

Evaluating the effective criteria for reminiscence in the direction of recreating the cultural-ritual square of Pir Rudband of Dezful

Maryam Sekhavat

The old area of Roodband in Dezful city has historically served as a gathering place for the people of Dezful during the observance of Muharram rituals. It is both physically and naturally one of the memorable and identity-giving components of Dezful. However, the traditional routes for these ceremonies are currently inadequate for accommodating the movement of mourning processions. Despite the addition of some spaces to these routes, they still do not meet the current needs, leading to social, cultural, and transit-related problems in the city.
The primary objective of this research is to examine the memorable and identity-giving criteria for the revitalization of this square as a crucial landmark in addressing contemporary life and activity needs within the complex, the surrounding context, and the city of Dezful. The main research question is: What common memory-ritual themes does Roodband Square hold among the people? Additionally, what physical solutions are prioritized in terms of enhancing the quality and identity of this space?
By clarifying the theoretical and physical frameworks of this quality, the research aims to assist urban designers in improving citizens’ connection to this urban space. This study is applied in nature and employs a descriptive-analytical research method based on inferential statistics. In the first stage, relevant literature was reviewed to extract dimensions and general criteria for preserving collective identity and memory in urban environments. User opinions regarding environmental factors affecting memorability were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software.
The research results indicate that the domain of meaning has been identified as the most significant area for identity and memory creation from the perspective of space users, with the fields of activity and physicality following in importance. Furthermore, to elucidate physical solutions for enhancing collective identity and memory in the Pir Roodband area, four categories of solutions were defined: urban and architectural design, improvement of urban facilities and furniture, land use planning, and traffic measures. In order of importance, traffic solutions were deemed most critical, followed by architectural and urban design solutions, improvements to urban facilities and furniture, and land use planning.

Identifying the values of architectural and urbanism heritage in urban development plans (case study: northwest region of iran)

Mozaffar Abbaszadeh

Historic urban fabric are symbols of originality and identity in our city, and have high values. These structures, as architectural and urban heritage, have been inherited from our predecessors for us as a memory. Our responsibility towards this precious heritage is to understand its underlying values, and to preserve and promote it. But as it should be, the values of these textures do not have a proper place in the study process of urban development plans. Based on this, this research seeks to answer the question, what is the place of architectural heritage and urban planning in the description of services and urban development plans, and how can it take steps to achieve the right place? Based on the goal, the current research is practical and in terms of research method, it is descriptive-analytical. The strategy used is interpretive strategy and logical reasoning. The method of collecting information is library and documents. According to the type of research and its strategy, the present article can be called one of the qualitative articles. In order to achieve the goal of the research, first, the values of architectural heritage and urban planning were extracted based on the study of numerous sources, and then their place in the description of services of urban development plans was evaluated. Finally, by matching the extracted values with the service description of the (comprehensive) development plans of Urmia, Maragheh, Tabriz and Meshginshahr cities, it has been addressed to provide solutions for the practical realization of the place of architectural and urban planning values in the service description of urban development plans. With the arrival of modernism in Iran and the imposition of a new spatial arrangement resulting from it on the historical contexts of old cities, responding to the social and cultural needs of the residents has been forgotten. The multiplicity of procedures and their sectional nature and the impact of relevant policies from sectional decisions without philosophical and theoretical support is the bottleneck that developing countries are currently facing. Therefore; urban heritage cannot be imagined as an isolated phenomenon, an enclosed area that is protected from the external forces of change due to plans and regulations. The work process was such that first the values of architectural heritage and urban planning were introduced and a category that could be extracted from it was presented, and then a comparative study of the realization of these values was carried out in the description of study services of comprehensive and detailed plans, description of special and non-homogeneous services, and in the next step with the application of pathology, the reasons for its non-fulfillment have been studied in these plans. In this regard, in order to carefully examine the issue of the development plans of several cities in the northwestern region of the country, it has been studied. The results of the research show that urban development plans, as the most important urban planning documents in the field of paying attention to the values of architectural heritage and urban development and its application in order to protect this heritage, have performed poorly and the right place has not been considered for it. In this regard, the special plans for the protection and revival of the historical area have been successful in paying attention to the many values of the historical contexts and have covered many existing gaps, but they still have disadvantages. The comparative study of the types of architectural and urban heritage values shows that in the description of the services of comprehensive and detailed plans, the most focus is on historical and cultural values, while in the description of the services of special plans for the protection and revitalization of the area Historical-cultural, today’s values, which include a wide range of scientific-educational, tourism, economic, functional and political values, have received more attention. In summing up the reviewed experiences, it can be stated that although historical contexts did not have a place until several decades after the entry and implementation of urban development plans in the country, with the passage of time and the experience of the transition period, historical contexts have gained value and dignity in urban development plans; But this position is only summarized in physical and tourism values and identity, historical, social, economic, political and aesthetic aspects have been marginalized. In general, in urban development plans, one should avoid looking at historical textures as an island, so that other textures can be used as a support for old textures. In the following, based on the results, solutions are proposed with the aim of eliminating this shortcoming and the appropriate calculation and application of values in urban development plans, so that the study, review and presentation of a suitable plan in an integrated manner for the whole city in terms of the differences and unique characteristics of each part of the city can be a lot to resolve urban heritage issues.

Architectural Design Process Based on Transcendent wisdom, Investigating the effect of Mulla Sadra’s Basit al-Haqiqa rule on architectural design process

mahdi hamzenejad

The existential simplicity of architecture can establish harmony between the field of the human living environment (architecture), the field of the human inner self and soul, and the field of existence and reality (ontological field). This concept is more important in the context of transcendental wisdom, especially under the rule of “Simple al-Haqiqah.” Using a combination of library documents, logical reasoning methodology, and qualitative content analysis, the author initially reviews the existing literature. Subsequently, by examining the foundations of transcendental wisdom, the author takes a step towards Sadra’s epistemology. The goal is to match the obtained components with the corresponding components in architectural design process models and to explain how these foundations from transcendental wisdom affect the design processes.
The result demonstrates that the simplicity of the soul, about its internal powers, is encompassed by the simplicity of the necessary being about the entire system of existence. Since architecture is a function of the powers of the soul, including the power of imagination, the simplicity of the self is thus elevated. This crucial concept is framed within Mulla Sadra’s “basit al-haqiqa” rule, the most fundamental principle in the realm of ontology and epistemology that embraces plurality with the appearance of unity in multitudes. Consequently, this principle influences Sadra’s design process.

Explaining the theory of social and spatial justice in the Islamic city

behzad omranzadeh

The Islamic city is one that embodies the principles and values of Islam, providing the conditions necessary for realizing an Islamic lifestyle. This embodiment manifests in various forms across different regions and climates. In this context, the fundamental Islamic principle that should be realized in the social life of Muslims and within the urban environment is the principle of justice.
The primary aim of this research is to develop a scientific theory based on Islamic sources regarding social and spatial justice as one of the pillars of the Islamic city or the ideal city in Islam. This is approached through the production of indigenous and Islamic knowledge in urban management and planning, utilizing grounded theory methodology. Ultimately, this research seeks to contribute, however modestly, to the theoretical foundations of the Islamic-Iranian city, guiding the pursuit of an Islamic-Iranian model of progress.
The findings of this research reveal significant foundations that provide a precise definition of social and spatial justice, elaborating on the dimensions of this concept—including principles, criteria, and consequences—within a conceptual model. This model offers a comprehensive explanation of the current state of injustice and the process of achieving social and spatial justice in society.
For instance, based on the results of this research, the definition of social and spatial justice is the “entitlement” of citizens regarding the distribution of services and resources, achieved by “placing everything in its rightful position” based on principles of “equality,” “public benefit,” and “equal access” to “public rights,” while recognizing “inequality” in “acquired rights” in human settlements.
Based on this definition and the reviewed sources, the principles of social and spatial justice include:
Public benefit in public affairs, Equality in public law, Equal access to public services, Inequality in individual-social acquired rights. The criteria for social and spatial justice are: Membership, Need, Performance, Value of action, Time and place requirements.

The common architectural language of the Kaboud Mosque of Tabriz and Sheikh Lutfullah of Isfahan (emphasis on the ideas of Titus Burkhardt and Oleg Grabar)

Hossein Esmaeili sangari

The architecture of Iranian mosques reflects the continuity of thought throughout historical periods, representing both unity and distinction, while also serving as evidence of the struggle to preserve and enhance cultural and religious identity. From the perspective of scholars, the architectural function of mosques is integrated with elements and components that display unity, even though mosques may exhibit contradictions from a physical standpoint. The Kaboud Mosque in Tabriz and Sheikh Lutfullah Mosque in Isfahan, as masterpieces of religious architecture, share a common foundational idea despite their apparent differences.
Thus, the present research assumes religious thought as a common language in religious architecture and aims to answer the main question: “To what extent does the representation of thought in the common language of the Kaboud Mosque in Tabriz and Sheikh Lutfullah Mosque in Isfahan reflect the views of scholars?” Acknowledging the conflicting theoretical foundations of thinkers such as Titus Burkhardt and Oleg Grabar in mosque architecture, this study investigates the architecture of the Kaboud Mosque and Sheikh Lutfullah Mosque in the formation of a common architectural language.
The research employs a qualitative approach through analytical-descriptive methods, focusing on the validity of themes from scholarly articles emphasizing the ideas of Titus Burkhardt and Oleg Grabar from 2006 to 2023. Using a meta-synthesis approach, 9 out of 53 articles were selected based on the CASP methodology, along with interviews with 10 experts, professors, and informants in the field of religious architectural thought. A total of 231 references were identified using MAXQDA software, categorized under 17 organizing themes and 2 overarching themes related to the common language of thought in religious architecture.
The results indicate that the architecture of mosques across periods is influenced by profound ideas that manifest in their form and structure. Thus, the common language of architecture in mosques is shaped by shared religious thought underlying fundamental architectural factors, despite apparent contradictions, reflecting the transition from the material to the spiritual realm in the intersection of construction and reading.

Explaining the principles of designing a desirable house from the perspective of Islam

Sedigheh MoeinMehr

Designing a house according to Islamic teachings has been a subject of extensive and continuous discussions. It requires meditating on the sources that provide these teachings. The Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) are among the original and fundamental sources that explain Islam’s approach to the characteristics of a desirable home. This research takes an Islamic approach based on the sources of reason and narration, using logical reasoning and interpretation-analysis.
In this regard, the architectural design of seven award-winning contemporary houses in Iran has been examined. This study evaluates the extent to which designers consider the features of a desirable house from the perspective of Islam. The principles arising from the foundations of this research and visible in the structure of the ideal home, as reflected in the case examples, are as follows: 1.Creating peace, tranquility, and security in the home compared to other urban spaces. 2.Preserving homogeneity, social justice, and the absence of class differences. 3.Attending to the rights of neighbors. 4.Responding to the needs of residents according to their social and cultural characteristics while respecting justice. 5.Privacy and view control in house design. 6.Paying attention to the Iranian-Islamic identity. 7.Prioritizing and valuing spaces. 8.Connecting with nature and using natural gifts compatible with the climate. In conclusion, the results show that wherever attention has been paid to Islamic teachings according to the requirements of time and place, a work with an original, efficient, and lasting identity has been created.