An Analysis of the Formal Typology of Sunken Courtyards in the Central Plateau of Iran; Case Study: Traditional Houses of Yazd

The sunken courtyard is one of the spatial types of underground architecture and an important spatial element of traditional dwellings in the city of Yazd. This spatial element is formed in response to a variety of factors, including climatic, functional, and physical requirements. In addition, it allows a family to live in the heart of the earth in the summer, away from direct sunshine, and in the winter, under the protection of the soil. Despite substantial research on the physical and spatial characteristics of subterranean courtyards, little is known about their formal typology. The purpose of this research is to investigate the significance and function of sunken courtyards in traditional Yazd dwellings, as well as the causes for their genesis and their formal typology. This is a qualitative study and the descriptive-analytical methodology was employed. This paper’s data was gathered through a field survey and documents. In this study, 40 traditional houses in Yazd with pit courtyards were surveyed. Following that, eight houses were chosen based on the level of the yards and the spatial features of sunken yards, and were analyzed based on formal typology. As a result, many typologies based on four different themes were presented, including the geometry of sunken courtyards, their location in houses, the organization of spaces around pit yards, and the depth of sunken yards.