Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning | University of Tehran (original) (raw)

Papers by Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

The development of computer use in the field of conceptual design has brought doubts and at the s... more The development of computer use in the field of conceptual design has brought doubts and at the same time concerns regarding the maintaining of the significantrole of hand drawings in the design process. In other words, advances in computer-aided design over time have influenced the attitudes and working methods of contemprory designers in addressing problems. According to some designers of the current generation, computers can now assume the traditional role of hand drawings in the design process. This view contrasts with that of expert designers who assert that hand drawings still retain a special place in the design process. The aim of this research is to address the question of which of the two tools, manual or digital, is more suitable for problem solving in the early stages of design. By reviewing past studies and analyzing texts using content analysis tables, we sought to provide a comparative assessment of the ability of each tool to enhance the cognitive levels of the design process. The results of our work indicate that computer tools, including modeling programs and parametric design, despite their recent advancements in supporting the initial stages of design, do not perform as effectively hand drawings in terms of conceptualization and ease of discovery. This phenomenoncan be attributed to the superior capacity of hand drawings (sketch) in ambiguity as well as the designer's focus on the level of knowledge rather than the level of object production rules or algorithms when utilizing them. However, Computer drawing tools are capable of providing more accurate visualization than hand drawings, which can be advantageous in more structured problems.
This significant finding suggests that the ability of a tool to improve cognitive levels in the conceptual process is not solely dependent on the tool itself, but it is also influenced by a network of constraints (variables) such as the type of problem, the degree of determination and simplicity of the problem, the interactivity of the tool, time constraints, Interpretation (team or individual design), designer's skill, designer's expertise and numerous other factors. These variables were derived from previous studies. In fact, there are variables related to design context that play a crucial role in the development of the design process. A change in any of these constraints can affect the outcomes of the design process. Such a framework criticizes previous studies that have primarily focused onthe influence of the "instrumental ability" variable. Based on this, a model of the impact of intervening variables on the design situation and its relationship with the levels of knowledge was proposed. This hypothesis posits that the selection of drawing tools in the design process is an intelligent and situational decision and it is not feasible to prescribe a universal and absolute guideline for the selection of tools applicable to all situations and processes. This hypothesis can informthe direction of future research design studies, emphasizing that] the impact of limitations should be considered in subsequent empirical investigations

Journal of Fine Arts: Atchitecture and Urban Planning, 2023

The rapid growth of urbanization and the increasing complexities of urban management have highlig... more The rapid growth of urbanization and the increasing complexities of urban management have highlighted the need for innovative and efficient tools in the field of urban planning and design. Today's urban planning and design community, in the information era, requires novel technology-driven systems to make better decisions and achieve improved results in the shortest possible time. CityEngine, as a city-scale data-driven smart system, offers significant potential for improving the quality of urban planning and design. This applied research aims to introduce and comprehensively analyze CityEngine in the context of urban planning and design, with the Narmak neighborhood of Tehran as a case study. Data were collected using various methods, including document review, field surveys, and spatial data analysis. The findings of the study show that CityEngine can be effectively applied in various aspects of urban planning and design, including: Dynamic 3D visualization of urban space (detailed and comprehensive urban plans, zoning and design control planning, 3D cadastral planning, environmental planning and design, strategic urban planning), real-time reporting of urban data for quantitative analysis, evaluation and management of the urban environment along with providing a communication platform for public participation, and integration with other relevant urban application software. The results of this research demonstrate that CityEngine, as a novel and efficient tool in the field of urban planning and design, can contribute to the creation of smart and sustainable cities. In CityEngine for urban planning and design modeling, the following four main steps are presented in the paper: (1) data preparation and processing (2) Classification of urban elements (3) Creating and defining rules (4) Generating a model and modifying it. It can be comprehensively acknowledged that CityEngine facilitates: the integration of scattered urban data and the creation of a smart two- and three-dimensional database, the reduction and intelligent monitoring of urban violations through the modeling of urban information (zoning regulations, density, etc.), increased speed and less waste of time in planning, designing and managing urban projects, enhanced citizen involvement in addressing urban issues through online sharing of plans, the ability to intelligently model all types of elements and objects in the city, including buildings, streets, vegetation, urban furniture, support for integrated management city through the creation of manageable dashboards and real-time control, access to information on smart 3D urban elements with the ability to view all features in 3D and update information, improved city maps with interactive 3D visualization to help understanding of the urban environment for managers and citizens, production of past, present and future models of cities to observe and compare urban changes, designing city redevelopment scenarios and examining the effects of each in real-time, analyzing the three-dimensional view of the city to accurately assess the effects of urban visual permeability, and conducting city simulation based on real geographic information system (GIS) data to improve 3D city perception making it effective and useful.

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

The Kabir (Grand) Mosque of Tabriz is one of Iran's valuable architectural buildings. Throughout ... more The Kabir (Grand) Mosque of Tabriz is one of Iran's valuable architectural buildings. Throughout history, it has been the site of official announcements of important events and fatwas from great governments during Tabriz's capital, including Rawadian, Yilian (Seljuqian tributary), Al-Chopan, and Al-Jalair (as local governments), Ilkhans, Turkomans, Safavids, and the Qajar period, where it was the seat of Iran's crown prince. According to historical documents, the formation of this valuable relicdates back to the beginning of Islam, but there are no original historical sources to support this claim. Due to severe earthquakes that occurred during the mosque's lifetime, changes in government, and the change of the mosque's founder, many changes have occurred in its architecture.The Grand (Jame) Mosque of Tabriz has been known as the Great Mosque (Jame Kabir) in old texts since the beginning of the 7th century, and during periods when magnificent mosques were founded by sultans and powerful ministers, such as Alishah Mosque, Rashidiyeh Mosque, Mozaffarieh Mosque (blue mosque complex), and Nasriyeh Mosque, it has always been referred to as the Great MosqueThe area of the bazaar and Jame Mosque has been within the old fortress of Tabriz since ancient times and has always been part of the settled region of the city. During the Safavid and Qajar eras, important government decrees and orders were engraved on stone slates in the handwriting of the most famous calligraphers of the era, on huge marble slabs, and installed in prominent places of the mosque. Therefore, this mosque has been a significant and invaluable place since the ancient times, and its transitions are of considerable importance and indicate the style of each period. Despite this prominence, Tabriz Grand Mosque has not been fully and accurately studied, and its historical periods and shape and structure have not been adequately considered. In the early1970s, the Department of Archaeology conducted excavations in the mosque which resulted in quality documentspublished as an article entitled "Research in Tabriz Jame Bazaar Mosque" by Mr. Vahabzadeh.This valuable report is primarily a description of the images and related items. According to the findings, the mosque has been planned in the form of a seraglio. However, since the city of Tabriz is located on a fault, it has suffered significant

Journal of Fine Arts: Atchitecture and Urban Planning, 2023

and others used the "distancing effect" in their works. Notebly, Brecht theorized his concept in ... more and others used the "distancing effect" in their works. Notebly, Brecht theorized his concept in the twentieth century, yet many of the buildings discussed in this research belong to an earlier historical period. This indicates that many architects have (un)consciously used this concept in their works as they want to invite individuals to think, explore, be active, interpret, and be aware of what they are observing. Ultimately, it can be articulated that the work of architecture plays a more significant role, it is not merely a space to provoke our sensations, but also a universe for deep contemplation and thought.

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Over the past sixty years, the mainstream of heritage conservation has been striving to reach a c... more Over the past sixty years, the mainstream of heritage conservation has been striving to reach a consensus and establish an optimal framework-the most effective approach for conservationapplicable in any scenario. It is alleged that this ultimate framework can be depicted in the form of conservation doctrines. In this article, we argue that the roots of this perspective on planning and decision-making for heritage can be traced back to the rationality inspired by enlightenment and rational planning, which is termed "Rational conservation planning (RCP)". The RCP simplifies the decision-making process and proposes universally applicable solutions. As a result, this approach has impeded the ability to effectively address the challenges faced. The primary aim of this article is to illuminate the stagnant state of the current theories of heritage conservation in terms of understanding theoretical challenges: Their perspective on heritage conservation is limited and narrow-minded. In order to address this fundamental issue, the authors pose the question: What is the competing paradigm for this rational view of conservation, and can it offer a better approach for urban heritage conservation? This article reviews the literature, critiques the RCP and suggests a paradigm shift from rational conservation to pragmatic conservation through qualitative research method and abductive reasoning strategy. The proposed pragmatic conceptual model alters the planning context into a complex and uncertain environment. In this scenario, the conservator is not faced with a neutral and non-political backdrop but rather a heavily politicized world characterized by power dynamics. Pragmatic conservation underscores the shift from viewing conservation as an external and objective concept to recognizing it as an internal and intersubjective realm. To explain the relationship between the theoretical framework and the practical conditions, a case study research has been employed, utilizing an information-oriented selection strategy. In this article, the authors have selected a significant case at both the national and global levels: the world heritage site of TCHOGHAZANBIL. A storytelling or narrative-based method, which is well-known in qualitative research, has been used to investigatethis site's planning conflicts. Finally, it has been concluded that unlike the technical issues that the RCP has tried to expand over the years and has widely included them in professional and educational programs, heritage conservation is involved in highly political problems in which power relations play a serious role. The story of TCHOGHAZANBIL examplifies resistance within a dependent, complex, controversial and uncertain context. Resistance in this context is formed and operates based on rules and laws, emotions and initiatives and manifests in the form of negotiations, dialogues, coalitions, strategies and tactics.

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Monuments have a history of thousands of years and are usually among the oldest symbols of civili... more Monuments have a history of thousands of years and are usually among the oldest symbols of civilisation in various periods. In the Islamic world, a memorial is created to commemorate a person or an event, which is generally manifested in constructing a tomb, whose wide distribution in the Islamic lands is a testimony to this claim. The building known as "Kakh or Qasr-i Khurshid (Palace of the Sun)” in the city of Kalat in the north of Khurasan Razavi province is an example of this type of architecture. This structure was built on the orders of Nadir Shah Afshar (r.1736-47), although its primary function has always been debated owing to its distinct architecture and decorations. Kalat or Kalat-i Nadiri is known as a natural fortress due to a fence of mountains. So, throughout history, it has always been of interest from a defensive and military point of view. This area received particular attention during the reign of Nadir Shah, and several buildings were erected on his orders. Khurshid monument has always been the focus of researchers in terms of its size and appearance as well as the ambiguity of its function. The octagon includes a series of iwans connected by narrow corridors, creating a series of connected spaces of different scales that encircle the cylinder and are suitable for ambulating around the building. The building generally consists of two volumes: a lofty cylinder and an octagonal. The structure comprises three floors: the basement, the ground, and the first. Previous studies have expressed different opinions about the building’s function. Some consider it a palace, and some believe it was initially built as a tomb, which was later converted into a palace. This study aims to investigate the building's function and main architectural features and determine its place in the history of Iranian architecture. The analysis of the building shows that not only in terms of architecture but also concerning structure, significant measures have been taken for its durability and stability against the risk of earthquakes. The research also shows that the building was not a palace or a tomb, but it was built as a governmental monument with a ceremonial function to commemorate the name of its patron. The research findings show that the Khurshid building is a fusion of Iranian and Indian architecture, which are skillfully linked to perpetuate the name of the building’s patron. The structure characterises the idea of a tomb tower as a monument in a new composition. In this sense, it created a link between the traditions of Iranian architecture and the architecture of the Mughals of India. The wide range of decorations with Indian motifs attests to this claim.
The research was carried out using a descriptive-analytical approach with a historical approach. It is a qualitative study in the field of architectural history. The primary methods of collecting information in this research are library studies and field surveys, and the data analysis method is qualitative.
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Architectural design education depends on the learners and their individual characteristics to ge... more Architectural design education depends on the learners and their individual characteristics to get better results in the design studio. One of these characteristics is Learning Style, which expresses learning preferences and differences between people in learning methods.

One of the common educational activities in the process of architectural design is referring to the precedents and in general concrete experiences as a strategy to increase the practical ability of students. Despite the documented research about the precedents and methods of using the knowledge of architectural precedents as a common activity in the design process, in the body of this educational method, we come across fewer similarities that the learning method of the learner given a deserved place; Prescriptive teaching methods are presented and followed for familiar learners with the same characteristics.

Learners do not act in the same way in dealing with the factors to be learned; Rather, they have different approaches to understanding and processing information. They have different potentials for learning and learn differently in different situations and under various factors; It is not possible to use this shared educational method without knowing the architecture learner and paying attention to their individual differences in the role of the learner and presenting and following up typical educational programs for audiences of the same level with the same characteristics in a coordinated manner. Such a lack causes the education of students to be exposed to the promotion of inefficient teaching methods, originating from theories that consider students to be the only recipients of knowledge, based on Teacher-Centered Education.

On one hand the rapid population growth and increasing demand for housing, and on the other hand ... more On one hand the rapid population growth and increasing demand for housing, and on the other hand the need to reduce the delivery time of construction projects and accelerate capital return, necessitate the transition from traditional construction methods to industrialization. Moving towards industrialization responds to the current demand of the society and it also has a very positive effect on the construction speed, quality and the final cost of the building. It is also capable of increasing the production and establishing a balance between supply and demand. Therefore, by considering the widely expressed advantages of building industrialization and the efforts of governments to take advantage of this, it seems that the effective implementation of this process depends on the identification and application of the effective components in design. Despite manifold empirical studies on these components, the dispersion and lack of a conceptual framework for their classification reveals the necessity of conducting a comprehensive examination in this regard. The purpose of this research is to identify the effective components in the design of prefabricated houses. This paper uses the Sandelowski and Barroso’s Meta-Synthesis to systematic review the sources and analyse all the qualitative data for components identification. By extracting the components and integrating similar cases, a broad classification framework was proposed for categorization of the components into environmental, technical, economic, functional, socio-cultural, aesthetics and climatic groups. Examining the components abundance for internal and external sources has also identified the most frequent ones, which is a guide for designers in prioritizing effective components in the design process. The hierarchies of frequency of groups are almost consistent with each other, and technical, environmental and functional groups have been the most frequent groups among internal and external sources, respectively.

The level of thermal comfort in urban open spaces plays an important role in pedestrian health. R... more The level of thermal comfort in urban open spaces plays an important role in pedestrian health. Residential environments and open spaces of housing units require more comfortable temperatures. Courtyards as microclimate modifiers and common open spaces between urban and architectural scales can be a good passive strategy to increase thermal comfort and reduce energy demand of buildings. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify their temperature balancing effect in the prevailing summer and winter climates. Different urban forms provide different microclimates with different levels of comfort for pedestrians. The effects of urban microclimates on urban air quality and building energy use make them significant at a larger scale. Urban forms, shaped by the typology of buildings and the open space between them, have different impacts at different seasons. They meet the demand for compactness in summer to provide shelter from the sun and openness in winter to provide access to the sun. Therefore, to design a form that provides the best thermal conditions throughout the year, through the design of openings in the open space openings - height and width and position of the opening. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the design of courtyards for microclimatic improvement of outdoor spaces. However, there is still little knowledge about the thermal performance characteristics of courtyards, especially in cold and semi-arid climates.

Complexity in contemporary cities and buildings- especially for newcomers- may affect man-environ... more Complexity in contemporary cities and buildings- especially for newcomers- may affect man-environment relations regarding finding the right path to a destination. For many years, architects and urban designers have dealt with a big concern about wayfinding in outdoor and indoor environments. One may discuss wayfinding for a large network of paths associated solely with cities, but research has found buildings as a challenging context for people to find their ways. Romedi Passini and Paul Arthur (1992) developed theories on wayfinding to indoor environments. Through experimental studies, they found environmental and human attributes affecting wayfinding. Research has categorized the findings into classes as strategies extracted from environmental physical aspects used by people in appropriate situations. This study examines wayfinding in healthcare environments (hospital), which serves many people everyday. Having a wide range of healthcare services, hospitals should provide a diverse set of spaces connecting to each other. In addition, time plays an essential role. So, taking patients to the right destination, paths must work effectively. Looking through the researches on wayfinding and considering results in healthcare environments, we found a lack. Emergency conditions, which may change the findings, were neglected in most researches. So, considering such stressful situations, we designed an experimental research in a hospital in Tehran, Iran. The research had 9 participants (4 men, 5 women) find 3 destinations. Recall that the survey accomplished in pandemic. We selected a hospital from 3 hospitals for its complexity, lots of users, and accessibility to the maps and documents. Participants were requested not to ask others for the address. They should have thought loudly about where they intent to go, why they took a path and which environmental attributes they recorded. To simulate emergency conditions, survey had time limits. The participants had chronometers and should have checked it along the paths. We engaged two persons recording participants’ behavior maps and thoughts. Through a systematic and unsystematic observation, six strategies were examined in all nodes and throughout the paths: straight path, avoiding vertical change, brightest path, wider path, signs, and plenty of probable decision making nodes. Analyses on participants’ wayfinding behavior showed three different interpretations on nodes where people chose strategies to take the paths: a) strategies failed to be ascribed, b) strategies not aligned with the previous findings, and c) strategies aligned with the previous findings. Contrary to the previous results, half of the participants did not take “straight and longer paths” in the potential nodes. The result confirmed people dislike changing floors. Research on how brightness affect wayfinding in hospitals should be repeated since there were no discrepancies on brightness in the paths. In line with previous results, participants’ behavior showed an intention to choose wider paths. They also frequently pointed to the sings- special architectural and functional fixed signs- to find their way. As for the last strategy, participants preferred to have less decision making nodes since conditions had limited time. We concluded that the strategies not aligned with previous findings rooted in the conditions were ignored. Designers could benefit from the findings.

Providing lighting to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.) in the city of Mashhad in Iran is one o... more Providing lighting to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.) in the city of Mashhad in Iran is one of the requirements that has been the concern of the custodians and caretakers of the holy shrine of Razavi in all historical periods from the beginning of the formation of the holy shrine until now. Many endowments and financial and administrative documents from the Safavid period have remained. Many of these documents are related to how the Holy Shrine was illuminated in the Safavid period. The number of endowments and financial and administrative documents related to lighting from the Safavid period onward shows the importance of providing it in the Razavi shrine.

It has been nearly fifty years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Orga... more It has been nearly fifty years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proposed the idea of registering valuable cultural monuments. This idea is still considered an effective policy in many countries because of the notable effect of a registered monument on the surrounding communities in terms of sustainable economic development. One of the motivations for the world inscription of heritage could be the development of the tourism economy. In this regard, the UNESCO logo is used as a commercial brand and marketing tool. Also, in order to increase the number of visitors, the monument is directly promoted. Tourists should receive more offers from the resources that have become a product in that territory. These resources should indicate the uniqueness of the destination and lead to attracting more visitors. UNESCO is an institution that facilitates the creation or stabilization of tourist market destinations through the world heritage brand and the permission to use it. Therefore, it is necessary to study the principal factors of such expenses by tourists to guide the private sector and those who are responsible for the establishment of tourism policies.

The art of tiling in Mashhad has a long history. Religious buildings such as mosques and tombs ar... more The art of tiling in Mashhad has a long history. Religious buildings such as mosques and tombs are always decorated with the best tile decorations.
Especially Goharshad Mosque and the holy shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, which has a special decorative and religious status, are the manifestations of traditional tiling in this art-rich region. Tiling in Mashhad has its own style, both in terms of decoration and composition of materials and their construction method. Traditional tile makers in Mashhad use a type of tile that is known as stone tile today. The use of glass powder, silica powder and a type of bentonite instead of clay in the body of these tiles is the reason for this name. It seems that this method of production in Mashhad has a long history. A technical study of the remaining tiles in the buildings of this area (which belongs to the past) can help us prove the above hypothesis. Therefore, the tiles of Ghiasieh Khargerd School were studied, which is historically attributed to the architecture of Greater Khorasan and is a twin of Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad. Both are made by Qavam al-din Shirazi and are very similar in terms of decoration and craftsmanship. Unfortunately, Goharshad Mosque does not have tiles at the time of construction because this mosque has been restored many times. But Ghiasieh Khargerd School has tiles belonging to the time of its construction (ninth century AH) and can provide us with laboratory samples. The method of this research is laboratory based using technical study of works. In this research, samples are measured in terms of the type and composition of their constituents by laboratory techniques. First, the method of making contemporary tiles in Mashhad is described and their materials are introduced. Then, laboratory studies are performed on old samples taken from the Ghiasieh Khargerd School building.The identification of body tissue and glaze was conducted through the use of an Olympus PM G3 optical microscope, while the alkaline melting method and point analysis with the SEM-EDX device were employed for chemical analysis.
The results show that the body of the mosaic tiles for Ghiasieh Khargerd School is similar to the contemporary stone tiles of Mashhad in terms of chemical composition and texture. In terms of glazing method and tile sintering method, according to histological studies by optical and electron microscopes, similarities are not fully confirmed. In this respect, Moaqqali tiles, Hamil tiles and seven-color tiles are more similar to clay tiles that Mashhad tile makers are currently using to make seven-color tiles. The composition of glazes, the type of glaze colors and how they are used and produced do not fully confirm the methods currently used by Mashhad tile makers. In general, studies show that the methods and techniques of the past (with a slight changes in terms of the composition of materials and methods used in their construction) have been continued over the past years by contemporary tile makers in Mashhad.

Multiplicative and deep narratives in the process of modernization in Iranian architecture lead t... more Multiplicative and deep narratives in the process of modernization in Iranian architecture lead to understanding the formation of these changes in more realistic ways. Because most of the traditionalist narratives that want to return to the origins of Iranian architecture, have focused their criticism on the imported and Westernized narrative of architecture in the Naser al-Din Shah’s period, and according to this simplification, they also put a simplistic view against it. This paper is important in several aspects: first, through a critical look at existing narratives, it aims to present a new conceptual model in the formation of modernization in Iranian architecture. Second, by investigating the effective components of this process, it seeks to attain an explanation of how they affect it. According to the preliminary findings as a hypothesis of the research, the vast and fundamental changes that took place in the architecture of Azerbaijan in the early Qajar period (19th century) can be considered in line with the process of the formation of modernity in the architecture of Iran. The key question of this article about understanding whether it is possible to consider the formation of modern concepts in Iranian architecture, according to the need and during a conscious process, belonging to the early Qajar in Azerbaijan? The paper was carried out by a historical-interpretive research method and a process approach to collect historical and theoretical bases. To identify and investigate the influencing factors on the process of modernization in Azerbaijan’s architecture, Iranian and European first-hand sources such as travelogues and diaries were examined. By analyzing the data, maps, and visual information (as second-hand sources), which have a complementary aspect to the work, an attempt has been made to achieve a relatively comprehensive understanding of this process. A conceptual model of the process of modernization in Azerbaijan’s architecture is available by knowing the affective factors in the formation of architectural and urbanization characteristics in modern buildings. As a result, the evidence shows that the changes that occurred in the early Qajar architecture of Azerbaijan are an alternative narration parallel to the classical ideas in Iranian contemporary architecture. This process was formed not in Tehran (in the late 19th century), but in Azerbaijan influenced by various factors. The process started with the recognition of modern changes in European architecture. The next stage started with the formation of the necessity of these changes in Iran. Finally, these changes have been implemented in the architecture and town planning principles. The process of modernization in the architecture of Azerbaijan is influenced by contextual factors (Iran-Russian war, Azerbaijan’s geopolitical position), and affective persons (Abbas Mirza, Fath-Ali shah, European consultants, and Iranian intellectuals). Also, the consequences of this process have been introduced in two general parts: corrections of the defects of past buildings and the creation of buildings with new required uses. The modernization formed in the architecture of Azerbaijan could have been transferred to other parts of Iran, during the reigns of the subsequent Qajar kings; which require more and more detailed research.

"Interior decoration", "interior design", and "interior architecture" are known as three names th... more "Interior decoration", "interior design", and "interior architecture" are known as three names that refer to specialties that are focused on the organization of interior spaces. The emergence of these three specialties takes place in a historical process; first "interior decoration" in the early nineteenth century, then "interior design" in the early twentieth century, and then "interior architecture" about four decades ago. The precedence and delay in the emergence and application of these specialties does not mean the complete replacement of the latter over the earlier one; however, in some cases and for some reasons, the former specialty has been replaced by the latter. In fact, these three specialties, despite their many similarities and commonalities, have different meanings and uses and in relation to each other, and they have created a relationship that is questionable and worth considering. So the main question of this research is what is the relationship between the mergence of "Interior decoration", "interior design", and "interior architecture".

Architects use different media to represent and display their ideas. These media include a wide r... more Architects use different media to represent and display their ideas. These media include a wide range of architectural volumetric models, hand drawings, verbal allegories, sketches and recently computer modeling. Among these media, hand drawings have always been important in architectural design and have played a pivotal role. This role has become more important in architecture since the Renaissance with the emergence of perspective. Before the spread of such drawings around the 15th to 17th centuries, drawing in architecture was common in previous periods. Until then, drawing was a tool for conversation and media between the employer and the architect. But after that, drawing is a tool for thinking and a tool for pre-designing, modifying and correcting the pre-construction form. It can be said that the methods of representation, image and perception of architecture have always had a reciprocal relationship with our perception of space and also with the spatial organization of architecture.
So far, only a few studies have been done on architectural drawings and their relationship with the Iranian architectural organization of space. These few studies have focused more on the typology and classification of drawings left over from Islamic Architecture and have questioned their application in the Iranian architectural space organization. Iranian painters, especially after the Ilkhanate period, have represented architectural and urban spaces in paintings. Compared to the European perspective and tradition of drawings, Iranian painters represented architectural and urban spaces differently. Most of the research in the field of Iranian miniature has dealt with philosophical foundations, especially around the concept of the imaginal world, or the methods of representation in the form of analytical-aesthetic methods. The purpose of this study is to understand the structure of miniature representation. In this regard, it deals with two aspects of the content of representation and the way of representation of miniatures and analyzes them. The emphasis of the article is to find out how Iranian painters have portrayed the world around them.
In this research, forty miniatures belonging to the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, Timurid and Safavid periods have been studied. This research can be considered as a historical study that uses an analytical-aesthetic method to discover how architecture is represented in Iranian miniatures. The findings of this study show that Iranian miniatures include three independent systems of architectural, landscape and behavioral representation. These systems overlap to form a miniature. Each of these three systems of representation has its own rules.
The findings of this study show that the method of composing the page in a miniature follows three general principles: (a) organizing the general space with clear lines and framing (b) independent spaces and their collage (c) intensive space narration (collage of space units) and high horizon. This research showed that the way of representing the architectural effect in miniature includes (a) isometric or flat display of side surfaces, (b) special rules of displaying the floor and interior surfaces of the porch and (c) simultaneous display of interior and exterior of a building. These findings have been achieved by focusing on the architectural representation system.

The form of each architectural building is influenced by the natural, social, historical, politic... more The form of each architectural building is influenced by the natural, social, historical, political, and other conditions of its circumstance. For this reason, at the same time, in different societies, we can see different physical characteristics for buildings with the same function. Examining the extent and manner of the effects of each of these factors can lead us to a better understanding of the causes of the formation of a certain type of building, its special features and the occurrence of formal and functional changes in it. In the literature of Iranian architectural history, the course of physical development of Hosseiniyehs and Takayas and the factors that were affecting these developments, have not been studied much. Therefore, Hosseiniyehs as a type of collective space for holding the mourning ceremony of Imam Hossein and the course of their physical transformations in Iran are the main subject of this article. In this article, by adopting a functionalist approach to religious rituals, the social processes that have led to the emergence of the unique phenomenon of Iran's architecture in the Islamic era, namely Hosseiniyeh have been investigated. In this regard, an attempt has been made to answer the main question that what is the effect of the social and political function of Imam Hossein's mourning ritual in Iran on the physical-spatial changes of the places where this ritual is held, especially in the central part of Iran? This article adopts a qualitative approach and its data collection technique is through literature review and observation. In the theoretical part, the data has been gathered through the study of library sources and in the building analyzing part, this study uses observation techniques and the study of primary and secondary sources. The research is also considered a historical research in terms of data analysis. The research findings show that the social function of Imam Hossein's mourning ritual in Iran has undergone fundamental changes from the beginning to the end of the Qajar rule in four main stages. Like those transformation stages, the places for holding this ceremony and their architectural-spatial character also experienced fundamental changes under the influence of the social function of the ceremony. In the first step, these developments have led to the formation of a dedicated space on a local scale for holding this ritual. In the next steps and in coherence with the changes in the social role of Imam Hossein's mourning, the architecture of Hosseiniyehs also experienced changes. These changes were especially in the result of increasing the dramatic and theatrical aspect of the funeral ceremony (Taziye). The formal transformation of Hosseiniyeh’s buildings could be mentioned as 1. increasing the splendor and beauty of building, 2. Exceeding in the number of supporting spaces such as kitchen, sheltered prayer hall and so on, 3. Using different type of decorations and 4. the separation of different social classes from each other.

Indoor environment have a high impact on the health, well-being and comfort of occupants. The cha... more Indoor environment have a high impact on the health, well-being and comfort of occupants. The characteristics of space and architectural design components have a direct effect on creating a positive feeling and improving the physical and mental performance of people. As one of the factors that affect the interior environment, colour is one of the most flexible materials that can change the characteristics of space.
In addition to aesthetic features, the colour of space affects human behaviour, decision-making, and health. Therefore, choosing the colour of the living space will have a great impact on feelings of residents. The current research seeks to determine the range of influence of different colour spectrums on residents' feelings and answers the question of how much this influence is affected by residents' personal colour interests and preferences. This research has investigated the effect of colour in three categories of warm, cold and neutral on six emotions of relaxation, excitement, interest, concentration, pressure and participation of user. 286 online questionnaires were used to collect data, and two methods of t-test and path analysis were used for analysis. After analysing the data collected from the questionnaires, the results of the influence of the ranges of warm, cold and neutral colours on the feelings of the residents were determined as follows: the neutral colour spectrum has the highest positive effect on the feeling of relaxation, and the warm colour spectrum has the lowest positive effect. The warm colour spectrum has the highest positive effect on the feeling of excitement, and the cold colour spectrum has the lowest positive effect. The neutral colour spectrum has the highest positive effect on the feeling of interest, and the warm colour spectrum has the lowest positive effect. On the feeling of focus, the neutral colour spectrum has the highest positive effect and the warm colour spectrum has the lowest positive effect. On the feeling of pressure, the neutral colour spectrum has the highest positive effect and the warm colour spectrum has the lowest positive effect. The cold colour range had the highest positive effect and the warm colour range had the least positive effect on the sense of participation.
According to the results and the repetition of the effect of the neutral and warm colour spectrum on the investigated emotions, it can be concluded that the neutral colour spectrum among the three main colour spectrums has the most influence in inducing a positive feeling. Moreover, the warm colour spectrum has the least effect in inducing a positive feeling in the six emotions. The results showed that users have different colour interests regarding the choice of colour for space and furniture and they do not simply choose one colour spectrum for all contexts (walls, ceiling, furniture, etc.). In addition, no correlation was observed in creating a positive feeling in users' emotions with their favourite colour spectrum. But among the users, the category of neutral colour enthusiasts chose neutral colours in most of the contexts and considered it as the increase factor of positive feelings.

Studies on environmental psychology include both indoor and outdoor settings. The environment wor... more Studies on environmental psychology include both indoor and outdoor settings. The environment works as an opportunity for emerging human behaviour and emotions. Physical attributes of the environment may affect space meaning and arouse senses. A space is called high, spacious, and preferred because it is attached to such a general rating. On the contrary, one may recall a space as unpreferred, unsafe, complex, and so on. Research has often investigated desirable qualities of environments, but study on disliked environmental attributes is also important, especially when economical components are influential. Since land prices and construction costs are increasing, communities should consider reducing useless spaces. Looking through research, adequate study of “wasted space” was not found. For an exploratory study of “wasted space” and attributes affecting it, 25 apartments were evaluated. These were selected from 55 cases in a high-dense district in Tehran-Iran. Then, a semi structural interview with 30 residents (men, women, parents and children, owners and tenants from 18 to70 years old) was conducted. Each interviewee was asked to define “wasted space,” indicate spaces they saw as “wasted”, explain why they called them as “wasted” and discus their attempts for reusing them. Using the same questionnaire, a group of 10 designers and design professions from Shahid Beheshti University evaluated the same apartments. They also were asked to determine places where they call as wasted space during teaching. Considering different aspects of space (physical, perceived, cognitive, and behavioural) and different features of each, with coded keywords extracted from interviews, research found that:

The Medes are known as the first unified and central government of Iran. The historiography of th... more The Medes are known as the first unified and central government of Iran. The historiography of this government faces many uncertainties, but there is no doubt that they were able to establish a unified government in Iran for the first time. The Median period is one of the least well defined periods of Iranian Archeology and Architecture. To speak of Median Art means, first of all, mentioning the huge gaps in our knowledge of Median history. However, architecture in the Medes Dynasty is surrounded with ambiguity due to limited explorations and ambiguous dates. An important part of the Medes architecture is devoted to places of worship. The central shrine of Noushijan Tappe is one of the most important ritual spaces of the Medes, and as a result of excavations and observation of the fillings, it was found that this shrine was sealed without the slightest damage. Further excavations in the territory of the Medes, revealed other sites with the same conditions as Noushijan Tappe. It was believed that these shrines had a similar fate as the central shrine of Noushijan Tappe. In this research, which is based on a descriptive-analytical method and a case study, with the aim of studying architecture from the concept of design to the function of ritual spaces of the Medes, an architectural comparison is made between the central shrine of Noushijan in Malayer, Zarbolagh shrine in Aliabad Qom and Ozbaki shrine in Nazarabad, in order to reach a design pattern specific to these places of worship. The research concludes that most of the religious buildings built at the time of the Medes Empire were blocked during the Achaemenid rule. The Achaemenids only hindered access to the Medes places of worship and did not destroy them. It seems that the (XPh) inscription of Xerxes and the law against atheistic religions in the Achaemenid period caused these shrines to be blocked. We find that these religious buildings used a special architectural pattern and this pattern is repeated in different forms in most of the religious buildings constructed under the rule of the Medes. It is understood that while the function and architectural concepts remain the same in these buildings, each shows a different architectural design. The architects of that period designed the building in such a way that the sacred space is separated from the main building. Not everybody was allowed into the sacred parts, and those who wished to enter had to wait beforehand in a spare room. Some constructs had a window built in the spare room that gave the person-in-waiting a view to the sacred room. Unfortunately, some of the religious buildings of this historical period were destroyed after many years, which made it difficult to identify this architectural concept in them. Finally, the paper will highlight similarities between the western shrine of Noshijan Tappe and Vasun stone building in Kahak and Takhcharabad shrine in Birjand and Hajikhan shrine in Famenein with the above sites.

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Journal of Fine Arts: Atchitecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Journal of Fine Arts: Atchitecture and Urban Planning, 2023

Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture and Urban Planning, 2023