Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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With the arrival of Islam in Iran, the knowledge that had a strong connection with religion flourished in this land. Although in later periods schools were established independently from mosques, because of the religious studies in schools, the connection between mosques and schools was recreated again and they were called mosque-school in Islamic architecture. The integration of the two functions of mosque and school led to spatial innovations and creativity in the architecture of these buildings. Therefore, the architecture of these buildings had quite a special importance in the history of Islamic architecture. This article is based on the assumption that the body of Iranian schools from the Seljuk period to the Qajar period has evolved; It seeks to find the structural characteristics of Iranian schools in each historical period and also the evolution of their spatial arrangement by examining the models. For a better understanding and more specific analysis, the evolution of the spatial arrangement, typology of the structural system, and the relationship of traditional schools were conducted for the mentioned schools. This typology includes topics like structural system, spatial layout, structural communications, how to connect educational and worshiping (prayer) areas, methods of defining space (closed, open, and covered). The data were initially presented using a descriptive method and then they were evaluated through an analytical and adaptive method, and in terms of historical-interpretive approach, it was accomplished with typological analysis method and using library sources, collecting data from historical books, mapping, documents and receipts reading.
Study results show that schools in each historical period in order to meet the needs of students, have found specific structural characteristics and this has led to spatial changes, including residential, educational, and worshipping areas. For example, the porches of traditional schools initially had an educational function, and students gathered on the porches to discuss. In some cases, they also had been used for praying purpose. As a result, according to the present study and the case studies, the body of traditional schools in terms of the characteristics of the main components (porch, dorm, madrasa, etc.) and spatial arrangement, have passed evolutionary developments during the Seljuk period, Timurids, Safavids, Qajar.

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Geometry and proportions are considered fundamental principles of Iranian architecture and have played a significant role in the spatial organization of historical houses in Qom, especially during the Qajar period, late Qajar period, and Pahlavi era. This research aims to conduct a comparative analysis of spatial proportions in 23 historical houses in Qom, extracting the dimensional ratios of the main spaces (courtyard, room, three-door, and five-door) and examining their compatibility with three recognized proportion systems (the golden ratio 1.618, the Iranian golden rectangle 1.73, and the Guz and Paymon 1.066). The research method is analytical-comparative, and data were collected through field measurements and a review of accurate maps. The data were then analyzed using statistical tests of variance analysis and one-sample t-test in R software. The findings indicate that the general principles of proportions have maintained relative stability across the three periods; however, different spaces have shown varying degrees of compatibility with the examined proportional systems. During the Qajar period, rooms aligned most closely with all three proportion systems, whereas in the late Qajar period, reception areas predominantly aligned more with the golden ratio. In the Pahlavi era, courtyards again showed a tendency towards Gaz and Peymoon, likely reflecting standardization considerations during this time. On the other hand, the non-adherence of courtyards in the Qajar and late Qajar periods to the examined proportional systems, unlike the internal spaces, may be due to land limitations, changing living needs, and socio-economic transformations of that era. This research emphasizes the importance of recognizing traditional geometric principles in contemporary architecture and suggests utilizing the achievements of these proportional patterns to sustain local identity in the hot and dry climate of Qom.