Explaining the Classification of Documents and Historical Evidence in Isfahan Residential Heritage Studies

In the context of historical cities, the house is the most integral part. Houses are not usually the main building blocks, but they are considered to be the most important sources for city architecture and history. Historical documents and evidence of residential heritage are one of the potential factors of historical knowledge on the architecture of historic houses, and less attention has been paid to this in the previously-done studies. If the status and application of these documents are accurately explained in Iranian architecture studies, the quality of research on the Iranian heritage will change. Therefore, in architectural studies, documents and writings are among the most important sources of attention. The study of the history of the residential architecture of Isfahan based on historical documents and evidence, in addition to providing a more accurate analysis of the values of this building, makes it possible to further deepen the studies of other researchers by providing robust documents and works. By analyzing historical documents and evidence, it is possible to examine the evolution, continuity and lifestyle of architectural buildings in comparison with the present situation, and it is possible to recreate events and lifestyles in the shadow of the use of reliable historical documents and resources. In this regard, the present research seeks to answer the question of how the documents are used to identify the houses in Isfahan in order to study the changes, lifestyle and values ​​of residential architecture in Isfahan. The main objective of answering the key question is to analyze the identification of the architectural talent of historical documents and evidence of the use of historical documents in Isfahan's residential heritage studies. This study was conducted using a descriptive-analytic method, content analysis and a sample of developmental research, using library documents, field studies and interviews. The findings were analyzed by qualitative method and by comparison and interpretation. The results of the research show that with a new approach to identifying historical buildings of Isfahan, based on historical documents, we can present thirteen types of historical documents and witnesses, studying examples of houses, explaining values ​​and performing architectural studies based on them. The most important evidence in this area is memoirs, inscriptions, pictures of personalities and historical events in the body, reports of restorers, family correspondence, travel letters and historical texts, archives of pictures and drawings, paintings, historical gravures, moving pictures, interviews, transaction documents and waqfs (endowments). By reviewing these documents and historical evidence, it is possible to document the way of life, the information of the property genealogy, the study of the form's form, the element's authenticity, changes and restorations, events and historical incidents, as well as the functions of the house.