فصلنامه اثر
پیاپی 88 (بهار 1399)

The Ilkhani period was the onset of building architectural complexes and the independent urban spaces called ‘Abwab-al-berr’, inspired by sacred and blessed places, as well as scientific and educational centers, which are in fact a combination of religious scientific collections. Shanb-e-Ghazan was the premiere in ‘Abwab-al-berr’ phenomenon category in the urbanization of Ilkhani era, of which at this moment there has not been anything left out. Therefore, the main issue of the present article was to discuss the space organization of the city of Sangb-e Ghazan and its features based on historical documentation. Using historical analysis method, the present paper, referring to the historical texts of historians and tourists, has tried to recapture the image of the city of Sangb-e Ghazan and its structure. Gtudying the subject, we are faced with a regular and coherent set of rovers in which all urban uses are taken into account. Despite the various buildings, the tomb of Ghazan Khan is the main core of the set; the city has a predetermined map with a tower and gate, and the tomb of Sultan with its dome at the center of the complex: the buildings of Abwab-al-berr’are located on the sides of the tomb. Sangb-e Ghazan was also connected to the World Trade Network of the Tabriz market, and the market included a caravanserai, a row of cellars and several yards and dispersed Kooshks amongst the beautiful gardens and a variety of public utilities.

The formation of human settlement has always been based on natural factors such as water and soil and has been affected by various natural features, economic and other characteristics. Factors such as altitude, slope, rivers, climatic factors and lithology are some of which play a more effective role in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate the establishment status of Heilevar, historical settlement in terms of natural criteria and also the action of climatic factors on the type and style of architecture and the formation of its historical context. In the following, the study and recognition of effective historical elements in the appearance, formation and development of the Heilevar settlement in order to meet human needs during the life of the complex will be evaluated. For this reason, by using the information and resources available in libraries as well as the archives of the Cultural Heritage Organization of East Azerbaijan Province and also visiting the site of the studied historical settlement and finally, the descriptive research method analyzes the obtained data and the role of each factor in the location, as well as the formation of the structure, elements, and equipment of the Heilevar settlement, are discussed. The results of the studies show that the above-mentioned natural factors such as topography, water resources, rich soil, and suitable climate, have a significant influence on the location and formation and structure of the Heilevar settlement. According to the results of the research in the study of residence, the climate factor has a high impact, because it has been effective in the type and style of architecture of the historical complex (centralized and introverted architecture).

Although underwater cultural heritage is defined differently by various international documents, it is generally based on two criteria: the "temporal criterion" and the "nature criterion." Among these documents are the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted in 2001. The 1982 Convention did not provide a definition of underwater cultural heritage, but referred to it as "objects of an archaeological and historical nature". Such a description has many drawbacks and ambiguities and does not give a clear picture of this type of heritage. To fill this gap, the 2001 UNESCO Convention defines underwater cultural heritage as a combination of the "criterion of nature", which means having a cultural, historical or archaeological nature, and the "temporal criterion" of being underwater for 100 years. The main challenge with this definition is which of the two criteria takes precedence over the other. Although both criteria are equally important in the Convention, the standard of 100 years underwater seems to take precedence over the "standard of nature". Especially since some people believe that any object that has been underwater for 100 years has an archeological and historical nature in itself.

The architecture and historical context of Gaz and Borkhar counties, despite their hidden values, remain unknown; one of the historical houses of this region is the house belonging to the "Ghadimi" family. Due to insufficient attention of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran, the inability of the owners to repair and maintain it, as well as the fact that the house is located on the street in the city hall’s developping plan, like many historical houses in Gaz and Borkhar, it will be destroyed in the near future. Therefore, it seems necessary to introduce the building and study its decorations the purpose of this article is to document the Ghadimi house and compare the decorations of this rural house with similar urban examples - Homayi house and Shakeri house - in order to identify its historical period. In this research, descriptive-historical method and a comparative approach were used. In this regard, library and field studies have been done about the building as well as relying on oral history - memories of heirs. In the following, with a closer look, the two main spaces of this building, that due to the richness of their architectural decorations represent as the main characteristic of this building, are described in detail and their decorations are introduced. The most important decorations of this building include plastering with plant motifs, mirror work, application of stained glass in plaster and painting. Comparing similar images of the decorations and plans of these houses, it seems that part of the Ghadimi house, which has rich architectural decorations and is the oldest part of the house, was built in the same period as Homayi and Shakeri houses in the Qajar period, and other parts of the housewere added in subsequent periods.

After the discovery of Iranian rock shrines in recent decades, the nature of these works has always been debated. Very faint and vague traces from the era of the emergence of these surviving works, the possibility of accurate and absolute chronology and absolute use for researchers and enthusiasts of difficult rock works. On the other hand, the rocky and cave nature of these neighborhoods has led most scholars to attribute it to the cult of Mehr; However, no evidence of the seal of worship has been discovered or identified in these sacred spaces. Rock shrines are among the valuable works of Iranian architecture that the nature of use and chronology of these works has always been discussed. In this research, Qadmagah shrine in Azarshahr city has been studied by comparative and historical studies-analysis method and seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What is the relative chronology of Qadamgah based on archeological and architectural evidence? 2. What was the functional nature of this handicraft space? This research seeks to provide a more acceptable history and function for this shrine through a comparative study and review of some details, while examining and recognizing this sacred space. According to this research, according to the available evidence, this handicraft space is a rock shrine (monastery) related to the Islamic Middle Ages. Accordingly, attributing this area to the ritual of love has been far from the mind. Finally, although the chronology of other rock shrines requires independent research, perhaps the dating and relative use of the Azarshahr Qadamgah rock shrine may pave the way for other similar handicrafts.

Urban arsen is an Iranian-Islamic model that was formed in the neighborhood and city centers in the past. Combining different uses together creates a diverse set of local or urban functions that meet the needs of many citizens together. These functions include the bazaar, mosque, Dar al-Shifa, library, school and etc. Examples of these components are the urban arsen, which is often built around religious places such as a mosque or shrine, and thus in addition to meeting daily needs, they built a connection between the people’s lives and a spiritual atmosphere and spirituality. Therefore, the present article aimed to explain the position of urban arsen as a model in the development of the Iranian-Islamic cities with emphasis on the centrality of religious places, which in the theoretical part, it is done by descriptive research method and content analysis of texts and logical reasoning, and in the case sample part, it is done by field survey method. Urban arsen is an efficient model for the Iranian-Islamic urban center and can be used in planning and redesigning of Iranian-Islamic cities. Urban arsen in the tradition of Iranian-Islamic architecture and urban planning have various types and functions, which are:  religious arsen, service, medical, sports, commercial, and cultural arsen. Urban arsen has the characteristics and criteria of urban design and planning, which include: having the meaning and identity derived from the religious and devotional center, diversity and functional compatibility, pedestrianism, balance of mass and space with central courtyards, balanced skyline and diverse, spatial hierarchy and access.