Geometrical Tapology in Iranian gardens: A case Study of " Shriaz Historic Garden"

Taking advantages of geometry is one of the main attributes of the Iranian-Islamic architecture and refl ects the mathematical profi ciency of the Iranian scholars. Iranian garden among the remains of perspective architecture of the world is endowed with diverse forms of geometric effects, which serve as the main characteristics of these gardens. The realization of geometry in architecture can be said to have its roots in the mysterious concepts and meanings that in turn are rooted in popular beliefs. Further, functionalism is another feature displayed by Iranian gardens, which has always been focused by the architects. Though the geometry and function in Iranian gardens have already been discussed, the key remaining question in this regard concerns the possible relationship between function and geometry. The present work explores the above hypothesis and identifi es the relationship between geometry and function, with nine selected gardens of Shiraz as its cases. The analysis suggests that geometrical design of Iranian gardens and the case of Shiraz Gardens has been in correlation with function of the gardens throughout the history. The results show that strengthening the particular function and defi ning the required function were among the reasons that accounted for employment of geometrical elements such as hierarchy, centrality, symmetry, etc in Shiraz gardens. Designing surrounding wall, streets, hierarchy and platforms, decorative elements, palace and Iwan all can be explained on the basis of this standpoint so that the designing process of the gardens is not confi ned to geometrical forms. Rather, the geometry was a function of function and interacted with it.