A Specification of a New Pattern of Shape Grammar in Architecture of Today's houses; Case study: Qajar houses in Tabriz and Tehran

Statements of problem: Given the rapid changes in architecture, promoting the quality of life cannot necessarily respond to human needs. Residents of modern buildings are often dissatisfied with their living spaces; despite the development of facilities, modern buildings are not more beautiful and human-oriented than the past buildings. Architecture has been almost declined to a shelter or a demonstration of individual styles and moved away from its true status. This article tries to find out why residents of modern buildings are usually dissatisfied with their living spaces and why they have lost their natural and emotional reactions to their habitation. This article aims to define a new pattern for a contemporary house using shape grammar based on the essence of architecture of Qajar houses.
Given the physical and semantic features of Qajar houses in Tehran and Tabriz, this article proposes a model for today’s houses. Hence the following objectives are addressed:• How to explain the new pattern using shape grammar
• How to create sub-shapes in Qajar houses in Tabriz and Tehran
• Understanding the meaning implied in various shapes of Qajar houses in Tabriz and Tehran
Research Based on qualitative methods, this study employs shape grammar for data analysis. The shape grammar is a manufacturing system leading to a design based on a collection of shape-rules and operates by this algorithm. An algorithm is a process which has outputs derived from instructions or rules that run on a set of data. These rules are identified through phenomenological interpretation of the Qajar houses using Max Van Manen’s method. In this article, the phenomenological inquiry is based on the experience of living in 4 Qajar houses. Outputs are also newly created patterns.
In the process of shape grammar, the data of 4 houses is analyzed. Sub-shapes are derived based on the location of spaces in these houses; the shape-rules are defined by Van Manen’s phenomenological method. The rules are made through interpretation of in-depth interviews with people who have experienced living in selected houses. Ultimately, "the link with environment, happiness and relaxation" and "separation from everyday life" are main concepts reflected in spaces such as Eyvan (semi-closed space), basement, landscape, Hashti (entrance to each building and spaces) and Shahneshin (a room usually twice as high as other rooms in the house).
In fact, these spaces are the rules of shape grammar and the algorithmic process results in new patterns in the tree decision.