Patterns Transition: A Comparative Analysis of Changing the Open Spaces in Houses of Tabriz

Problem statement: 

Accelerated physical developments in the last century have led to the inefficiency of contemporary residential open spaces in Tabriz. However, in the realm of Iranian culture, especially in Tabriz, residential open spaces, have formed their patterns over time. The qualitative study of such embodiments can reveal the remaining capacities to address and resolve the challenges.

This study investigates the patterns of open spaces in Tabriz houses over the times, intending to deepen the architects’ understanding of recent accelerated changes and to identify a meaningful relationship between them. Besides, the study tries to present an appropriate method for this kind of researches.

This research is qualitative with an interpretive approach and data-driven method. First, by reviewing the relationship between the concept of pattern and other influential components, a theoretical configuration for integrated analysis is explained by the QCA method. Then the data collected from the samples are organized and put into this configuration and finally, the findings are discussed.

In the qualitative analysis of consecutive categories of Tabriz houses (historical, middle and contemporary), there are three modes for the transition of identified conceptual patterns: Continuous (emergence as before), change of position (continuity of emergence but in different forms) and total change (elimination or replacement in the relationship between man and the environment). According to the analysis, the change in the combination of constraints in the outcome with environmental concepts has led to a change in how the patterns emerge and thus, transition. An overall assessment of this transition also reveals that environmental concepts derived from conceptual patterns have undergone fewer changes than they appear to be (sub-patterns) and making the place in the open spaces of houses in Tabriz, despite the precipitous external changes, has a relatively stable essence and is slowly evolving.