حسن ذوالفقارزاده

In order to achieve a comprehensive and complete definition of architecture to identify the hidden facts in the creation of architectural impact is necessary to do some actions to understand two aspects of architecture based on universe and wisdom understanding. Based on analyzing the Islamic wisdom system thesis presenting a comprehensive meaning of architecture. This article has a kind of descriptive and analytic approach from one side of view and in that way, we use analysing of content. This general approach of the article is qualitative and in various processes of doing this research style of logical-analytic approach of description and theoretical choices on the basis of mind and logic and gathering of experts thoughts were used. Analysis and interpretation of experts and schools in relation to defining the meaning of architecture in the style of understanding the universe and life were checked. This approach of the article is analytic and matching. The results generally show that the present definitions of architecture are facts that were made in a special kind of thinking system. These facts because of looking at details of the thinking system have the necessary comprehensiveness and just include some parts of the wisdom system and can be used as human experience in offering the meaning of architecture. Ranking and leveling of results will show that there is a frequent level of understanding of the universe and a group of wisdom understanding in the creation of architecture which began in scientific life understanding and continued to monotheistic life understanding.

Traditional Chinese architecture and gardening are a mirror of the display of culture and ritual that has shown themselves in a physical body. Ancient Chinese architecture and traditional gardening have always been one of the world's most valuable art styles. The conceptual components of traditional Chinese architecture can be seen not only in symbols and emblems, but also in components and elements, and even in spatial structures. The purpose of this research is to simultaneously observe the physical and conceptual aspects of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening and compile the structuring components of this style of design. Also, the sub-goals such as understanding the beliefs and matching the obtained information with the imperial buildings of Beijing city. The method of this research is of the type of interpretative systems, qualitative and based on the "logical reasoning method". The information of this research was collected based on library documents, field visits, and software analysis. In the review section of the research, obtaining detailed and comparative information about Chinese architecture and gardening, and measuring the effective components, and examining these components in the imperial buildings of Beijing, it has led to the detailed formulation of the structural components of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening. The components of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening were formed based on two physical and semantic axes. But these two forming axes interacted with each other and all the components were formed based on this interaction. Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist beliefs are the basis of the formation of traditional Chinese architecture and garden thinking, which is clearly expressed in the communication structure of these collections. Traditional Chinese architecture and gardening is a type of architecture with the crystallization of physical-semantic and lasting values of ancient Chinese people's relationship with nature and values derived from Feng Shui, Taoism, and Buddhism. With the help of construction tools such as plants, water, stone, and building materials, it has displayed a special identity of the Chinese people in conceptual and semantic layers.

With the arrival of Islam in the land of Iran, with the slogan of equality and brotherhood, a new worldview cast a shadow on the principles of urban planning and architecture of this border and landscape, which took a position not in opposition, but in the evolution and increase of the richness of Iran's urban planning. In this period, by relying on the teachings of Islam derived from the Qur'an, Sunnah, Fiqh, Ijtihad and Ijma, in the first place, the worldview of people and accordingly the structure and texture of cities underwent transformation. In the meantime, the neighborhood, as the smallest constituent unit of the city, which, after the family, has played an essential role in this transformation, has been a unifying and identity-giving factor in urban life. The mastery and generalization of modern urban planning ideas, which is accompanied by the general definition of man and his material requirements, as well as the negation of the context and time (past), has created the anonymity of the built environment and thereby caused the meaninglessness of the environment. In order to answer the above questions, developing a conceptual model of communication between two fundamental concepts in Islamic teachings (theoretical and practical wisdom) was presented to the researchers as the main goal of this research. The current research is qualitative in terms of type and based on library studies and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. The results of the research indicate that the urban areas in the Islamic era are not just physical, but a reflection of the spiritual life of its inhabitants. Therefore, by applying the Islamic worldview and its values (Islamic wisdom) in creating specific expectations of neighborhood centers, it is possible to reproduce and revive the neighborhoods and thus the Iranian-Islamic city.

Saving fossil fuels and using clean energy sources leads to utilization costs reduction and the environment & human well-being protection. Building walls and used materials are considered the main sources of energy waste. Brick is a building material that backs to ancient history; the reason for using it is its stability, cheapness, and high manufacturing speed. Now, its use is less considered for some reasons, such as increasing population density, the construction of multi-story buildings, overweight, the requirement of higher labor, and the lack of insulation. Likewise, Heblex blocks have become more widely used as they eliminated many defects of bricks, although brick is still being used. Considering the importance of energy in recent decades and the emphasis of national building regulations on the insulation of buildings and less energy consumption, this study focuses on comparing two materials, bricks and Heblex blocks, with each other in terms of energy cooling and heating consumption, and the building gas and electricity fuel consumption, as well as the amount of financial saving in electricity and gas consumption. This research was conducted by Design Builder software, and the studied model was selected as a cube with dimensions of 4 * 10 * 10 in the Mashhad climate. The investigated model has been modeled in the software. Then, the amount of cooling, heating, and the total load of the building in two cases, brick walls and Hablex materials, have been extracted, and the results have been stated as a percentage. The obtained results show that replacing bricks wall with Heblex blocks will save the energy consumption of the building up to 55.12%. In the next step, the electricity and gas price for both models has been estimated. And it was found that replacing the brick with Heblx Blocks could assist the household economy by almost 55.5% by saving from paying electricity and gas bills.

Language or linguistic system is one of the most fundamental principles in twentieth-century philosophical studies and postmodern philosophy. The twentieth-century scholars considered “language” as the basis of thought - not its tool. According to them, truth, i.e., objective reality and whatever it is, is formed in language. Thus, the revival of thought in the form of language has changed the issues of cultural criticism of postmodernism. The linguistic theory has simultaneously paid attention to meaning and symbolism in architecture. The way of conveying meaning in language and applying linguistic knowledge through linguistic similarities with architecture was studied through paradigms such as semiotics. The founders of semiotics, Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) and Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914), considered language as a system of signs with structural (syntactic) and semantic aspects. Rhetorical devices are one of the tools used to form and recognize meaning. Most contemporary semiologists consider studying these techniques, or at least some of their features, in the realm of semiotics. The verbal language of postmodernism uses rhetorical devices to form meaning. Previous studies have not addressed the role of metonymy and its interaction with metaphor in the formation and expression of meaning in the language of postmodern architecture. Therefore, the research question is: “How do rhetorical devices influence the expression of meaning in language and architecture?” So, the present study aims “to study how rhetorical devices are formed and how they operate in forming and transferring meaning, as well as decoding and reproducing it in postmodern architecture.” This study is significant because in societies such as Iran, which are influenced by Western thoughts, knowing the opportunities and threats of applying these thoughts enhances architects’ and designers’ creativity and minimizes cultural damages caused by accepting such thought currents.

To answer the research question and reach the research goal, the semiotics of Saussure and Peirce, as well as Barthes’s mythology, were studied in linguistics, and the data obtained from them were compared with architecture. Then, the rhetorical devices of metonymy, metaphor, amphibology, and irony were defined in verbal language and semiotics. Their formation and functions were compared with postmodern architecture in two paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes. The analyses were performed using Charles Jencks’ (1939-2019) definition of postmodern architecture as well as his interpretation of the New State Gallery (Neue Staatsgalerie (1977-1983) in German) in Stuttgart, Germany. Then, the results were examined in several other buildings. So, the present study was qualitative-applied research. Data were collected by library study. Then, they were analyzed descriptively and comparatively using a semiotic approach and case studies.

According to Saussure’s linguistics, architecture is a language without the intrinsic and natural relationship between its signifier (body) and signified (meaning). What is perceived as the architectural meaning is the outcome of conventions between the architect and audiences. While, according to Pierce’s semiotics and the referral system of its signs, architecture is a language in which rhetorical devices, especially metaphor and its interaction with metonymy, play a crucial role in its “genesis” and “function.” Metaphor is formed on the paradigmatic axis and metonymy on the syntagmatic axis. The interaction of metaphor and metonymy also forms other rhetorical devices in architecture, such as irony and amphibology. The body of architecture changes and transforms with the formation of metaphor and its meaning with the metonymy formation. From this point of view, for some reasons, the architecture language, especially postmodern architecture, can be considered to have a metaphorical and rhetorical pattern. These reasons are:a) The referential system of this language,b) The proliferation, multiplicity, difference, and suspense of meaning follow this system in this language, andc) Changes in the architecture’s body and the meaning follow metaphor and metonymy and the interaction of the two.On the other hand, the combination of the Saussurean and Peircean models indicates that postmodern architecture has a movement toward a single meaning. However, the totality of this meaning is suspended in its language’s metaphorical and rhetorical system. Postmodern architecture reproduces and develops concepts such as pluralism, contradiction, pleasure, and complexity through its postmodern signs and rhetorical devices. In contrast, comparing its features with the concept of “myth” defined by Barthes showed that postmodern architecture uses the architectural elements of the prior contexts and impoverishes their meanings without suppressing them by making fundamental changes in their layers and codes. Then, using rhetorical devices, combining the explicit and implicit meanings of the elements and “making them its own,” it imposes itself on the cultures as the ideology while shaping the facts.

Just as architecture can develop, multiply and enrich linguistic symbols, meanings and concepts, language also has the power to encode or “give meaning” to architectural signs. Thus, understanding the function of rhetorical devices, especially the metonymy and metaphor interaction, makes it possible to decode and reproduce the meaning of any complex rhetorical architecture through semiotic analysis. In addition, using these devices to express thought in the architectural design makes the semantic richness of the resulting architecture possible.

The type of audience attitude is the main factor influencing the behavior of users' choices. Messages published by the media can shape the audience's mindset. Since the mentality formed under the influence of this space can affect various areas, including the architecture physical design, so it is necessary to better understand the attitude of users of media space to the factors affecting the choice of audience and architecture physical elements. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of intention and audience choice on the physical developments of contemporary Iranian architecture. For this purpose, after extracting the factors affecting the intention and selection of media audiences, the architecture physical components were identified using thematic analysis. Then, effect of audience intention and choice on the body of contemporary architecture has been studied. The results indicate that the factors affecting the intention and choice of media audiences have a positive and significant effect on the body of contemporary architecture. In addition, the findings show that the factors affecting the intention and choice of the audience, in order of priority, are the capabilities and capacities in using the media, the content of the media space and its requirements, the individual and personality background of the architect and the analysis of the architectural community. Also from the perspective of the physical dimension, the components that shape the architectural body are influenced by the media space including function, identity, order/disorder, attractiveness/repulsion, and environment.

In recent decades, the use of natural energy sources such as light and solar energy in the field of construction and architecture has been very useful. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the location of openings on indoor air flow distribution for thermal comfort of users and natural ventilation, in addition to the distribution of daylight factor and pmv in space. Air circulation, wind speed, air temperature and daylight factor in 16 scenarios of placement of openings in a cube-shaped residential architecture was studied in the hot and dry climate of Yazd as a case study. In addition, in the present article, computer modeling method, library studies and field measurement were used. The analyses of air circulation, wind speed, air temperature and user satisfaction (PMV) were carried out using CFD method in Design Builder software and the amount of daylight factor (DF) distribution, uniformity rate (Uo) were analysed using Relux Software. The results indicated that the placement of one opening in the direction of the prevailing wind and the other two openings in its lateral directions provided the desired air flow and turbulence with appropriate speed and air circulation creating thermal comfort conditions for users in space. The amount of ventilation and air circulation in space, speed, temperature and distribution were balanced. In this scenario, the user satisfaction index (PMV) was 5% higher than other scenarios and the amount of daylight distribution and visual comfort (uniformity rate = 0.6) were in the appropriate range.

There is a growing awareness around the world that traditional mitigation strategies which attempt to control water flow, increase the likelihood of catastrophic consequences in the long term, when failure occurs after years of unsustainable development behind flood barriers. As global climate change causes sea levels to rise and weather events to become more severe, severe flooding is becoming more common around the world. Large populations living in deltaic or riverine floodplains will be particularly affected by the worst events. Floating architecture is a defense strategy to deal with climate change that works simultaneously with natural flood cycles in flooded areas and instead of creating an obstacle with the help of a sustainable architecture approach, it enables the flow of water to be directed and controlled. The construction of such buildings can provide significant cost savings compared to other flood and climate change mitigation strategies. This research reviews case studies of existing and proposed overwater buildings with a discussion of their systems and components. It also discusses the construction limitations of some regulatory barriers that have discouraged its development and possible ways forward.

This study aims to determine the design strategy of a nuclear power plant near the river by assessing flood risk as a design precondition and the Darkhovin Nuclear Site near the Karoun River in Khuzestan Province was considered as a case study. In this study, by sampling the probabilistic space fitted to the flow rate and by filtering and removing flood flows that does not overflow from the river to the flood plain, the two-dimensional HEC-RAS hydraulic model was used to determine the depth and flow velocity within the power plant site. Frequency analysis of flood depth simulated by the model for different discharges showed that the frequency distribution of flow depth and the generating flood are different from each other. The safe design of a power plant site requires consideration of the many uncertainties that make it difficult to use conventional methods. In this research, for the first time, the Rosenbluet technique was used to evaluate the uncertainty and finally to determine the maximum possible water level for locating the reactor core. The results show that to create the maximum probable depth with a return period of 100 years, there should be a flood with a return period of 10,000 years in Karoun downstream of Ahvaz. The method presented in this research can be the basis of a standard for the safe design of nuclear power plants in the vicinity of rivers considering flood hazards.

As social means in the cultural and historical context, architecture and media are heavily involved in the daily lives of human beings. Humans can achieve a good understanding of their relationship with the architecture of their immediate surroundings. By observing the environment, human beings can receive clues and signs to organize and formulate the whole environment with their information and memories. Thus, they can communicate with the environment in which they live and exchange information with their surroundings as an interface. Although architecture seems to be a practical field of study, it also acts similar to a means of mass communication. The intermediating role of architecture raises the fundamental question of whether architecture can be considered a media based on its different attitudes and functions. The significance of studying this issue is that both architecture and media are among the factors that encompass various aspects of human life. If architecture is considered a type of media, its effects on human life, as well as its various policies in dealing with cultural, moral, and other aspects must be considered.

The present study is qualitative research that, using a systematic and holistic approach, analyzes, combines, and adapts the two architectural and media systems. Semiotic approaches have also been employed to analyze the relationship between body, content, and meaning of architecture and human perception and cognition. Also, in order to study the epistemology and ontology of the two systems, i.e., architecture and media, both were comparatively matched with one another. Lastly, the model of similarity between architecture and media and their common points have been obtained by a comparative analysis. For data collection, documentary sources have been employed.

The first step in this paper is to examine the definitions of architecture and media from the lexicography perspective and the views of theorists and architects. The results of this step and the study of the role and function of media suggest that the features and definitions of the media can be examined from two perspectives. In the original function, the media is considered as a text and a means of communicating with the audience and a system of symbols studied under semiotics. As for the second function, the media is considered a means of mass communication for human beings. It involves features that, if considered for architecture as well, can change architecture to a media with similar characteristics and functions. Therefore, in the second step, architecture was considered a text that can be read and understood better through semiotics and emphasized the signification process. Hence, by summarizing the views of theorists and semioticians, the architectural works are cognized and understood in three stages of sensory, intellectual, and semantic aspects, in which the sensory layer depends on recognizing body and form, its description, and the examining of its functional and syntactic aspects. This, in turn, leads to the identification of artistic themes through sensory aesthetics, and the rational factors form the connections between artistic themes with ideas and concepts in a logical and conventional way via the method of structuralist semiotics. Through their symbolic, schematic, iconic, or compositional implications, semantic factor lead to the understanding and interpretation of the notion of architecture based on the basic tendencies of the human mind, including psychology or individual, social or universal worldview, as well as intellectual, cultural, religious, ideological, and philosophical foundations. In the next step, in order to examine the role of architecture and media as means of mass communication, three Toffler media courses were adapted to three periods of pre-modern, modern, and postmodern in architectural courses. According to the results of this section, architecture and media have had common features in each historical stage, and it is safe to say that architecture can influence various aspects of human life such as identity, values, culture, and recognition of reality through its unique features. In the final step, the components of media and architecture were comparatively matched. According to the findings of this section, a communication process can be thought including three main factors: the message sender, the message receiver, and the message; while other components are introduced as media elements, communication channels, encryption and decryption, disruptor or noise, feedback, texture, and context. Accordingly, the physical, formal, content, and semantic features of architectural work, themselves constituting the architectural structure, act as a medium that conveys the architectural message to the user through communication channels including the five senses and human perception. In this definition, the factors interfering with the delivery of the architectural message may be either physical (such as annoying noise, insufficient or blinding light) or inferential (such as the complexity or anonymity of the message content and meaning) that includes both physical and semantic aspects of the architecture. Moreover, important factors for comprehending the symbol and deciphering the architectural message and its formation include spatial and textural position, social, cultural, religious and philosophical context, and time-dependent conditions. Audience and user feedback towards the decoded message of architecture is also a behavioral clue and an emotional response that results from the perception and spatial experience of architectural space within the audience. Finally, a comparative model of the elements creating media relations and the relationship between the audience and the architectural work is proposed.

This study suggests that architecture can be considered a media by meeting the elements of the message sender and the audience, the message, encryption and decryption, communication channel, media factor, context, and disruptive factors. These elements assist humans in conveying the architectural message using physical, semantic, and content features through the five senses and the power of the mind and perception.

Considering the region's climate, designing the dimensions and proportions of plans and proper location of buildings reduce the thermal and cooling load, and improve natural ventilation of buildings. Accordingly, in this paper, an office building in the temperate and humid climate of Rasht was simulated using DesignBuilder 5.4, and the natural ventilation and total annual energy consumption were calculated. The aim of the study was to analyze the existing situation, propose methods to improve the ventilation-energy consumption behavior based on plan proportions, orientation, and, present models to design office buildings in temperate and humid climates. Therefore, the building was simulated in seven different orientations, namely south, 45, 30 and 15-degree southeast, and west, and the values of ventilation and annual energy consumption were calculated. Then, it was proposed to adjust building plan proportions from 2:3 to 1:3, 1:2, and 1:1, to simulate each proportion for 7 different orientations. The lowest total annual energy consumption was observed in a building with a 1:3 proportion and north-south orientation, and the highest natural ventilation with the same proportion was obtained in 30-degree southwest and southeast orientations. Furthermore, changes of ventilation and energy consumption indices were calculated for the changes in four proportions in order to conduct a comparative quantitative analysis. The highest ventilation index was obtained for the lowest energy consumption growth index in 1:2 proportion for 15-degree southeast, and west orientation.

Statement of Issue:

 Islam is the most perfect divine religion that was revealed by Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya (PBUH) for the guidance and salvation of human beings. Religion has originated from the source of revelation and human beings achieve religious knowledge through the actions, sayings and narrations of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the infallible Imams (AS). Religion is formed in three areas of beliefs, ethics and rules. Beliefs or principles of religion include: monotheism, prophecy, resurrection, justice and Imamate, which every Muslim believes in any of the principles of religion because they are not imitations and must be based on reason and proof. These principles apply to all matters of the universe. How to spread these principles in Islamic architecture is discussed in this article.

Research question: 

How is the process of spreading beliefs to the subjects of art and architecture?

Religious education is one of the principles of religion, current and current in all subjects of the world, including art and architecture.

The beginning of this research begins with a description of keywords and is explained through citations and theory, and then analysed through comparative studies to spread beliefs in Islamic architecture.

The most important findings and conclusions of the research: 

Each of these principles has a specific meaning and derivatives derived from these principles have general and inclusive meanings. The specific meaning of each is specific to the same principle and has a single meaning that indicates religious insight. But their general meaning, which is done through their derivatives, has a theoretical and philosophical dimension that has multiple and wide meanings and inclusion in various fields, and their examples have definitions that also appear in the science of architecture.

Adaptive reuse of existing buildings, by maximum use of buildings structural, physical and material potentials, is regarded as an approach meeting sustainable development goals. The Adaptive Reuse Potential (ARP) model is seen as a very effective tool to measure the re-usability potentials of existing buildings. This model can serve as an appropriate tool in architecture and urban planning in dealing with existing buildings and structures before becoming obsolete. The Adaptive Reuse Potential model evaluates buildings reuse potential by calculating the useful life of the building through measuring different building obsolescence types, the current age of the building, and itspredicted physical life. The Adaptive Reuse Potential model is a general model uniformly applied in all building types and can be used in all countries. This paper aimed to customize this model to fossil fuel power plants, which may yield highly accurate results. The research methods as consistent with different stages were as follows: documentary and library studies were used to study and analyze the Adaptive Reuse Potential model and determine all building obsolescence types; field surveys to investigate the case study; interviewing experts; using a pairwise comparison questionnaire and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to weight and prioritize the types of obsolescence in fossil fuel power plants. To validate the results, the customized Adaptive Reuse Potential model was deployed to a case study and the outputs are compared with those outputs obtained from applying the original model in the same case study. According to performed analyzes and based on the experts views, it is affirmed that the results obtained from the customized Adaptive Reuse Potential model for fossil fuel power plants were more accurate than those of the primary model.

This study compares the Safavid Mosque and the Renaissance Church in the field of daylight design. The present study seeks to answer these questions: What methods are used to provide the light in the mosque and church, and what are the similarities and differences between the “qualities of the presence of daylight” in each of these religious buildings? To limit the scope of research, Jame Abbasi Mosque during the Safavid period and the great Church of St. Peter in the Renaissance period were chosen as case studies and all the ways of entering daylight into them were compared relatively. For this purpose, at first, a comprehensive categorization of the ways of daylight entrance in traditional religious buildings was introduced and then techniques of daylight design in these buildings were analyzed and compared by recording field observations through virtual tourism websites and exploring library resources. In the daylight design of the church, since conventional Christian worship does not require much light, the presence of daylight does not require at the level of flow of functions. On the other hand, although in the mosque’s daylight design, the presence of daylight in space was considered, but at the level of running functions, a certain amount of brightness was required.  Qibla (direction of performing some rituals) is also one of the prominent elements in daylight design of the mosque, while Qibla and light in the church are intertwined, and churches are completely facing sunrise and sunset. Finally, it can be said that the similarities and differences in the design of daylight in the mosque and the church are due to the climatic, functional and architectural features and are also influenced by Muslims and Christians’ understanding from metaphysics of light.

Today energy crisis and inherent environmental pollution caused by increasing consumption of non-renewable resources are one of the most major concerns of many countries including Iran and using of them is one of the most important factors to Earth demolition and climatic changes. Thus, numerous developed and enlarged countries try to extend the application and use of renewable energy resources. In this regard, the solar energy is one of the most important renewable and sustainable energy sources in the world and it mainly can be enumerated as the second largest energy sources in Iran after wind energy. This energy can be exploited in several methods such as flat collectors as one of the simplest and most usable systems that can be used in the buildings and solar chimney power plant. Due to daily and seasonal variations of the sun radiation, the optimal tilt estimation of collectors with maximum efficiency is very important.

This paper is based on a mathematical pattern and climatic data and the optimized tilt of flat collectors in city of Kerman is investigated. Then, by comparing and analyzing results of charts and tables, optimized tilt of flat collector at each month, season and annual are extracted and contrasted. Additionally, the percent of received radiation of each angle of plates in comparison to the optimized Angele are discussed.

In the conclusion section, the optimal angle tilt of collector over the year including spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons besides the optimal angle building heating systems and outdoor swimming pools heating systems are also presented. Finally, efficiency of vertical and horizontal collectors has been investigated with respect to maximizing the efficiency of optimal tilt of collector over the year.

Buildings have a great contribution in the consumption of energy and resources available on the planet earth. Given the importance of the sustainable development and the preservation of resources and lands for future generations, the idea of adaptive reuse of existing buildings is addressed globally. Adaptive reuse of the existing buildings is an approach to restore the life of buildings at the end of their useful and service life, by determining a suitable use based on their potential and characteristics. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings through maximum use of building material, social, cultural, structural and physical potential, avoid of unnecessary extension of cities and use of lands and resources, is well align with sustainable development main goals. But, despite all the benefits and advantages of adaptive reuse, there are cases that adaptive reuse is not suitable and demolition is inevitable. Therefore we need some criteria to evaluate buildings potential for adaptive reuse. For buildings which have a high potential for adaptive reuse, we also need some criteria to determine a (re)use in compliance with the existing building features. By determining such criteria, it is possible to modify the life cycle of buildings through adaptive reuse. Based on such a perspective, the authors investigated the literature and scholars view points and criteria which are addressed in different scientific documents. The literature shows a confusing variety of criteria. Through this study the adaptive reuse related criteria are identified and by an analytical approach and according to similarity between these criteria, they are classified in two areas. The first area includes the criteria in concern to examine existing buildings adaptive reuse potential. The authors identified eight comprehensive criteria for this area. The second area includes the criteria related to the determining a match reuse for existing buildings. The authors identified six comprehensive criteria for this area. The presented comprehensive criteria, covering all criteria in the literature, can be considered as a new framework and foundation for future studies on existing buildings adaptive reuse. In this way this study will contribute in buildings sustainability. According to presented criteria, buildings life cycle is modified. The traditional buildings life cycle include these phases: design, construction, operation, maintenance, demolition and new construction. It should be noted that such an approach to the buildings life is a linear approach, while regarding the increasing importance of sustainable development, attempt to restore buildings into the life cycle is a more acceptable approach. According to this, after the end of buildings useful life and before the demolition, buildings potential for adaptive reuse should be considered according to the related criteria and only when a building dos not have a good potential for adaptive reuse, it can be demolished. This approach will extend buildings life span and can lead to avoid of premature demolition. Premature demolition of buildings has many disadvantages. Of the disadvantages of this approach are wastes production, waste of buildings’ embodied energy, unnecessary use of resources and materials. Therefore the proposed buildings life cycle can leads to a more sustainable environment.

Proposed model of Iranian_ Islamic neighborhood archirecture based on notions of life and Islamic wisdom Abstract A person who naturally desires urbanization and civilization, needs a ubiquitous space to grow on the path to excellence. Contemporary neighborhoods architecture has affected by the physical western urbanism, it has created field of weakness in belonging, and attachment and link the person with the environment. Pattern of constituent neighborhood forms according to religion, thought, culture, customs and traditions of a nation. Based on the experience of living in a traditional neighborhood,sense of solidarity in social relations have concerned in the formation of the Moslim Ummah in this study, it has emphasized weaknesses and shortcomings of Islamic producer pattern. Neighborhood as an anelysis at whale, wich is a city to smaller elewents that we name them neighborhood, in a way that these smaller units and elements get together and create the city. Neighborhood is a collection at different inter-cannected elements and factors wich are. Presentation of exact concept and fotmolation of exact concept and formulation of certain theoretical bases based on worldview and Islamic philosophy can present appropriate pattern for theoretical and practical parts of the neighborhood.on the one, this research is fundamental and theoretical with descriptive approach, analytical and qualitative, it exploits from method of logical reasoning on the basis of the world of God and logical inference. On the other hand, in the field of applied scientific and experimental approach, begins roviding conceptual and practical model from Islamic community of material and spiritual needs of people in developing moral and happy life. In this paper, according to the definitions and the concept of neighborhood, the findings suggest what promotes the sense of community, it is knowledge_based and formation of purpose neighborhood. The purpose of construction neighborhood is not only formation of place but it is higher target places. According to this, what forming a neighborhood in first stage is school or benefits and worldview producer that defined in Islam social thought in the sense of nation.what is concept of neighborhood infrastructure with a systematic pattern of life that started three levels of religious, philosophical, scientific. Also, it applies political and social factors in the formation of neighborhood. The way to achieve the goal of the formation of the neighborhood in the environment and neighborhood of the neighborhood, with the formation of a sacred place with four attributes (safe, alive, clean and peaceful) in the material and spiritual domain and the formation of the Ummah. As a result we can consider the neighborhood based on mentioned pottern life creating factors and vieus in islamic wisdom arrarging and recreation of it thraugh political, cultural and economical factors in accordance with religious, scientifcand philosophical world view place and situation, noture and environment, culture and human and firally principles and valees at islamic and mental criteria that are trying to develope and reinforce the social basis and integrity at social. Key words: Iranian_ Islamic architecture, notion of life, religious worldview scientific worldview, philosophic worldview, Islamic neighborhood.

Researchers and experts have employed various approaches in dealing with Islamic Architecture. Architects, scholars, designers, mystics and philosophers have interpreted this phenomenon in their particular ways over time. Some merely have considered historical descriptive methods as an outward expression. Sometimes these descriptions and analysis aim at definition of spaces and architectural elements and at times an architectural description of different eras of governments from a historical point of view has been carried out such as Pope, Groop, and Herzfeld.
Using historical analysis architectural works are examined unfortunately some of these analyses have digressed from the truth of the subject for not being familiar enough with the principles, values, and percepts of Islam and its relation to architecture. Pope, Papadopoulos and others have analyzed Islamic Architectural works over history belong to this group.
Few of these historians such as Papadopoulos in his book titled The Islamic Architecture has concluded that there is no such a thing as Islamic Architecture it is in fact a combination of Greek and Byzantine architecture. He introduces the Damascus mosque as an example that is take from the Byzantine architecture such analysis as Papadopoulos are to a great extend simple and shallow since they lack any scientific value and credibility.
Some others have utilized a philosophical view or in other words have examined the subject with an ontological or epistemological perspective. Philosophy means knowledge of the facts of beings to the point of one’s capability and its applicability. Other characteristics of philosophy is generalization. Various references can be made to generalization. It is the opposite of details for instance the concept of architecture, square, and garden can be referred. However, general has only one place and it is in man’s mind and wisdom. Nevertheless, general is external and objective.
Others have used logic which is the tools of orthodoxy of man in relation to subjects. The logical approach of using the mind is to gain knowledge. Logic includes analogy, induction, and world of ideas. They have attended the Islamic Architecture using these logics. It should be noted that Islamic Architecture has mostly benefited from world of ideas or in other from form and concept. Form signifies the appearance of an artistic and architectural work that can be heard (music) or read (writing). Concept is meaning, logic, purpose, objective, reference, interpretation, and what form or word signifies. Form and concept in architecture is concerned with tangibility and rationality (oversensivity) and architectural form signifies that meaning and concept conveying the architect’s meaning.
Some researchers have also found the roots of valuable works of Islamic Architecture in the past teachings. With training the architect (student-teacher based), they have dealt with the formation of Islamic Architecture that is how students are trained and disciplined and how their teachings has led to unparalleled works. Letters in magnanimity are the foundations of such discussion. The basis of this approach, in addition to interest and talent of the student, are refinement, construction of the soul and from world loss and the manifestation of God’s spirit is in them and in turn learning its terms. Thus, primarily, the student should be committed that is he/she should be well-mannered, have high understanding and be physically able.
Scholars have also benefited from generalization in their studying the Islamic Architecture. Each group consists of objective, basis, and factors. In this study, the objective of Islamic Architecture is elevation and ascent in the living spaces. Basis is the cause of the research therefore, its principles should be looked at in religious, philosophical, and scientific outlooks. Its factors should be found in more general categories of the Islamic Architecture. With the three mentioned outlooks as the basis of subjects in the Islamic Architecture, and examination of the factors, objectives, and domain of the subject a comprehensive perspective is formed according to the capacity of a designer. Religious point of view studies the religious insight, moral ethics, and religious percepts, embracing all the ontological subjects in regard to common concepts and domain of the knowledge. The philosophical point of view questions why, what, and how to achieve a logical word from the external world. Knowledge about the subject is formed logically in the world of mind. The scientific point of view employs the experiences gained from a specialized subject in Islamic Architecture over the time. In this phase, the subject is divided into internal and external strategy where each should be taken into consideration but they cannot be discussed here.
The aim of this article is to brows different approaches toward Islamic Architecture with their analysis. Undoubtedly, each approach pays attention to limited boundary of knowledge in a way that Islamic Architecture which will be useful in their realm. Certainly researchers in Islamic Architecture are knowledgeable in their choice of approach in analysis and research. Here, the important point is that to what extent does the researcher and scholar in Islamic Architecture aims to gain knowledge over the subject? Relying on the mentioned methods we can gain dominance over its perspectives, zone, and development. The questions of the present research are as follow: Are there different methods to understand Islamic Architecture? What are different approaches towards Islamic Architecture? To what extend does knowledge of Islamic Architecture take place?
The method of research in Islamic Architecture is first through brief descriptions of these outlooks followed by an analytical, comparative, and synthesis, using proofs and documents. Finally the argument is examined and concluded with a systematic method.

One of the most significant issues discussed in human habitats, which is of special and particularimportance is the outlook toward the habitat and vernacular issues. Ignoring various social, cultural, political, economic and vernacular issues of each habitat will cause planning in that habitat to encounter unsolvable challenges. Therefore it seems that we should start somewhere for every shortterm or long - term strategic planning for various habitats. The biological specifications as well as the potential and actual social and natural capabilities of each region are among the priorities in studying each habitat. A primary introduction with tradition and habitat as well as distinctions, semantic and functional sharing of them can make a well - strengthened back ground in this regard. Applying the scientific techniques while at the same time, considering the feasibility ofthe field being studied can create a special sample of the norms which is in accordance with its basic function. In the case of architecture, by considering the land (habitat) while balancing the requirements of the users including culture and temperament and on the contrary, considering the fact that it constantly induces the past tradition while it’s emphasizing the fact that today is the past of tomorrow and it will become a pattern in the habitat, will eventually create an integration called an architecture with identity. As a result we can say that habitat is born from tradition and tradition is born from habitat. Whenever they act beside each other, only one of them emerges faster than the other and that is why the architecture is called vernacular and traditional. The present research made by the help of library studies and fundamental analysis, tries to point out the development of architecture from tradition to habitat and from habitat to tradition. This will eventually show that the habitat is the outcome of the tradition and tradition is born by habitat and the two together by considering the time, name the traditional and vernacular architecture. It is hoped that this study could be successful in taking a step in introducing the cognitive factors of vernacular and traditional architectures and removing any probable similarities and contradictions in this regard. We hope this study can be a help in creating the architecture with identity coordinated with the community.

The world''s endless landscapes are sign of wisdom and unique architecture of the creator. What do the scenery and architectural concepts represent? What are its factors? And how is the process of reflection and understanding of these sceneries by human beings? There is a systematic phase in the appearance of these sceneries that originates from the eternal power. The presence and appearance of these sceneries are God''s blessings in every ways and once he stops his blessings they are destroyed. Every creature of the materialistic world has its own special place، time، and status. Sceneries are divided into three general categories of spectator، light، and space and each scenery makes the spectator to reflect and acts as a reminder of God''s wisdom. Man''s level of perception of scenery rises from feeling to imagery and to reason. Reason has penetrated deeply in the perception of sceneries and it continues to the point that it reaches the truth of the existence.