Ilkhanid Urban Planning; the Manifestation of the First Large-Scale Public Spaces on a Geometric Scale in Iranian-Islamic Cities

The Ilkhanid era in Iranian-Islamic urban planning can be considered as a transition period from Razi style to Isfahani style. The status of this period in Iranian urban planning is due to the fact that on the one hand, following the special situation after the devastating Mongol invasion, it has maintained the evolution of Iranian urban planning and on the other hand, the necessary background for the formation of Isfahani style in the Safavid period is shaped (1135-907 AH). The present research is accomplished by a descriptive and analytical method by the means of library resource data. Research findings indicate that the urban planning and architecture features of the Ilkhanid era seeks to create glory and splendor in the form of tall porches, higher heights of domes and openings, large and long spaces, more accurate and proportionate dimensions in the architecture of large squares of urban complexes all within the form of a complete urbanization forms. In fact, the purely geometric shape of large-scale urban spaces in Ilkhanid urban planning is significantly dissimilar from the courtyards of earlier urban complexes and body-like squares within urban contexts. The destruction of the socio-economic-physical structures of cities by the Mongols at the beginning of the seventh century AH, led to the reinvention of the concept of the square in a higher structure at the end of this century that included a large-scale geometric structure that became global regarding the urban planning of the Safavid period.

1. Recognition of public space styles in chronology of architectural-urban planning styles in Iran. 2. Study of the characteristics of public spaces in the urban planning of the Ilkhanid period.

Research questions:

1. In architecture and urban planning in the history of Iran, what styles have existed in creating public spaces? 2. What are the characteristics of public spaces in the urban planning of the Ilkhanid period?