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سال هفدهم شماره 91 (دی 1399)

Problem statement: 

The street is one of the most important constituting components of urban appearance in modern times; by adding the street elements to the ‘urban planning system’, a great change has happened in the formation of architecture and urban planning in the present century in Iran. This development besides affecting the physical construction have had a great influence on the cultural and identity structure of urbanization in Iran. “Lalehzar Street” is one of the most important landmarks of modernism in the architecture and urban planning in Iran , which has had a great influence on the evolution of general landscape of Tehran city at the earlier this century.

This research study is trying to examine the influence of ‘street-linings’ and physical evolution on the process of modernization and development of Tehran, in which “Lalehzar Street” has been selected as a case study. Therefore, the urban development under the influence of ‘street element’ and the cultural impact of “Lalehzar Street” on human interactions will be examined here from various aspects.

At first step, “Lalehzar Street” is selected due to its importance and effect on the modernization of Tehran city, and later based on the library and documentary studies, using interpretive-historical method the urban developments in Tehran is discussed by choosing the case study of “Lalehzar Street”, from the second half of the Qajar rule onward; and at the final step, the role of the street in the process of modernization and development of Tehran is analyzed by using analytical-descriptive method.

The Iran’s political and social developments have been influenced by modernism since the second half of the Qajar rule, that many of its manifestation have been represented in various forms in Tehran. One of the most important appearance of this proceeding is the emergence of the street with its European pattern, which has influenced various aspects such as the city structure, commercialization and citizen interactions in a course of time from Qajar to Pahlavi that has given a new and modern appearance to the city.

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.

Problem statement:

The present paper suggests that despite several decades of design research, most of the models presented for the design process have a partialist approach and have not been able to provide a holistic definition of it. In addition to reducing the overall process, this situation has hindered its comprehensive understanding.

This study seeks to provide a comprehensive description of the design process based on a systemic approach (as one of the holistic approaches).

For this objective, both theoretical and experimental methods have been used to examine the systemic features of the process. The interaction of the process with the environment, identification of its components, and the ability to be controlled through feedbacks have been achieved theoretically and with the help of logical reasoning and inference from the opinions of experts. In the experimental section, to study the relationships (component/ total), totality, and structure, it has been referred to the design process of industrial subjects (in a power plant). In this section, the techniques of “open structured interview”, “preparation of design protocols,” and “documentation of design products” have been used to collect primary data, and quantitative/ qualitative content analysis has been used to evaluate the data. The research participants include ten experts in the design of power plant complexes.

The results confirm that the design process, as an open system, has a flexible structure and is controlled by feedbacks. Their action, knowledge, manner, agent, and tool, together with their sub-components, are in the form of components and interact with the whole process.

Problem statement: 

Persian gardens which are registered on UNESCO heritage list share similar patterns and design characteristics. Enjoying a geometrical design, enclosure, order, visual symmetry, axial order and centrality are among the main characteristics of every Persian garden. The Persian gardens are always divided into four sectors, with water playing an important role for both irrigation and ornamentation. The Persian garden, as a metaphor of paradise, is usually known as the tradition of arid zones and hot and dry climates; while due to the greenery and rich natural environment of mild and humid climate, this kind of design is not considered a necessity in such areas.

This paper, however, rejects such inclusivity and discusses that the Persian garden design principles have also been employed in other climatic regions of Iran as well. Accordingly, the current paper introduces a number of historical gardens in mild and humid climatic zone of Iran, which have applied the same design principles as Persian gardens.

The paper seeks to clarify if Persian gardens can be exclusively found in hot and arid parts of Iran; and if not, what are the ways in which one can design a Persian garden in the mild and humid parts of Iran. The paper uses a qualitative method to explore the understanding and interpretation of users about the notion of garden in the studied area, and to identify the mutual characteristics of designing garden in central and northern parts of Iran.

The paper further discusses if application of Persian garden design principles is responsive in northern Iran. “Dar Al-Hokoumah of Guilan”, “Safa Garden” and “Nasseriye Gardens” in Rasht, “Abbasabad Garden” in Behshar as well as several historical houses in Amlash are among the cases to approve the adaptability of Persian garden design principles in a different climate than hot arid central part of Iran.

Problem Statement:

 In globalization and post-colonialism literature, hybridity describes a process of composing elements from different cultures to reach a hybrid identity. This process is rooted in ancient mythology and dates back to Egypt and Mesopotamia. However, the confrontation between globalization and civilization has accelerated this process due to communication speed and information accumulation. In addition, myths continue to live in the contemporary world, and we can follow their trace in contemporary culture. Therefore, it is necessary for cultural studies to demythize contemporary myths.

Accordingly, we can claim that hybrid myth plays a significant role in contemporary socio-political sphere. The present study’s objective was to analyze the mythological patterns in the present political sphere regarding one of the contemporary myths, brand of Barak Obama. This paper aimed to answer two questions: What semiological pattern under brand Obama makes it a hybrid myth? Which historical and political realities are distorted by this myth?

The methodology of mythological analysis was derived from Roland Barthes’s pattern of myth in the language system. Accordingly, the brand of Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election campaign was analyzed based on Barthes’s model.

The brand of Barak Obama is a hybrid myth constituted of various racial and cultural signs. From one hand, this hybrid sign deviates the history of slavery in the United States and on the other hand, by depicting America as a liberal country with a democratic government, this myth conceals global dissatisfactions with this country’s belligerent policies.

Statement of the problem:

 Understanding how mental maps are used by new learners of architecture can help us gain familiarity with their mental thinking and externalize their mental knowledge. This ultimately paves the way for structuring and organizing the ideas of new learners.

The purpose of this study is to raise awareness about the mental representations of new learners of architecture during nature-inspired design processes and to develop a consensus map of mental models and to improve the design thinking of new learners.

This field study is qualitative in nature, and with respect to its purpose, it is applied. In this study, first, the documents and opinions of experts were scrutinized then architecture learners’ mental maps were elicited using the ZMET technique (Zaltman’s proposed technique to get to the unconscious structure of individuals).

Analyzing the mental maps of new learners shows that nature has been able to influence their architectural design process. The results revealed that learners were inspired by nature in their architectural designs, 26% used it for semantic analysis. The results of interviews with the new learners showed that 21% of them mostly used nature in structural and geometric patterns. The patterns were used by 36% for finding and creating ideas, which account for a big share of the design process.These results highlight the necessity of promoting nature-inspired design in architectural studios and future studies.

Problem statement:

 Today, providing the desired environment for the human being, whether it is a male or female user, requires the architect to have full knowledge of the physical, mental, intrinsic, and social dimensions of the audience. As half of the space users, women are often ignored since their needs are derived from their mental, psychosocial, and even social bases, so they have remained disregarded. Lack of such knowledge about women’s requirements may decrease their environmental satisfaction. The hypothesis of the research is that architecture consists of multiple components manifesting the designer femininity. These examples, mainly derived from postmodernist concepts or created by women, influence the quality of space, especially women.

The purpose of the present research is to introduce elements of femininity in architecture to create desirable and utilizable contexts for women. 

It is inductive research in terms of theoretical background and literature review to approach the research model. Then, the research also applied the Delphi method and interview among 28 active female Iranian architects. 

The research conveys that components of motherhood/mother-ness, liquescence, fundamental and structural elements, besides their sub-components are introduced as femininity in contemporary female architecture.

Problem statement: 

considering the extent of deteriorated urban areas and ignorance of energy/ climate problems in regeneration of this areas, make this subject, one of the main priorities of studies.

comparison between alternatives, it can be observed that considering the principles of climate-friendly design in a small block of urban scale, even with maximum adherence to mass and space principle and the features of approved plan, make it possible to save energy by providing design qualities such as central courtyards.

The methodological approach of this research is quantitative and its strategy is simulation and modeling using Builder Design software. Also, a comparative study method has been used to compare the energy consumption of three options (current situation, approved plan and proposed plan) for the urban block plan located in the deteriorated area of Hemmatabad.

In a comparative study, it is observed that in an urban block, even with maximum adherence to the mass and space and the orientation of the approved design, it is possible to save more energy consumption by providing design qualities, including private areas (central courtyards). The central courtyard with the outer skin consisting of Heblex blocks has the lowest energy consumption.