A Study on the Effective Components and Indicators of Modernism in the Aristocratic Houses of Mashhad in the Late Qajar Period

The emergence of innovation and the gradual entry of modernization in Iran during the Qajar period was influential on various aspects of the Iranian society. One of such influential areas was architecture. During this period, the achievements of Western modernity entered the body and soul of the architecture of the city, including its buildings and mansions. The issue raised here is the scope and dimensions of the impact of modernism on the architecture of residential houses of the Qajar epoch. The present study seeks to prioritize such features in addition to identifying the aspects affecting the architecture of late Qajar residential buildings in the city of Mashhad. The present study is an applied research study in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. The method of data collection is library and documentary purpose accomplished via a questionnaire distributed among experts; furthermore, Delphi method was also used to regulate the importance of the components and indicators. Findings of the research indicate that based on the analysis obtained from available sources and surveys, a model with 5 components and 20 indicators is compiled and the value of each category and the order of importance of the index were determined. Thus, the components of "plan", "construction elements" and "decorations" as well as the three indicators of "staircase axis", "balcony" and "sloping roof and santouri" gained the first to third ranks. The effects of modernism are seen in various forms in the plan, facade, entrances, interiors and, as an indicator, to the elements and components of architecture.

Study and analysis of the impact of modernism on architecture of the Qajar period.Investigation on the effect of modernism on the houses of the late Qajar period in Mashhad.

Research questions:

What changes did modernism bring to the architecture of the Qajar period? What effect did modernism have on the houses of the aristocracy in the late Qajar period in the city of Mashhad?