Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

According to the lifestyle, house can be the ground for extensive activities based on employment, cultural, social opportunities for residents. In accordance with needs and activities of human as a space user, Historical houses are built associated with the natural environment. Recognition and protection of values Respect national identity, and Understanding their performance and social role is a basis for understanding and explaining the management system of protecting these valuable elements inhistorical context of Isfahan. Life in some Historical houses is associated with the owner occupation; thus, a space is predicted for working at home. Working pattern at home creates spaces for the profession of the owner, and in some cases, makes some of the spaces multi-functional. Such houses can be classified as historic house workshops. In addition, some historic houses were Occupied by people who were too influential in the social-political conditions of their era; and some of the Important events have been occurred in these house. Despite having historical and architectural value, these Houses can be categorized as an example of the houses of celebrities In Isfahan.
Thisstudy Aims to find out the reason of the House workshop s’ architectural style in the historical context of Isfahan and analyze the space and organization of house workshops in order to understand the presence of work space in the main body of the building. The main objectives to answer the key question will be as follows: Analyzing the residential architecture stance in cultural, political, social and economic evolution in Safavid and Qajar eras in Isfahan so that we can understand the typology of historical houses in this city based on the performance and provide a comprehensive category for the historical houses with performance beyond the housing. This is a descriptive-analytical study develope and usie field observation, literature review and gathered information through interviews with a number of residents of historical houses in Isfahan. The findings were analyzed by a qualitative method through comparing and interpreting.
Based on the methodology, first, the economic and social conditions of Isfahan in Qajar and Safavid periods were briefly expressed. Then, considering the various functions of houses due to prevailing economic and social conditions at that time, the spaces in the body of the house with multiple functions or specific function beyond the space in residential architecture of these historical periods in Isfahan were analyzed; based on specific objectives and questions of the research, historical houses with multiple functions in Isfahan were classified,These houses weredivided into two general categories: 1. Houses that are influenced by other functions and have changes in the form and space; 2. Houses that are not affected by other functions; and no changes have been occurred in the form and body of the house. Then, trying to identify the cause of the multiple roles in the function of houses, the study achieved another category in which the multi-functional historical houses of Isfahan are divided into two classes of celebrities’ houses and workshop houses. Based on the owner’s professional field, celebrities’ houses are categorized into three categories of: houses of cultural celebrities, political celebrities, and economic celebrities. Workshop house is also divided into two categories based on the type of owner’s occupation: 1. Workshop houses that produce certain products; 2. Non-manufacturing workshop houses where the owner’s enforcement activities in various fields (educational, administrative, etc.) can be done at home.
Previously, Zahiri (2014) in his book entitled as «We came, you were not home», based on field studies, examined the place of some of celebrities’ houses in Tehran such as the houses of Badi›ozaman Foruzanfar, AbdulHossein Zarrinkoub, Saeed Nafisi, Mohammad Moein, Sadegh Hedayat, Simin Daneshvar, Nima Youshij, Ahmad, Mehdi Akhavan Sales, Houshang Ebtehaj, Malek al-Sho’ara Bahar, Hussein Monzavi, Sohrab Sepehri, Mohammad Mossadegh, Mehrdad Avesta, etc. In the introduction Of the book, He (or she) says that: “Among these 44 houses, about 40 percent are historically registered and are away from being destroyed by days to some extent. Among the registered ones, 22 percent have Converted to museums, 58 percent of celebrities’ inheritors have sold the legacy of their father or spouse. In addition, among houses which are not registeredas historical buildings, more than 65 percent are destroyed, and there is nothing left but their obscure names»(Zahiri, 2014). The results of this field study indicate the adverse security conditions of this kind of historical houses in the country. Due to having a function beyond housing in the historical contexts, by planning and performing renovation projects, these houses can become economic and cultural institutions in the historical contexts like before. So far, no typology and renovation management system determination of the house workshops and celebrities’ houses have been conducted in the historical context of Isfahan. This research demonstrates that we can present a classification and typology based on specific function in the historical houses with roles beyond housing. Also, we can determine the impact of the relationship between work space and house in the form and structure of the building. Also, in this discussion, through the knowledge gained from the ultra-residential function and intangible values of the relationship between work space and house, we can provide a pattern to explain the renovation projects based on space and spirit revival.

In contemporary times, the neglect of past architectural methods and their identity has impacted the quality of modern housing. However, understanding and studying the structure of historical houses can serve as a bridge linking traditional architecture with today’s residential design. Iranian historical houses were always constructed in harmony with their geographical context and in response to diverse cultural and livelihood needs. Among these, the historical houses of Isfahan stood out as some of the most prominent examples, warranting deeper analysis.
This study aimed to identify and analyze the construction patterns of houses in the city of Isfahan through a typological approach. The research focused on 33 Muslim-inhabited houses located in Isfahan's historical fabric, spanning from the Safavid era to the late Qajar period. The methodology was qualitative and based on typological classification.
The findings revealed that the historical houses of Isfahan could be categorized into three primary types based on the main spatial element located on the central courtyard’s main façade: Shekam-Darideh (cross-shaped plan), Talardār (with a central hall), and Iwandār (with a portico). Each of these types reflected distinct physical structures and spatial-constructional systems associated with specific lifestyles. In the Shekam-Darideh type, a cruciform space was located along the courtyard’s central axis, influencing the courtyard's overall appearance. The Talardār type featured a rectangular hall with a flat roof, placed on the main axis of the courtyard. In the Iwandār type, a columned portico dominated the main façade, typically flanked by adjacent rooms such as traditional three-door or two-door rooms. The Iwandār type was structurally simpler, incorporating three spatial categories: open, semi-open, and closed. Each typology offered unique capabilities to meet residents' needs under various conditions.