light hierarchy

Light hierarchy is a secondary but highly influential issue in the perception of space and forming a unique experience in architecture. Light hierarchy is due to a light gradation which presents the priority of space content and leads the users into the space around him. This is a significant subject in Iranian-Islamic architecture that is considered in constructing a pleasant building in various ways.

To identify the factors contributing to the Light hierarchy, experts in the field of Iranian-Islamic architecture were surveyed by the Delphi method to identify the factors and their role as fundamental, main or complementary factors. To be specific, experts were also asked to rate the role of factors in the creation of light hierarchies with a Likert scale of 5 degrees. Wilcoxon test was used to analyze data at the last part.

The factors were divided into three categories: “Lighting Elements” (such as normal opening and lattice opening), “Intermediate communication with outer space”, and “Decorating”.

Experts believed that the “normal opening” had a significant effect on the “fundamental factor” in creating a light hierarchy. In addition, “lattice opening” and “architectural spaces” were identified as the “main factor” factors controlling the light, and decorations as the “complementary factor” influence the light hierarchy.

The thoughts of Sheikh Ishraq (Shahāb ad-Dīn” Yahya ibn Habash Suhrawardī) have a high status in the Islamic world. These thoughts spread in the Safavid era, so that, more than ever, they became an important and influential category in the Islamic world. Since the art of architecture is the manifestation of the thoughts and mentalities of the architects and thinkers of each historical period, it can be expected that Suhrawardi’s thoughts are also manifested in the field of architecture. The main question of the research is whether the philosophy of Ishraq has influenced the Esfahani architectural style? And if so, how was this impact on the structure of the buildings of that era? In the following, using the interpretive-historical research method, the analysis of the views of Sheikh Ishraq and its comparative comparison with the architectural works of Esfahan doctrine were discussed. Then, using analytical-descriptive techniques, the correspondences between Suhrawardi’s thoughts and the architectural field of Esfahani style were explained. The data collection method is done by library research and
referring to architectural documents. Studies conducted indicate that Esfahani style is significantly in line with the thoughts of Sheikh Ishraq. The various manifestations of light in the architecture of hierarchy, colors and decorations, empty space, the principle of plurality in unity, altar, golden dome, and so on can be considered as the effects of light in the architecture of this era.