فصلنامه هنرهای زیبا - معماری و شهرسازی
سال شانزدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 48، زمستان 1390)

The complexity of today’s subject matter of urban design is to the extent that no urban designer may be able to consider all relevant issues and their interactive impacts simultaneously, and thereby make appropriate decisions. Application of computer techniques has made the analysis of complex issues in urban design possible. This has been a great help for urban designers. Space Syntax method is one of the techniques which have efficiently used computer and scientific methods to rationalize people’s behavior patterns in space. This technique has to the potential of analyzing the existing situation of people’s behavior pattern and modeling the results of proposed changes in the plans. The purpose of the present study is to test the capability and adequacy of Space Syntax method in designing urban spaces. The main question raised is whether and how a method developed in a country like England, can be applied in a different context. More specifically can the application of Space Syntax method in the design of Iranian urban spaces lead to a more successful realization of urban development plans, where inadequate recognition and therefore, unrealistic prediction have resulted in complete failure of almost all urban projects? Ands finally does Space Syntax method, in spite of the valuable role it plays in the recognition and analysis of urban spaces, includes some shortcomings and deficiencies which have to be complemented with some other techniques and methods? The research method for this study is evaluation method, for which the required criteria were extracted from the supplementary methods to the space syntax. A case study in the traditional settlement ―Imamzadeh ghasem neighborhood― was carried out to test the validity and adequacy of the method as an urban design tool. Following a brief review of the Space Syntax method, its strengths and weaknesses will be investigated, and two strategies will be taken to overcome its shortcomings ―disregarding the following factors in the analysis: topography and climate; space geometry, dimensions and proportions; space form and enclosure; space quality and facilities; the role of multiple entrances, and their locations. The first strategy is to go through the urban design process at three levels: global, national and local. In this case Space syntax method may be used to analyze space at a general level—globally. The second strategy is to use some other urban design techniques in order to complement Space Syntax. It is finally concluded that Space Syntax capabilities may be used in the recognition and analysis of urban spaces, while its shortcomings in dealing with local conditions should be also taken into considerations. These shortcomings are especially visible in the design phase, where other relevant techniques can fill the gap. Imamzadeh Ghasem in Northern part of Tehran is used as a case study to design a pedestrian pathway. The study once again confirms that that Space Syntax method has great potential for the study and analysis of urban spaces. It is, however, necessary to take method’s limitations and into account.

The principle theoretical basis of this article is the concept of 'city text' and the textuality standards. The article explores city as a text and takes the textuality standards into consideration for analyzing the city. Text is one of the main elements that play a significant role in communication. People communicating by language do not do so simply by means of individual words or fragments of sentences, but by the means of text. A text is best regarded as a semantic unit; a unit not of form but of meaning. A text is a group of entities, used as signs, selected, arranged and intended by an author to convey a specific meaning to an audience in a certain context. Text linguistics is a new branch of linguistics that deals with texts as communication systems. The application of text linguistics has, however, evolved from this approach to a point in which text is viewed in much broader terms that go beyond a mere extension of traditional grammar towards an entire text. Text linguistics takes into account the form of a text, but also its setting, i.e. the way in which it is situated in an interactional, communicative context. Both the author of a written or spoken text as well as its addressee are important in their respective social and institutional roles in the specific communicative context. In general it is an application of discourse analysis at the much vaster level of text, rather than just a sentence or a word. It can be used as a tool for analyzing subjects in various disciplines like science, philosophy, sociology and etc. hence, planning and urban design can also use it as an analytical method. Beaugrande and Dressler in Introduction to Text Linguistics give thought to the notion of text. They try to determine what makes the text a unified meaningful whole. In this particular work they set up seven standards of textuality; the text cannot be considered as a text unless it meets these seven standards. They believe that these standards of textuality enable text analysis to be applicable to a wide variety of areas of practical concern. These standards are Cohesion, Coherence, Intertextuality, Intentionality, Acceptability, Informativity, and Situationality. 'Cohesion' is affected when surface structures are shared or borrowed among separate texts. 'Coherence' of a single text may be evident only in view of the overall discourse. 'Intentionality' is shown in the goal-directed use of conversation; and 'Acceptability' in the immediate feedback. The role of 'Situationality' is particularly direct, and the whole organization illustrates 'Intertextuality' in operation. The selection of contributions to conversation can be controlled by the demands of 'Informativity'. The achievement of this research is to develop a structural and substantial analysis method borrowing the concept of text and textuality from linguistics, and to elaborate a tool for the form-content analysis in an urban design scope. This methodology is applied in a case study sample and the textuality standards are tested in 'Sang-e-Siāh', a historic quarter in the olden city of Shiraz.

Current behavioral researches demonstrate that physical environments, i.e., patient rooms and hospitalization space have strong psychological effects on children conditions and cause them some behavioral changes. Since children are usually unfamiliar with medical environments, being in such places can cause some sort of stress and anxiety in them. Therefore, designing less-stressed environments for diseased children seems essential. Accordingly in this paper, we provide an assessment of requirements which are needed in the designing of a friendly space for pediatric in hospital. The paper also aims to find practical ways in establishing desired medical environments according to the children’s need. The research framework is based on Iran as a case study. Similar studies and upcoming trends are reviewed and analyzed. Based on the analyzed data, a domestic study is done on 35 diseased children in the age of 6-12 who have already experienced hospital environment and also on 35 controls who have no previous experience of such environments. Each child is requested to draw pictures about the requirements and the optimal environment which they have considered for a hospitalization space in hospital and researcher helped the children to complete their paintings and express their needs using deep open semi-structured conversation. The time for children was not limited and the children were given a sheet of paper and 12 colored pencil (yellow, red, blue, orange, pink, purple, cream, brown, White, Black, Green, Gray). In addition interviews and questionnaire are conducted from children and children’s parents in hospital. At the end, items extracting from the drawings are investigated in qualitative manner with Atlas Ti 6. All parts of the drawings are coded and then some of the “highly significant” data are investigated quantitatively. Therefore, 8 major themes were extracted from paintings and comments, which were categorized into 2 groups. First group is children needs relevant to physical environment contains entertaining factors, decoration, view, furniture-equipment and second group is children needs relevant to psychological environment contains children relations with family and friends, privacy feeling, safety feeling, cultural- regional- native interests. The finding show that using children’s experience have an important role to put quality to treatment environments and reveals the need of specific pattern in patient room design for children hospital, optimally suitable for diseased children. The analysis also indicates that cultural background has effects on what children expect as their optimal patient room and hospitalization space but also on what they need (in both 2 groups). Therefore, according to the obtained results, it is suggested to use natural elements (plants, natural light, aquarium and...), entertaining devices, attractive images and decoration, happy colors and cultural and regional factors in designing hospitalization spaces for children, and also some places to meet family and friends, making facilities for parents especially mothers in hospital room and next to child's bed, making personal territory and boundaries in hospitalization spaces and especially in the room, making some places for playing, providing some spaces to place children's personal properties and finally some places to meditate in hospital spaces should be considered.

Quality of people's wayfinding in an unknown and complicated environment is a challenging issue which has engaged many researchers since the 70s till the present time. Cognitive and environmental researchers believe that ability of people in perception of the environment and wayfinding are different from each other. Now, how can the environment of a building meet the various needs of all its users in wayfinding? This issue becomes more complicated in hospitals, due to depletion of user's physical and cognitive resources because of sickness and patient care, attention decrease due to anxiety and also space complexity and difficult names of some wards. Therefore, the present study deals with investigation of the role of architectural design knowledge and art in facilitating people's wayfinding process which aimed to provide an approach to promote the quality of the country's medical environments has been performed by a descriptive-analytic method. Findings of the present study have been organized and provided in two chapters, theoretical principles of wayfinding and wayfinding design; theoretical principles deals with the investigation of wayfinding concept, wayfinding potential in different people, wayfinding factors and way showing strategies for hospital users. And in the chapter pertaining to principles of design, design strategies, role of architecture and information factors are described and at the end, a process has been suggested to design wayfinding process in hospitals. Based on the findings, quality of people’s wayfinding in hospital is like a spatial problem-solving process which requires decision making and executing the decision. Certainly, decisions making and executing them depends on obtaining information and processing them. Consequently, during the design of wayfinding process by applying all the capabilities related to architectural and information factors, number of times one has to solve the problem will be decreased; and moreover, the complexity of the problems would be reduced too. Also, by specifying the locations about which the person needs to be guided, those information understanding and processing of which is easier, will be prepared in an artistic way. All these are fulfilled by knowing individuals’ recognition and behavioral differences and considering their state of worries in the hospital. It is needed that wayfinding design is initiated since the beginning of the process of space planning considering three main goals including: 1- creating legible spaces, 2- separation and emphasizing on the restrictions 3- creating a legible circulation system. At this stage, studying and applying scenario-writing techniques, different requirements of wayfinding users, will be collected and influence the design formation. After formation of the general design, locations which need guiding information and appropriate data for each place are specified by adjusting various scenarios and design. Now, various factors of wayfinding (architecture, graphic and etc) are replaced in the form of an information layer. Architectural layer has the first priority and after that other layers with reinforcing, clarifying, and complementary roles (for disabled people in wayfinding) are applied. Application of the findings obtained in this study can improve the user's safety, functional efficiency and satisfaction as well as facilitating people's wayfinding in hospitals.

The present article is extracted from a multi-dimensional research around “space”, how architecture instructors interpret it and how this interpretation can influence their instruction. To fulfill this end, special attention has been paid to different spatial patterns of architecture besides a thorough study of opinions stated on the subject by different patterns. Following a lexical investigation of “space”, the philosophical bases of the concept and also stances of different architects on it will be studied to form a theoretical ground for analyzing opinions stated in the survey. Space has tight bonds with life, and how we interpret meanings induced by it is rooted in our worldview and earlier cognitions. Hence, contemplating over interpretations of different philosophers and thinkers of the subject of space can help us further richen the architectural implication of the term. Nevertheless, their definitions of space do not seem to be in concert with those of architects. Equipped with the study of existing opinions, the present research focuses on analyzing the opinions of a number of lecturers and professors at two architecture schools in the city of Tehran. These opinions certify that despite their agreements on the definition of “space”, differences among them carry a greater weight. These differences of opinion are especially evident in the questioned authorities’ opinions about teaching “spatial creation” – in other words means of getting the instructor’s interpretation of space through to the students. Furthermore, the instructors’ definitions of space consist in a range from clear-cut definitions to non-definitions or, in other words, disbelief in any existing definitions of space at all. In a similar trait, instruction practices ranged from “Knowledge-Accumulation” (for all student and design-subject types) to methods based on “Catechization” (Based on the mentalities of individual students and properties of different design-subjects); hence the logical induction that instructors have either false interpretations of the concept of space or they have trouble reflecting their interpretation over to their students.The end results of the research can be listed as below: 1. Despite frequent literal references to the concept of space, it is treated vaguely in educational practice. 2. In different level of Presence of students in various architectural spaces and their trying to observe and describe or criticize and analyze these spaces is of significant importance to help them achieve a deeper understanding of the concept. 3. Stressing environmental psychology in architectural design education can help students’ feel, understand and perception of different spaces. 4. According to the importance of the subject of space in architecture and architectural education, it is essential to refer to architectural schools and views of architects who belonged to them in theoretical subjects such as history of contemporary architecture. In addition it is important to find the relationship between philosophical point of view of architects and different educational styles. 5. Successful application of educational tools and spatial modeling is requiring of students’ mastery in the recognition of volumes and their powers of imagination, which indicates the importance of workshop practical instruction in early years of academic education.

This article is a comparative evaluation of airflow in two kinds of Yazdi and Kermani Wind-Towers. In the late decades of twenty century regarding to high population growth rate and energy crisis, vernacular architecture and its passive methods for gaining thermal comfort, has been strongly focused. Moreover, a huge scientific movement setup for researches deep in exploring passive cooling and heating methods, and subsequently translating these methods in to contemporary architecture. In addition, Iran as one of the populated countries of the region with a high consumption rate and concerning its glorious architecture history is no exception too. Wind tower has known as one of efficient climatic features of Iranian traditional architecture in hot arid climate. This element had an important role in regulation of air temperature in traditional housing. Using domain of wind tower is limited to temperature Middle East, including Iran, some Arabic countries, and some African countries either. Totally, performances of wind towers are air conditioning and air vacuum, cooling nutrition and preventing of putrefaction of water in water storages. In wind towers in one direction the funnel of air occurs and in behind direction because of negative pressure and air vacuum, proper air will be flew into tower and internal hot air comes out. This article is an innovative study because of its attitude to airflow impact on wind tower structure and efficiency. This paper is an attempt to evaluating two kind of wind-towers to discussion the two main questions: 1. What is the role of Orientation of wind-towers span, regarding to climate and its height, in two kinds of Kermani and Yazdi wind-towers. 2. Which one of these two has better performance in natural ventilation in the different seasons of the year? The purpose of this study is introducing and analyzing the performance of Yazdi wind tower with numerical calculation Mechanic science to determine value and velocity of wind in it. Computer Modeling and Simulation methods and Logical reasoning method have applied in this article, and library resources studies was another part of research. Thus, first, each wind-tower has been modeled in computer environment, then after applying the climatic characterize, final simulation figures and diagrams have extracted in Vasari Autodesk 2.0 software. Simulated figures and diagrams extracted from the software in this paper as results indicate that increasing of the cooling power and optimized efficiency are one of the most important principles of wind-tower design process, and Yazdi wind-towers has mentioned this fact through 4 seasons of the year, and Kermani wind-tower, in opposite, mentioned this principle just in summers.. The height of wind tower did not affect directly on the analysis but also indirectly by making air turbulence and wind pressure was influential. By validate computer modeling and simulation, this paper clarify that our traditional ventilation systems has many undiscovered secrets and facts, which need further investigations. This article indicates that natural tactics, which has applied in the traditional architecture of Iran, could be mention as methods to using these valuable heritages in contemporary architecture.

Architecture has been always recognized as a framework which is influenced by social beliefs, traditions and interactions and furthermore affects individual soul and tendency. Therefore it is impossible to analyze and consequently identify an architectural artifact if not accompanied by analysis of intellectual fundamentals of its contemporary society. The Ensemble of Sheikh Safi al-din which is his mausoleum and stamping ground of his disciples in all periods of time, resembling the ensemble of “Shah Nematollah Vali shrine”, is one of a few buildings closely related to theosophists and their thoughts and demeanors. The ensemble of Sheikh Safi al-din was constructed during a couple of centuries. The most ancient reference about the buildings of this ensemble is the book “Sarih al-molk” which was written with the order of “Shah Tahmasb I” by “Abdi Beig Shirazi” in year 975 AH. “Morton” had drawn the sketches of the buildings mentioned in the book “Sarih al-molk”. New archeological investigations in the west side of Sheikh Safi al-din Ardabili shrine show us some of these buildings. In deep archeological layers other part of Sheikh Safi al-din shrine such as porch of second garden -or “Arseh”- and syrup’s room (sherbet khane) is founnd too. However the ensemble of Sheikh Safi al-din Ardabili shrine has been constructed in several periods of time, it is conceivable from the evidences that there has been a unity and general thought on evolution of the ensemble. In historic articles it is mentioned that “Sadr al-din Musa” (Sheikh’s son and successor) had designed the general order and organization himself and had inspired the architect through a kind of vague state. Therefore it may explain the connection between its architecture and theosophism thoughts and beliefs. This paper is a trial to perspicuously clarify the connection between evolution of Sheikh Safi ensemble and theosophism. In this paper through a detailed analysis of seven stages of Sufi mysticism which lead to “Fana Fi Allah” (merge in God) and their qualities, the above mentioned relation is probed. As the very first step, theosophism is studied and afterward the ensemble of Sheikh Safi al-din shrine is thoroughly introduced and surveyed. The next step is investigating the relation between these two subjects on the basis of evidences. In this process analogies are presented between the stage of demand or search and the first garden or “Meydan”; the stage of spiritual love and the second garden or “Arseh”; the stage of spiritual knowledge and “Ghorbangah” or altar; the stage on contentment and “Sahat” or foreground; the stage of theism and “Dalan” or aisle; the stage of amazement and “Dar al-huffaz”; the stage of merge in God and “Allah Allah” dome. In some articles, there are mentioned eight stages. There is a space between “Dar al-huffaz” and “Allah Allah” dome which is known as “Hadji Sam” corner where some important incidents has happened. This space has also special characteristics that could be related to one of the stages regarding “Allah Allah” dome as the eighth stage.

The transition of a squared surface to a spherical one is one of the important issues of construction in the world architecture history. The combination can numerously be observed in the Iran's architecture prior to the Islamic period. For instance, the palace of Shapur (a king) which was splendid and daring palace had a ceremonial court and featured a parabola dome. Chahar Taq (four arches) is also another example of this pattern. The building term of Chahar Taq is originally a square construction including four arches in which the interior space is normally covered with a dome placed on tromps. The domed room during the Islamic era gained a great position and completely replaced the columned Shabestan during the Seljuk period. The domed room building pattern can be separately categorized into three different areas for Iranian architecture during the Islamic era as follows: 1. Square area, 2. Transitional area, 3. Dome. Due to the numerous uses of the aforementioned pattern, the architecture of these three areas became highly developed and consequently the transitional area diversely expanded and various methods were innovated. Among these methods mentioned above, we can name some transitional ones like Flat Trompe, Trompe, Patkane, Muqarnas, Pendentive, Squinch, Vaulting and Karbandi. Among them, Karbandi is the most advanced transitional style and one of the genuine and old patterns of Iranian architecture which is resulted through Iranian architect's understanding of geometry and advanced mathematics. Contemporary researches about the relation among mathematics, geometry and Iranian's art indicate that Iranian Muslim artists had significant progress in geometry and mathematics in the mid- centuries. According to authors of these lines, Karbandi is one of the prospects of such progressions in geometry and mathematics. Recreation of this pattern necessitates sufficient understanding of all aspects of the subject such as Typology, recognition of geometrical features, structural and executive characteristics. In this regard, applying a rational order, this paper has tried to consider Typology and develop the authentic grammar of Karbandi geometry following aforementioned sparse essay of Karbandi. The method to achieve the purpose of study is that we model real cases by computer and separately create from each one a utilizing plan of geometry and then formulate Geometric structure of Rasmi Karbandi in the form of geometric or arithmetic scheme by organizing these figures. Whereas this study done by schematic mathematical systems and largely dependent on logical reports can be mentioned that the research method of this study is a logical argumentation one. This paper has first accounted for the history of typology, then the definition of specialized terms and lastly the Typology of different kinds of Karbandi respectively. One of the findings of this study is developing the Geometric structure of Rasmi Karbandi that has the ability to organize all related cases. Other achievements are to introduce and name compound Rasmi Karbandi, special Rasmi Karbandi and also present non-simple Karbandi and five branches of it, namely, Duplication, Mounted, Dual arch, Extension and Endogenous Karbandi that have been studied in detail.