Exploring the typology of filled and empty spaces in the structure of vernacular houses of cold climate; the case study of Tabriz

The vernacular architecture of Iran is a valuable treasure of design criteria and methods that have been formed in accordance with the geographical, cultural, livelihood, and climatic characteristics, based on the available facilities, and addresses the coexistence of humans and the environment as a two-way relationship; while the speed of change in the old fabric of cities makes us face their absence in the near future. This highlights the need to record traditional architectural pattern and to identify and discover the hidden form, function, climate, and ecological aspects of traditional houses. At a time when not using proportions and practical principles and rules in building has become widespread, researching vernacular architecture, and discovering proportions and practical principles and typology can lead to a better understanding of space and achieving practical design patterns. Due to limited research on cold climate, this study aims to investigate the typology of the filled and empty residential space in this climate to explore the characteristics of this architecture style. The scope of the research is vernacular houses of Tabriz dating from Qajar to Pahlavi. The theoretical framework is first presented using desk research and a descriptive-analytical method, and then the study of samples and the collection and analysis of form, physical proportions, and typology of the shape-climate of the filled and empty space have been discussed. For collecting data, sources, documents, sketches, and maps of vernacular houses, field studies and formal analysis of findings is used. The results show that the full and empty residential space of Tabriz is based on ecological principles, and also shows the existence of a specific ratio in vernacular houses. Moreover, the most frequent orientations are from 10 degrees southeast to 20 degrees southwest, as well as one-front and two-story houses.