Historical Urban Morphology of  Hosseinieh Monuments

As a unique Architectural and urban feature in historical Persian cities after Islam, which is yet socially alive, Hosseinieh’s morphology is not adequately investigated. This is especially important since Hosseinieh’s spatial territory as a ritual space is a way beyond its physical structure and acts as an essential urban space. Considering various architectural forms and types in Hosseiniehs, the physical and spatial configuration and composition seems to be the result of complex multiplicity of factors. This research aims to propose a new hypothesis for Hosseinieh architectural and urban development based on historical analysis as well as interpretative study of Hosseinieh forms. The study concentrates on social contexts as well as environmental circumstances and typological analysis of primary forms of Hosseinieh. An important argument is how Hosseinieh embraces certain new types of religious rituals and congregations compared with the unique functions of mosque in a synergetic manner. Another important finding is that while Sufism had a powerful effect on the new ritual from political point of view, its physical architectural authority has not such an impact on Hosseinieh. In fact, Sufism could not receive such a popularity to make its architecture acknowledged throughout Iran. In contrast, it was both the result of ethnic taste and a bottom-up as well as prevalent governmental models of public ceremonial spaces in Isfahan were seminal in the architectural and urban formation of Hosseinieh. Since four centuries ago, other peripheral spatial additions and technical requirements as well as evolution of social behavior setting modified its architecture.