A Comparative Study of Architectural Configuration of Public and Educational Spaces in Iranian-Islamic Schools and Contemporary Patterns of Arrangement

Recent research in education are focused on optimal designs for educational spaces in order to make them compatible with the contemporary socio-environmentally friendly concept of education. Accordingly, three major types of educational spaces are defined: linear (like Alborz and Firooz Bahram), introspective (such as Khan School in Shiraz and Khargerd Ghiasieh School), and religious (the likes of Agha Bozorg in Kashan and Salehiyeh in Qazvin). In comparing these three types of spaces, the relationship between classroom and external space, accessibility, physical and visual configuration, flexibility, and compatibility of educational space with the features of the special arrangement were measured and then analyzed in terms of the interaction between classroom and external space using appropriate models. The results have led to two models for special configuration in educational buildings in the future. The main feature of these models has been the maintenance of the strengths of both traditional and contemporary buildings in order to provide students with a flexible, accessible, nature-oriented, and visually appropriate environment.