Comparative Analysis of the Spatial Structures of Iran's Midway Caravanserais in the Plains and Mountains with a Focus on Protective and Defensive Measures

The study of developments in Iran's history shows that security has provided the necessary infrastructure for establishing stability and political authority, developing trade and commerce, and forming a regular network of roads. Therefore, due to the numerous battles of kings and rulers, it was necessary to try to secure and protect the roads, as well as pay attention to security in the location and architectural form of residences. The aim of the research is the comparative analysis of the spatial structures of midway settlements in the plains and mountains with a focus on protective-defense measures. The research question is, which physical elements and in what way have they had an effect on protection and defense in Iran's midway settlements in different patterns of space arrangement? What are the similarities and differences between plain and mountain residences in protection and defense? The research method includes a combination of a qualitative approach in the form of analysis and interpretation of library information, as well as a quantitative-qualitative and software approach based on the research method, which is observation and analysis with the Deep Map computer simulator to investigate the spatial arrangement of 20 midway houses belonging to the Safavid period, of two types, plain and Kohestani has been carried out, which has been evaluated and deduced through the comparative examination of examples and logical reasoning method, the factors affecting the structure of security in residential architecture. The results of the research showed that according to the environmental requirements, the plain houses have more physical diversity in terms of defense measures, which according to the security conditions of the region, provide a distinct or similar configuration in comparison with the mountain type in terms of accessibility, visibility, permeability and integrity of the space.