International Journal of Architectural Engineering & Urban Planning
Volume:33 Issue: 4, Oct 2023

The industrialized building system (IBS) has been a common construction method for decades. Today, IBS is employed as a pioneer construction industry in developed and some developing countries. However, IBS has no proper position in the Iranian construction industry. Despite numerous advantages of building industrialization, most constructors adapt conventional techniques rather than building industrialization. This not only imposes human and environmental impacts but also wastes time and cost. The present work mainly aims to evaluate qualitative criteria influencing building industrialization in Iran based on Vitruvius’s three principles of architecture so that these criteria could be exploited to enhance building industrialization quality in Iran. Based on Vitruvius’s theory, architects should consider stability, utility, and beauty in their designs. Therefore, this theory was adopted as a suitable approach for the analysis and evaluation of industrialized buildings. Also, this study seeks to prioritize the building industrialization criteria based on the significant aspects of Vitruvius’ principles. This study reviews the literature and theoretical foundation in the first phase and then adopts a descriptive-survey methodology and field studies. To collect data, a questionnaire was developed based on the Likert scale. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were verified. The statistical population consisted of academic professors and construction practitioners. The one-sample t-test, paired-sample t-test, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) test were carried out in SPSS V.16.0. The findings revealed that the factor of structure in the principle of stability with the components of lateral load (i.e., wind and earthquake) resistance and shear load-resistant connections had the largest effect. Also, the economic factor of principle “utility” with the components of cost-effectiveness, construction time reduction, and mass construction had the second-largest effect in Iran.

The failure to adapt existing architectural education models to the evolving cultural and technological landscape of the digital age, coupled with the rapid advancements in computer programs within the architectural profession, has underscored the imperative of establishing a proficient framework for architecture education that aligns with the demands of the contemporary architectural landscape. In response to this exigency, architectural design concepts have emerged as instrumental tools in the instructional paradigm of digital architecture, mirroring the crystallization of modernism during the Bauhaus period—an era marked by significant shifts in theoretical and design perspectives.The principal objective of the current investigation is to comprehend the educational framework of digital architecture with the intent of bridging the existing gap between architectural education and professional practice. The methodology employed for data acquisition in this study encompasses comprehensive library research and an examination of pertinent documents. The convergence of architecture and digital education has introduced a novel trajectory for the advancement of pedagogical practices within the discipline of architecture. However, the integration of laboratory activities and technological components in practical training remains sluggish, necessitating responsiveness to societal demands, increased financial allocation to educational infrastructure, and the mobilization of teaching resources to facilitate widespread adoption and sustained advancement. The adoption of a research project-oriented approach to teaching has proven instrumental in achieving the objectives of motivating students to contemplate various facets of the nexus between technology and the environment.

The consideration of environmental sustainability has permeated both conscious and subconscious realms throughout history. In the context of Boushehr city's historical architecture from the Qajar period, a myriad of sustainable residential structures attuned to the regional climate, ensuring occupants' thermal comfort, are evident. This sustainability, devoid of adherence to a specific theoretical framework, adeptly caters to the pragmatic needs of the building users. The primary objective of this study is to conceptualize the historical architectural composition of Boushehr, focusing on materials, and to conduct a thermal assessment of two structures, one historic and the other contemporary, within the city. To achieve this goal, a comparative analysis of traditional and modern building materials in Boushehr was executed through the utilization of Ecotect and Energy Plus simulation software, complemented by extensive survey and on-site investigations. The findings of this analysis reveal that traditional building materials, beyond their inherent harmony with the regional climate, exhibit superior physical properties compared to their modern counterparts. While advancements in technology have enhanced the chemical and mechanical attributes of contemporary building materials over time, amalgamating the advantageous physical attributes of traditional materials renders the latter more environmentally sustainable. Despite the fact that rooms constructed with older materials exhibit a higher average monthly temperature than those utilizing modern materials, the diminished heating and cooling loads of the former contribute to positioning older residential structures as closer approximations to a more sustainable archetype.

Architecture, akin to other forms of art, often transcends mere functional considerations, striving to re-present reality in a manner that engages the senses and shapes the human psyche. The Iranian Garden, also known as the Persian Garden, holds a distinctive status in Iranian spatial and environmental design. Its meticulously balanced and structured amalgamation of natural and man-made elements has transformed the Iranian Garden into a global phenomenon, offering a uniquely nuanced portrayal of the world. This investigation delves into three specific Iranian gardens, aiming to elucidate how reality is re-presented within Iranian garden design to attain a transcendent experience. Utilizing a qualitative and interpretive analysis of contemporary theories addressing issues related to image and reality, this paper initially introduces three categories for representing reality—intensification, integration, and transformation—alongside two realms of experience: the corporeal and the mental. These modes of depicting and experiencing reality are subsequently explored within the context of three renowned Iranian gardens—Dolatabad Garden of Yazd, Fin Garden of Kashan, and Shazdeh Mahan Garden of Kerman. This examination serves to illustrate the diverse design solutions employed to re-present familiar reality to observers. The evaluation of these gardens involved on-site visits, personal immersion in the garden environments, and a reliance on existing documentation and theories regarding these spaces. The findings of this study reveal a sophisticated and adept utilization of architectural and spatial components in garden design. Through varied approaches to re-presenting familiar reality, these gardens craft an aesthetic experience that stimulates the senses and elevates both the intellect and the spirit. Such interpretations of the traditional Iranian Garden offer valuable insights for designers seeking to emulate the spatial qualities without resorting to the replication of familiar motifs and forms. It is anticipated that a deeper comprehension of how the Iranian Garden re-presents the familiar will guide future endeavors to adapt it for contemporary times, steering clear of deviations that might compromise its essential nature.

In contemporary times, the imperative to address ethical considerations within the realm of architecture has escalated, primarily in response to the prevalent environmental challenges. Environmental ethics, a facet of applied ethics, delves into the intricate interplay between nature and the exigencies arising from indiscriminate human interventions in the environment. The present research employs a descriptive-analytical approach to discern indicators of environmental ethics methodologies, drawing insights from the Hannover Principles and pertinent case studies. Within the purview of this study, the qualitative content analysis method is employed to scrutinize the conceptual framework of these principles and their ramifications on residential complexes. To identify pivotal indicators and criteria catering to residential needs, the Expert questionnaire and AHP method are applied. The accrual of research data is facilitated through a researcher-developed questionnaire, subsequently subjected to analysis utilizing SPSS statistical software. The analytical approach involves correlation coefficient analysis and a one-sample t-test. In alignment with the Hannover Principles, environmental ethics indicators are systematically classified into three distinct categories: principles pertaining to human aspects, those linked to nature, and principles concerning productivity. This study aims to investigate the role of these principles as evaluative criteria in the design of contemporary residential complexes. The central research question guiding this inquiry is articulated as follows: To what extent have environmental ethics principles been integrated into the design paradigms of modern residential complexes? The empirical findings underscore the imperative of infusing environmental ethical standards into the fabric of sustainable building creation. Notably, principles related to human aspects emerge as particularly consequential, garnering the highest score among all the considered criteria for Residential Complexes.

This study endeavors to explore the predicament associated with spaces lacking distinctive character and identity, ultimately resulting in the estrangement of shrines from their peripheral surroundings. Focusing on Mashhad, renowned as the holiest city in Iran and a site of numerous interventions, this research employs it as a case study. The central inquiry revolves around establishing a coherent nexus between the notion of polarity and the intellectual foundations shaping the development of environs surrounding holy shrines. The core objective is to discern the alignment of contemporary advancements around these shrines with their initial conceptual underpinnings. Employing a qualitative approach, this research adopts a descriptive method rooted in the case study framework. The outcomes derived from statistical analysis and the application of space syntax techniques reveal that extensive interventions encircling the shrine of Imam Reza have significantly disrupted the city's connectivity with the shrine. This disruption has led to the displacement of residents, severed emotional ties with the surrounding fabric, and a perceptible attenuation of the sense of place, culminating in the erosion of the genius loci or spirit of place. Furthermore, an examination of the fabric of this separation underscores an anti-Shiite intellectual basis, demonstrating incongruence with the ideal of human communion with "the perfect man." In light of these findings, it is proposed that development initiatives in Islamic cities should prioritize considerations aligned with the intellectual foundations governing city construction. This emphasis is crucial for sustaining the inherent character and spirit of the place amidst developmental endeavors.

Urban planning and morphology are one of the most important factors affecting land surface temperature (LST) and microclimate chrematistics. The production of anthropogenic heat, mainly for cooling systems and lighting, has resulted in significant impacts on the quality of the thermal environment. These impacts include poor air quality, increased temperatures, higher energy consumption, and the development of urban heat islands (UHIs). With the growing urban population and increased building height, especially in metropolitan areas, there have been significant changes in the urban geometry, rate of pollution, amount of heat released, and meteorological parameters. All these factors contribute to the heat island phenomenon and significantly alter the microclimate in urban areas. The goal of this article is measuring the effects of height changes in buildings around Tehran metropolitan squares in a detailed plan on microclimatic changes. As part of a research study, the Hafthoz Square in Tehran was chosen as a case study. The researchers used a combination of simulation techniques (Envi-met) and GIS to detect the spatial variation of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and determine its quantitative relationship with building height and density. This was achieved through simulation modeling for the Narmak neighborhood of Tehran. As Conclusion, the results indicate that comparison on the simulation between the existing conditions and proposed scenario area showed that in the proposed scenario, wind speed and relative humidity decrease and ground surface temperature (UHI) and PPD and PMV indices increase. Therefore, if the detailed plan of Tehran metropolis is realized and implemented in many squares, it will be accompanied by changes in micro-climatic parameters in order to reduce the thermal comfort of citizens.

In spite of the extensive body of research focusing on the concept of "public interest" within the realm of urban planning, there exists a notable dearth in the discourse surrounding the challenges and impediments encountered in actualizing public interest within the context of urban planning and management. The primary objective of this paper is to systematically identify and elucidate the obstacles impeding the realization of public interest within the urban development plans of Iran, offering a theoretical framework to explicate the interrelations among these hindrances. To achieve this goal, an investigation and analysis are conducted on three megamalls situated in Tehran City, serving as representative cases. The principal method employed for data collection is a semi-structured interview, with subsequent analysis carried out through the utilization of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT). The outcomes of this inquiry reveal a categorization of barriers into five overarching domains: deficiencies within the urban planning system, conflicts of interest, the legalization of transgressions, a passive civil society, and challenges pertaining to public interest. Each of these categories is expounded upon comprehensively, delving into the nuances of their respective implications. Furthermore, a comparative discussion is presented, drawing parallels between our identified categories and analogous research findings on public interest conducted in various other countries.