An Investigation of the Concept of Alley Territory as a Cultural Element in Iranian Neighborhoods

A bilateral relationship between culture and space has been reflected by the architecture of different historical periods and across different geographies around the globe. As the current platform for life, a city is mainly influenced by the needs of its residents and cultural norms, in Iranian cities, neighborhoods are considered to be a common form of housing. In many studies, the close relationships between the neighborhood and Iranian culture and its adaptation to that culture have been explored. As a result, the structure of the traditional neighborhood has defined many tourist destinations in Iranian cities. To gain practical knowledge of the neighborhood, this study focuses on the concept of “alley” to see how it serves as a representative of the communication network in neighborhoods including streets, alleys, bazaars, etc. This study also attempts to examine and introduce this space as an architecture influenced by the culture and social needs of the time. To this end, this study scrutinizes the development and current events in the alley through the concept of territory. In this study, the concept of territory is used as a platform for communication and interactions occurring between individuals and communities. It is assumed that the spatial organization of the alley creates social communication and at the same time the desired privacy. It also responds to the cultural demands of residents through the objective and subjective concept of territory along with its functional nature occurs. This concept, aligned with the unplanned body of alleys, contributes to the possible spatial capacities for creating and expressing territorial and collective behaviors. It also transforms the general space of alleys into sub-spaces with specific uses and at the disposal of different groups.