Interaction of Monumentalism and Sustainability in Contemporary Architecture of Iran

Monumental architecture is a kind of architecture which concentrated on architectural design process more than other kinds of contemporary architectural trends. Thus monumental architecture may be seen as the most artistic and creative kind of architectural design process in which monumentality enjoys high position in architectural design priorities. In other hand, social sustainability as well as sustainability especially energy efficient architecture stands as one of the most functionalistic architecture. Therefore sustainable architecture may be seen as the most functionalistic architecture in comparison with monumental architecture. Theoretical framework highlights sustainable architecture may be analyzed in three branches such as: 1- economic sustainability: materials and technology; 2- socio-cultural sustainability: identity, concept, and form and shape; and 3- environmental sustainability: context. Fifty outstanding contemporary mosques selected randomly from among contemporary mosques of Iran which were built after Islamic revolution of Iran. The results of the paper show that there is a meaningful correlation between monumentalism and sustainability in contemporary Iranian architecture. Monumentality correlated with environmental sustainability more than other factors which emphasize on the role of architectural context in reification and materializing more sustainable architecture. Surprisingly the level of monumentality correlates with level of sustainability. Qualitative analysis based on quantitative findings emphases on role of contemporary mosque in this kind of result which show interaction of monumentality and sustainability in contemporary Iranian architecture.