The Role of " Jelo khan" in Residential Vernacular Architecture of Iran The Role of " Jelo khan" in Residential Vernacular Architecture of Iran

While concentrating on rural and urban residential architecture in Iran during various periods and studying different models of houses, we can recognize some elements as basic and skeletal parts. It seems as if although this architecture has changed and evolved during prolonged years, its skeletal and main parts have been remained and common fundamental elements have made building’s figure; courtyards, atriums, iwans, vestibules and breezeways are some of these elements each of which has various roles. Some aspects of these roles are in correlation with other parts and some relate to the function of the element itself. One of these elements which may be seen in lots of residential (or non-residential)buildings in urban and rural textures is “Jelo Khan”. “jelo khan” is a place in front of some buildings’ entrances which usually is surrounded from three sides. As the first step of hierarchy of entering the building, it provides a place for entering, gathering, moving and understanding the building. In buildings such as mosques, houses, inns and even bazaars, this architectural element has various roles in the fields of behavior, social relationships, sanctum definition, creating correlation between indoors and outdoors as well as respecting user’s eminence and avail. Unfortunately, today in new buildings, attendance of this effective element of vernacular architecture has been omitted or decreased. In some places where is built, it does not have appropriate role because of formal or substantial defects. This paper aims to present and recognize this element in residential vernacular architecture of Iran. It also points its place in skeletal texture as well as its role in behavior and social relationships. We have tried to study forms and functions as well as qualitative effects of this architectural element on the environment. We aimed to recognize its role through this study. It has been eased by delving in written references, as well as comparison and analyzing available instances and accessing meanings from their hearts. In this paper “Jelo Khans” are divided to three categories due to their area and their role in social relationships. Then elements and characteristics of each category have been studied. Doors, frontispiece, stoops and porches are elements some of which could be seen in all types while others are just available in third group. After that the role of“Jelo Khan“in houses and residential architecture of Iran is analyzed. This role is in the fields such as correlation between indoors and outdoors, hierarchical access, building apprehension and social relationships. It is hoped that by recognizing and appropriate analyzing of such worthy elements in our vernacular architecture, we could move forward to upgrade contemporary residential architecture of Iran.