elham khajehpour

Communities, based on their specific cultures and climates, have developed different architectural styles. However, there can be found similarities and differences among the characteristics of some instances of architecture; caused by common human creative thinking and diverse contexts, presenting features of architectural elements. Opening elements in architecture are important, as they control relationships between different spaces, such as the inside and the outside. Naturally, designing them is influenced by some source concepts, that originated in cultures of communities, which appears in the formation of the architectural openings and somehow the whole identity of that architecture. From this point of view, openings have an outer layer, which includes the morphological aspects, and an inner layer carrying meanings and ideas. “Orosi” is a type of opening in traditional Persian architecture and “Shoji” is a type of opening in traditional Japanese architecture. Each is a distinctive element of its region’s architecture. Notwithstanding the evident difference in their appearance, they both are openings that create flexible interaction between the interior space and the exterior. To understand the characteristics of these two openings, especially in their inner layers, this paper investigates their significant similarities and differences through a comparative study of three dimensions: morphological, technical, and inner. Main Similarities are found in fields of spatial influence, adjusting in/out relation, fuzziness and flexibility in enclosure, and cultural/environmental characters. The main differences found are geometric complexity vs. simplicity, dominant function turning to climate or boundary, non-minimalism vs minimalism, and preferring color or shadow designing.

Problem statement: 

The initial phase of design is a complex, crucial, and ambiguous stage. Researchers suggest that designers rely on very simplistic thoughts at the onset of design to narrow down the chain of possible solutions, referred to as primary generators. Primary generators have various sources, one of which is cross-disciplinary references; cinema, in particular, provides a vast array of unexplored spaces. Therefore, the question of this study is: how can cinematic works be considered a source for the formation of primary generators?

This study aims to explore the role of cinema as a formative source of primary generators, thus establishing a credible resource to facilitate the initial design step, which often faces numerous complexities.

The present study first elucidates the concept of primary generators based on existing theoretical discussions in library sources. It then employs qualitative research methods and content analysis of sequences from selected cinematic works to assess the potential of cinema as a source of primary generators.

After gaining insight into the concept of primary generators, a categorization was provided, along with theoretical evidence from cinematic texts for each category. Four distinct viewpoints were adopted based on this categorization, including existential (human life), metaphorical-philosophical, environmental, and formal aspects, with examples from cinematic works presented for each. These findings demonstrate that cinema is a significant source of primary generators and can inspire a wide range of primary generators.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the subsidy of agricultural inputs on the acceptance of adaptation to climate change. In this regard, according to the quantitative and qualitative variables, the logit model was used. The data were collected using a structured interview through a questionnaire in the winter of 2018. The sample size includes 247 interviewees, of which 230 were men and 17 were women, and it has a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 76.9%. The present research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-inferential in terms of method. The research data were collected through the design and completion of the questionnaire and the random sampling method and were analyzed by spss and Eviews software. The results show that factors such as the variables of extension classes, the use of different varieties, subsidies for agricultural inputs, new irrigation methods and agricultural credits, have a meaningful effect on the acceptance of adaptation to climate change in the agricultural part. According to the results obtained from the users' point of view, crops are highly sensitive and vulnerable to climatic fluctuations. In the case of long-term and short-term solutions against climate variability, it was evaluated at a low and medium level, respectively. Access of users to promoters and communication media was existed to some extent and promotional group programs to a small extent. Also, the results show that factors such as agricultural input subsidies have a significant effect on the acceptance of adaptation to climate change in the agricultural part. According to the obtained results, the use of agricultural input subsidies will create a kind of confidence in the farmers and will ultimately lead to the reduction of the risk aversion of the farmers and will lead the farmers to use modern technologies.

Climate change is a worldwide issue impacting all living beings and their surroundings. In Iran, drought is a critical climatic factor. The initial response to climate change involves comprehending its potential impacts and assessing their scope and nature accurately. On the other hand, focusing on social aspects and perspectives is crucial for assessing adaptation solutions and engaging people in addressing current water issues and crises amidst climate change conditions. Climate change adaptation involves adjusting natural or human systems to mitigate damage and capitalize on opportunities arising from climate change impacts. Iran is among the countries greatly impacted by climate change. The recent droughts in the country have notably affected agricultural production. Adapting to climate change is crucial for effective management in agriculture. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the acceptance of climate change adaptation in agriculture in 2018. The sample consists of 247 farmers from Baft city, and the questionnaire's questions demonstrate good validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 76.9%). The research employs the logit model, chosen as the suitable model after investigation. The descriptive and inferential results suggest that factors like agricultural product insurance have a positive impact on the acceptance of climate change adaptation. Additionally, it is important to identify and study the factors influencing the acceptance of agricultural product insurance in the targeted area.

Crop marketing has an important role in accomplishing goals such as agricultural development, production increase, and enhancement of farmers’ income in developing countries. Citrus production, especially sour lemon, is one of the most important productions in Larestan County, Fars province in Iran. So, the determinants of the sour lemon marketing system improvement were prioritized in Larestan in this study using Analytic Network Process (ANP) in which data were collected through a questionnaire filled by experts in the region. Criteria were the 4Ps (Product, Place, Promotion, and Price) in the marketing mix and here were also some sub-criteria for each of the criteria. The criteria and sub-criteria were chosen based on other studies and also experts’ views in the region. Results showed that product and promotion criteria had the first and last priorities in improving the sour lemon marketing system in Larestan County, respectively. In addition, proper packaging and designing to create a competitive advantage was the most important sub-criterion for improving the sour lemon marketing system in the region. Also, the creation of processing industries and using marketing cooperatives were the next most important sub-criteria, respectively. According to the results, it is suggested to develop proper packaging, processing industries, and marketing cooperatives in the region.

Environmental sustainability is one of the most important considerations in planning and managing agriculture in any country nowadays. Agriculture plays an important role in Afghanistan's economy and employment. Herat province is rich in agricultural production in Afghanistan. To achieve environmental sustainability along with profitability, the present research aimed to develop an optimal cropping pattern for Afghanistan with environmental considerations. The crops studied include wheat, barley, sesame, cumin, and saffron, which accounted for more than 70 percent of the cropping area in Herat province. The goal and linear programming model were used to determine the optimal cropping pattern. The goals of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides along with maximizing gross margins were used in the goal model with the aim of achieving environmental sustainability. The results of the linear model, aimed at maximizing gross margins, showed that in the optimal pattern of the region, the cultivated area of sesame, barley, and saffron should be increased and the cultivated area of wheat and cumin should be decreased versus the status quo. In addition, the results of goal models in different scenarios showed significant changes in comparison to the current cropping pattern.

Quality is a highly esoteric concept which compels theorists to offer different explanations. Based on library resources, quality can be defined as an interaction between individuals and their environment, which is caused by a set of environmental components differing in each environment. This paper studied the concept of quality in public courtyards. The Mausoleum of Shah Ni’mat-Allah Vali, which provides a reasonable setting with four distinguished public courtyards was selected as the case study. Owing to traditional patterns and frameworks of Iranian architecture, these courtyards are immensely popular amongst Iranian scholars and architecture students, and a formal imitation of this pattern is prevalent, while the qualities of such spaces are often neglected. By employing a wide literature review, the different theories regarding dimensions and components of quality in public open spaces were categorized based on the year and author. In the Delphi panel, experts narrowed down the literature review and suggested that the main dimensions are Functional, Visual and Morphological, Experiential and Perceptual, Social and Ecological, each of which has several components. These components were achieved using the Delphi method. Moreover, the authors used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method to understand the importance and to prioritize the dimensions and components. Furthermore, by using questionnaires and interviews, this research analyses the public courtyards of the case study. Based on the results, individuals could perceive all the proposed components and dimensions of the research and consider them while labeling a place as a high-quality environment. This highlights the fact that individuals’ minds recognize the role of these components in the real-world, and consciously or unconsciously evaluating with the aim of discovering a place more pleasant, attractive, and with higher qualities.

There is a strong interest to sustainability in contemporary architectural literature. So, a deep rethinking and review seem to be necessary for the sake of purification and improvement of sustainability discourse. In academic scale, there is a duplicated necessity. As education is a momentous field with important influences on professional world of architecture, any misunderstanding about sustainability in architectural education infects architectural activities and built environment. On the contrary, an accurate sense of understanding about sustainability in architecture can help the community toward sustainable development. Unlike traditional Persian architecture, in recent architecture of Iran a type of fake sustainability is usually seen instead of truly authentic accuracy of it. In other words, traditional Persian architecture contain essential and substantial concepts of sustainability tacitly and implicitly, because sustainable architecture essentially has been the natural result of "sustainable wisdom", " sustainable organic life", "ecological sensitivity" and will occur only when a true native tendency toward the soul of sustainability exists in common sense and lifestyle of the community. Some terms like "indigenous knowledge", "local knowledge", "tacit knowing", should not be forgotten, ought to grasp some epistemic bases of sustainable architecture. while contemporary architecture of Iran only contains an extremely quantitative and humble use of sustainability term. This real problem is invested in this paper, tending to some educational strategies toward a justified sustainability in architectural education. So, initially the significant difference of two terms is discussed: "education of sustainable architecture" and "sustainable education of architecture; proving validity and accuracy of the second. In "sustainable education of architecture", some key properties and dimensions within educational strategies and tactics lead the student implicitly to the basic senses of understanding sustainability, sustainable responsibility, and consequently sustainable architecture. Then the true meaning of "sustainable architecture" will be purified from fake suppositions about it. Sustainable architecture is not a "style", not an "option", not a disguise, nor any accidental phenomenon, but is an essential entity living in the soul of ontologic, epistemic and pragmatic characteristics of an architecture. Then, some propositions in a hierarchic set contains three concepts, six strategic attitudes and six educational advice will be presented to make easy earning a true sustainable education of architecture. The concepts are: inclusivity, completeness and unity. These concepts should be the dominant leading regulator of mental space in academic environment, to avoid some syndrome like partialism, sentimentalism, immaturity and dispersion which are frequently negative intervening factor of architectural education. Some of strategies are nativism, inclusivism, contextualism and attention to affordances and basic patterns, balance between architectural intensions and extensions, accordance of logical and intuitional orientations, existed experiences about environment. Educational advice are also based to this concepts and strategies, so as educators can help students to earn themselves true soul of sustainability in mind and action, trending to an authentic sustainable architecture. Furthermore A pluralistic approach is necessary to contain cultural diverse, not to suppose sustainability as a blind formulated mechanism. Accurate attention to significant characteristics of culture, lifestyle, values and climates should be regarded in architectural education.