Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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This paper attempts to identify the thoughts and the infrastructure of the thinking of architects of Islamic-Iranian mosques to study the role of Qebla in the architecture of mosques in city of Ilam. Aim of the research is discovering the hidden aspects of Qebla and the importance of traditional architecture in attention to "the qebla direction" in design of Islamic-Iranian mosques. So it is a lesson for contemporary architects of Ilam to correct the current process in design and not to forget the attention to Qebla in the architecture of mosques. Hypothesis of this research is the difference between the contemporary and traditional mosques in Qebla. This is a historic research. In this research, 21 mosques of this city are studied and analyzed in positioning, geometry, the arrangement of interior spaces and the direction of entrance to Qebla. Analysis of the history of traditional mosques and recognition of Qebla in successful examples of these mosques is an introduction to analyze the theoretic differences of Ilam architects. The study shows not enough attention to Qebla in the design of Ilam mosques. So the sanctity, spirituality and basic identity of these mosques are missed.

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Many scholars believe that social modernity in Iran has been started far earlier than era of Reza Shah Pahlavi with its up-down modernization project and it is argued that there has been an innate social process of modernity gradually developed since Qajar period. So it can be questioned that which one of the two cultural models of Modernity and Tradition has been dominating Qajar artifacts and if there were any clear footsteps of cultural patterns of modernity in spaces of everyday life of ordinary people of that time. Here, this question is inquired from the viewpoint of guest’s spatiality of home. Beginning from this question then domestic examples from first period of introducing of modernity to Iran (since Qajar to starting years of Pahlavi Dynasty) with emphasize on cases of city of Tabriz are studied concentrating on effects of the two cultures of Tradition and Modernity on spatial patterns of hospitality within these houses. The hypothesis of productive effect of dialectic of “self-other” on domestic spaces of modern era is put into critical debate. Three basic patterns of domestic spaces (minimal house, maximal one and collective house) are analyzed from viewpoint of spatial-cultural relations. Each of these three patterns has its special theoretical debate in western discourse of early modernity. For each pattern two example of Qajar houses of Tabriz are selected for analyzing of guest space: Amir-Nezam house and Behnam House are considered as maximalist type, Alavi House and Sehhati house as minimal examples and Rastgar house as semi-community house. So the research method is historical-interpretive based on historical texts, assessments and pictures as well as buildings. The maximal pattern is bourgeois’ that is manifested in Victorian examples. In this pattern all spaces are arranged upon a theatrical scene in which actors are homeowners and audiences are guests. This theatrical model as Goffman argued has been extended to contemporary western house. Introduction of large variety of rooms for various presences of guests can be interpreted as a byproduct of this culture. In comparison, in its Iranian counterpart there is no considerable social distance between the host and the guest in spatial order of a conventional party. Such a view has resulted in unifying of guest receiving space and living space which is placed at the central axis of house. This axial position is a socio-cultural characteristic of guest’s spatiality which is not restricted to maximalist ones. Any separation among people during guest presence would be upon vast family divisions which has no relation to guests. Heavy interior decoration of bourgeois’ internal design is eliminated in many houses of rich men of Qajar as our study shows. Two minimalist patterns of early modernity are arguable: dirty houses of Industrial revolution and what has been called “the minimum dwelling” by modernists. The latter is a product of modernists’ social project which was based on reducing home-living in the favor of social presence. It was an essential step to deny private sphere. The guest’s spatiality here was seen as being with others in out-of-home places. So restaurant and saloons occupied the place of parlors. Searching for Iranian transformation like that model has reverse result. We have shown here that in Qajar small houses of Tabriz, there were no conceptual difference in comparison with maximalist houses while historical documents show no sign of development of out-of-home places for guests. The third pattern is the community houses that were seen as utopias of the project of modernity. From the view point of guests’ spatiality, this pattern is movement towards denying any distance between self and other so the stranger becomes host as well as guest. In utopist text of William Morris (News from Nowhere) such a position is articulated. It has been argued by many writers of western culture that it has been common pattern of medieval society that has been destroyed by bourgeois’ culture. If the utopia were to be realized then strangers should be accepted in common spaces without any exception and if the socialist utopia was going on then maximizing use of common facilities would be seen as an instrument to saving the community so any private guest should make use of common ones instead of host’s ones (the example of socialist Russia housing projects). Khanghah of Daravish in the Islamic word pursues such a pattern with the exception of absence of family i.e. these places where completely masculine spaces. So these could not be extended to dwelling patterns of traditional Iran. In Tabriz of Qajar there were no similar examples to multifamily apartments of socialists’ utopias of early 20th century as well as utopian community ones. The only close examples to utopian patterns of modern guests’ spatiality in Tabriz are rare hotels of late Qajar and a house (Rastgar) with a linear and multi-unit plan that cannot be undoubtedly a Qajar house. It is could be said that social analysis of guests’ spatiality of modernity is heavily based on resolving of dialectic of otherness in western society of 19 century. This study shows that real patterns of modernity for guest’s spatiality at home differs greatly from its counterparts of Qajar Iran and those of Qajar could be interpreted far more persuasively with traditional patterns than those of modernity. So now it is possible to put some query on the hypothesis that tells if there was not obligatory modernization project of Rezashah then there would be an innate Iranian Modernity. Full openness toward strangers embedded at the center of utopian views of intellectuals of modernity and has been at the focal point of modern utopias has no essential meaning in domestic culture of Qajar era of Iran because acceptance of guest as a member of family was so deep in cultural-spatial patterns of those people that modern utopian perspective of fading “otherness” in spatial arrangement of hospitality of home has no new message for that people. So it is conceivable that the theory of innate cultural permutation of Islamic and traditional lifestyle of Iranians without Rezashah’s projects cannot be easily confirmed for social history of Iran.

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In recent century, urban development has caused be numerous changes in spatial structure of Iranian cities. One of the most changes has occurred in the relationships between urban elements and effect on grand the mosque functional spatial characteristics. Sabzevar grand mosque is one of the important elements of the historic city with religious and social function and had important role in urban spatial relation and solidarity. But today, this element has lost role as an urban space and isolated other urban municipal functions. From the spatial characteristics of space, mosque is a part of urban opens spaces and interacts with it. The position of the mosque by the spatial configuration analysis and its impact on the use of space, flow and function is explained. Mosque has formed by open spaces and its relationship with city space in a complex system and has changed from a mere physical element, to an element with spatial nature. The main research object is to study of functional and spatial configuration of the city and the mosque and analysis of its effects on grand mosque spatial and functional properties between two historical periods (1907- 2015). The aim of this study is to evaluate the spatial characteristics of mosques and comparison with its existing functions. From Space Syntax theory; situations analysis and how to communicate these points in the city, indicate accessibility, hierarchy and choosing the paths leading to the specific points that have a direct relationship with the routing of these characteristics and mental structure of space urban. The important aspect in this research is topological analysis of urban spaces and their comparison to analysis of functional relationships. In other words; the availability of space or urban areas does not necessarily mean short distance and close it (physically), but the availability and arrangement of space or places dependent on the construction of urban space. Therefore, urban open spaces and the arrangement of the physical elements followed on space topological characters such as integration and choice, and features structural and functional relationship forms. Research is a quantitative-comparative study using spatial parameters as,integration, connectivity and choice which referred in the theory of space syntax analysis. The results showed that despite an increase of integration and connectivity the grand mosque in 2015, the standard deviation of historical mosque in the city has increased. The spatially the grand mosque in 1907, the integration of spatial and physical relationship is better than 2015. The studies of characteristics of the city in two historical periods indicate that the city of Sabzevar in 1907 was more cohesive and homogeneous nature. In addition to the grand mosque in historic period the clarity and intelligibility of the city is remarkable. Therefore; we can say that the element of the grand mosque has remarkable position in the hierarchy of urban space in this period. Analysis of the space a characteristic the show the grand mosque has defined as a place in urban space configuration and performed and indicated as an urban space. The basis of this analysis, evaluation of choice and integration and analysis of correlation of selected parameter that defined topological space characteristics. In terms of space syntax theory, if you have highest correlation between choice and integration, it has important position in urban configuration as functional characteristics. Comparison of results show that the mosque in the historical period, was as part of a system of communication and coordination with the city›s spatially and functionally. Therefore, the high integration and intelligibility caused to turn the grand mosque to a key element, promoting it as a unique space in the city. However, in contemporary times, this relationship is significantly lower than the historical period and shows that the mosque not only as an urban space as a physical element associated with urban space and spatial- functional properties. Finally, in the spatial structure of Iranian cities, the grand mosque was an important element and symbol of the Muslim community due to their position of spatial- functional properties. The grand mosque is not only a physical element that is specified by the fence and the wall surrounding the internal spaces, but rather an active urban element caused to integrated space and the city in global and local level.

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Urban identity is one of the major challenges of new towns, the lack of which leads to a lack of solidarity and social participation of citizens to achieve urban development plans. Ignorance of subcultures and geographical location and climatic characteristics and diminishing attention to the dimensions of urban identity and urban social life based on original values ​​and indigenous identity, especially in the process of preparing development plans and the resulting inconsistency and uniformity in new towns, not only appearance. It has created an unfavorable and unfamiliar environment for the residents, but it has affected all aspects of social, economic and environmental life in urban communities. On the other hand, urban spaces in these cities do not evoke an identity for their residents due to the incompatibility of its functions with human needs and the lack of human needs according to the demands, desires and preferences different from other cities. This leads to discontinuation or basically no formation of the roots of the connection and connection of residents with the environment and as a result with each other, as well as the occurrence of adverse effects such as insecurity, irresponsibility, boredom and indifference. Hence, new towns that are not very old and whose inhabitants are generally born elsewhere and have different cultures from each other, to create dynamism and vitality and to avoid becoming a dormitory city, dry and barren. The spirit and context for social solidarity and the production of memories in a collective environment must be able to draw their own distinct identities. Therefore, recognizing the identity factors of new towns, the extent to which these cities have relevant factors and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing each of these areas can have a significant impact on preventing the identity crisis in new towns. The present study was carried out in order to achieve the above goals and with an analytical-explanatory approach. In this regard, 70 indicators for measuring and evaluating urban identity in the new town of Hashtgerd were extracted by extensive analysis of global and domestic studies and special local conditions of the new town of Hashtgerd. And has been documented. The data collected through a questionnaire with a sample size of 516 people and distributed by cluster sampling in 12 districts of the city, using factor analysis to determine the final factors explaining the identity of the new town of Hashtgerd And the ranking of the studied areas has been analyzed based on their desirability in relation to urban identity factors. The results show that 12 factors in total explain about 60% of the identity of the new town of Hashtgerd. The most important of these factors is the factor of "memory and feeling of dependence on place" with an explanation of about 8%. Also, 4-5 districts of Mehr housing areas and 1-4 districts with historical backgrounds in the city have the worst and best status of identity desirability among the districts of Hashtgerd new town, respectively. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats of identification in the new town of Hashtgerd have been analyzed and summarized through strategic environmental analysis. Research findings show that physical qualities are only one dimension of the experience of place and the importance of social communication that takes place in places should not be neglected. So that attachment to the place can be considered based on the participation of people in the place, the level of employment in social networks and cultural interactions. As the establishment of social interactions in urban spaces, it is possible for the individual to make sense of it. Thus, attachment to the place develops with the growth of positive interaction of people and their social adaptation in the place, and how the person is present in the place with others is a strong factor in the person's decision to stay in it. In this regard, people may even be looking for places where people with similar characteristics in terms of class, ethnicity, religion, economic group, lifestyle, education, income, how to raise children and the same race. But while homogeneity encourages meetings and increased interaction with physical and social places and thus promotes attachment to that place, heterogeneous social places are also an opportunity for people to experience togetherness and rich and free social interactions. On the other hand, the research findings show that in the study of urban identity, knowing the place is not enough, and this is an emotional state that arises from important events in one's life and the context of creating and developing the process of identification with a particular place. Also, people develop their attachment to the place based on their expectations, which are based on their previous experiences of similar places and their cognitive process, on which their satisfaction with the place depends. Satisfaction in place also depends on this knowledge and factors such as facilities, place fit with performance and context, stability, visual characteristics, management, economic value of the place, residents' perception of similar units and the social context of the place. The presence of people in the process of creating a place also makes them feel better about that place. This leads to attachment to the place, development of social connections, preservation of historical roots, feeling of peace and security in the place.

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Our land, Islamic Iran, which is the mother of all our history, tradition and culture and has always remained steadfast in its historical mazes and upheavals, has not been in good condition for a long time. In such a situation, it is necessary for all those who have somehow risen from this land and have their own identity, to commit themselves to this situation in a committed and compassionate manner and to achieve the desired situation, and to follow its path for the benefit of the future generation and the children of this motherland to reach the true goal of the substantiation of the new Islamic civilization.
Therefore, compiling the country's development documents is a complete necessity, especially the compilation of the spatial management and planning document which according to its scope and effectiveness, is the most fundamental developmental document and the most coherent for all planning documents essential to the country's progress. The above process will have, and as a comprehensive document, it can be the pact of all those involved as a favorable feature of the planning of the optimal spatial organization for the country's development, with providing a comprehensive and integrated approach.
To this end, this article seeks to provide an entry to explain the fundamental dimensions of modern Islamic civilization in the compilation of documents for the country’s development. In particular it concentrates on the spatial planning documentation. The present article is in line with the problem, objectives, and nature of research in the field of basic research, in which the method of content analysis and the use of documentary studies and the analysis of secondary data have been used. The research results show that "the nine fundamental dimensions of justice, health, security, knowledge, spirituality, freedom, wealth, power and dignity" as well as comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development from the Islamic perspective must be considered in compiling the country's development documents as three key components in the substantiation of the new Islamic civilization.

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Problem statement: The concept of resilience has long been published to explain how different types of systems respond to unexpected shocks, and research on resilience of environments to abnormal hazards has just begun, requiring extensive reflection and consideration. Spatial resilience thinking is as one of the new dimensions in the field of resilience and architecture. This dimension seeks to address the issue of the vitality and dynamics of the architectural space by preserving identity and function through attention to specific characteristics and capabilities of the space over time versus gradual and slow disturbances. resilient space as the appropriate context for possiblity continued vitality provides dynamic while maintaining performance; It shows little vulnerability in the face of crises over time by the spatial capabilities, and responds to changing conditions through adaptation to the needs and demands of the society, and satisfies spatial users' satisfaction with different tastes and guarantees and sustains the vital system of space. But most of the newly constructed spaces are vulnerable to crises and lose their efficiency quickly and the users of space leave and vacate; Therefore, the historical bazaars of Iran, as one of the valuable spaces that have continued to operate despite changes in different periods and have been able to meet and provide the suitable body for the needs of the day, are remarkable. Therefore, to resolve part of this epistemic vacuum, the present study focuses on the limited domain of the Amir complex in the historical bazzar of Tabriz, considering its position and role in the life of the Bazzar Tabriz has paid off to the rooting of the resilience of this space and examining its spatial capabilities. So this research seeks to answer the question of how resilience has been achieved in the historical space of Iranian bazaars? And how has the resilience of the Amir complex in the historical bazzar of Tabriz come about in light of the changes in recent years?
 

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Bathhouses (Garm-abeh) are beneficial and worth concerning public buildings in the history of Iranian Islamic architecture, which include excellent factors in each one of their spaces. Hierarchy is one of the most apparent qualities of these buildings, which is the main concern of this paper, introducing Mian-dar [middle corridor] as the space between Sar-bineh [cloakroom] (place for undressing, resting and conversing, located past the entrance and before the Garm-khaneh) and Garm-khane [hot chamber] (Main place where washing and massaging takes place), which brings this quality in such space. This research will dig into the secrets of architects that made this fact possible, which are studied in the scale of bath’s three main spaces (Sar-bine, Garmkhaneh and Mian-dar) and tools and methods they’ve used in anatomy of Mian-dar. Therefore, by gathering the information of all of Fars’ public baths from the Safavid to Pahlavi Period, researchers studied and analyzed mechanisms of hierarchy in Mian-dar and geometry and circulation in the main three parts of these public baths and their effects on this quality. Concerning this study and analysis on calculations and tables, this paper has found that there is a specific area proportion between Sar-bineh, Mian-dar and Garm-khaneh; The results also show, Corridor (Daalaan) is the main element used in Mian-dar of medium sized bathhouses, which is often U shaped and includes 2 to 4 turns inside itself. But in the large scaled bathhouses, corridors join forces with Vestibules (Hashti) which are halls to access other minor spaces; and in small bathhouses, architects on have only used walls and short turns in combining with corridors to separate two main bathhouses’ spaces, creating a sense of hierarchy.

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The period spanning middle of Qajar era to the first decade of Pahlavi is a part of Iran contemporary architecture which is influenced by inevitable alterations caused by modernity. Modern forms and figures have gradually changed spatial hierarchy of houses and their structure and consequently have led to a combinational style. A brief survey of spaces and chief elements of traditional houses of Sanandaj demonstrates these changes quite well. This paper tries to shed light on the prevalent style of spatial hierarchy of house entrances in transitional time period from tradition to modernity in Sanandaj. This research has been conducted using a theoretical approach and by a historical-interpretational method. In theoretical part, a qualitative approach is adopted and considering the literature history, effective factors on spatial quality evaluations are analyzed. The practical part of the research is carried out in two phases and by taking case studies under account. In this viewpoint, the theoretical part is firstly a brief appraisal of the architecture of the historical eras of Qajar and Pahlavi, evolution criteria and social revolutions of those periods as well. Moreover, assessment of houses based on historical periods has been done utilizing field studies, local survey, photography, house plan depicting and existing documents and plots. Secondly, based on acquired field and librarian information, all qualified houses for this research are compared and analyzed to attain a comprehensive understanding of their entrance spatial hierarchy. Findings of the research indicate that there has been a hierarchy in entrance of houses with traditional architecture pertinent to the needs of residents which is neglected to some extent by the designers in Pahlavi period. In conclusion it is admitted that by intermediate spaces, alongside the provision of confidentiality, it would be possible to achieve a proper definition of private and semi-private spaces in houses. Furthermore, disruption in functions and entities of other spaces could be avoided, which in turn leads to introducing a pattern for obtaining confidentiality; an inseparable principle of entity in Iranian architecture and culture.

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Satisfaction with housing and residential environment is one of the aspects of life satisfaction. The relationship between solitude in personal spaces and collective interaction in the spatial organization of an apartment residential unit is one of the determining factors of the components affecting residents' satisfaction. Providing privacy for family members in the physical space of the residential unit is a foundation and a prerequisite for maintaining privacy and regulating internal relations and communication with the outside of the residential unit. The research question is, what is the relationship between spaces in the types of spatial organization of apartment residential units? What is the effect of the relationship between personal and collective spaces and inter-spaces of the residential unit on the level of satisfaction of the residents? And how can this satisfaction be improved with design solutions? The main goal of the research is to raise awareness for better design of apartment residential units. Other goals of the research can be to better understand the human relationship between the elements of the spatial organization of the residential unit, how to create a platform for individual privacy and collective communication between family members and guests, creating auditory and visual privacy in the interior of the residential unit and overlooking the neighboring units. The above research has benefited from residents to collect data and complete the questionnaire. The case study is limited to the common apartment housing of Amel city (row sets with medium height in three to six floors with spaces such as entrance, connecting stairs, open space and other common structural and facility elements). In these buildings, based on the study of the thesis documents registered in the central municipality of Amel, four types of residential units have been identified, whose spatial organization is the most frequent. The findings of the research show that the residents of apartment residential units have expressed relative dissatisfaction with the lack of necessary provisions in observing the transmission of sight and sound between the internal spaces, observing the necessary distance between the collective and personal spaces, the view from the entrance part of the unit and the openings of the facade to the internal spaces. The result of the research is to propose solutions for entrance design, geometry and plan fit, controlling sound transmission between the spaces of the residential unit, controlling the view from outside the unit and creating a useful space for pause and movement in the spaces between the two main parts of the unit. The research results can be generalized to similar cultures and cities in the north of the country. The table of research design solutions can be adjusted according to the cultural-climatic conditions of other regions of the country in order to develop design guides that are suitable for local cultures and special environments.

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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.

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Housing serves a dual purpose as both shelter and a vital contributor to human health and comfort. While traditional architecture successfully integrated medical and environmental knowledge to create health-oriented designs, contemporary housing often prioritizes economic factors over biological well-being, effectively transferring responsibility for occupant health from architects to medical professionals. This study investigates healthy housing patterns in hot, dry climates, using Kashan, Iran as a case study due to its well-preserved traditional houses and representative climate conditions.
Employing qualitative methods with analytical and logical reasoning, the research examines traditional and modern houses through the lens of medical and architectural knowledge. The urban scale analysis reveals important patterns in residential block orientation and the structure of closed versus open spaces, proposing both ideal configurations and corrective measures for current housing. At the architectural scale, the study identifies critical zoning considerations addressing air quality, sleep cycles, and physical movement patterns.
Spatial design patterns emerge for various house components, including outdoor spaces like yards and roofs, transitional spaces such as porches and terraces, and interior spaces ranging from living areas to service spaces. These patterns demonstrate how traditional design principles responsive to climate and human biology can inform contemporary housing reform.
As global temperatures rise, the research offers timely solutions for healthier living in hot, arid regions by bridging historical wisdom with modern needs. The findings provide architects with actionable models to reintegrate health as a fundamental design priority, particularly relevant for regions facing increasing climate challenges. The study ultimately advocates for a return to more holistic design approaches that prioritize occupant well-being alongside functional and economic considerations.

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