The Identification and Typology of Traditional Doors of the Historical City of Masouleh

Considering the rich history of Iran in the field of art and architecture, delightful doors with unique characteristics are found, each of which is derived from cultural, religious, and social interactions. Typology, recognition, and reproduction of antecedent motifs and designs in traditional doors could revive cultural identity in contemporary cities. Doors and windows are influential factors in shaping buildings in Iranian architecture. Having a thousand-year-old history with the presence of skilled blacksmiths and carpenters, Masouleh has treasured beautiful gates being formed in various buildings at different parts of the town. The purpose of the research is to determine the typology and knowledge of the types of traditional doors in the historical town of Masouleh. The research method is field and library studies. At first, 32 ancient doors in Masouleh were selected for field studies. In the next step, library and interview methods were used to identify the components and designs of the doors. The research results show that the doors in Masouleh are of three types: building, religious, residential and commercial. The doors of the religious buildings are classified into three levels: woodcarving, Girih, tiles, and geometric motifs. The most important factors shaping the decorations of religious doors is the praise of God, which is presented in the form of Islamic, animal, and calligraphy motifs. The doors of the residential buildings are classified into three levels: plain with no design, the ones with geometric design, and Girih tiles. Residential doors are formed based on a combination of the beautiful art of metalwork and woodwork, respect for the needs of the users, and the religious beliefs of the people of Masouleh. The doors of commercial buildings in Masouleh are in the form of collapsible and Girih tile designs. The flexible structure of the collapsible doors of commercial buildings allows for maximum coverage of the openings and visibility of handicrafts. The results indicate that the neighborhoods of Masjed-Bar, Khaneh-Bar, and Keshe-sar have the most classic traditional doors.