The Meaning of Identity and Physical Identity in Architectural Works (with an Analysis of Iranian Historical Architecture)

The appearance of a city represents human civilization and culture. The architecture that embodies this appearance should uphold values that lead society toward identity. However, such values have faded in most contemporary cities, which now consist primarily of massive buildings, parks, and offices. In other words, the perception of space is lacking, and this crisis worsens over time. In today's technology-oriented world, the appearance of cities has changed, and their physical forms have taken on a different character. The physical form of cities, as the first architectural element in visual communication with people, no longer interacts effectively with its audience and plays a diminished role. This research, employing a qualitative method and a descriptive-analytical approach, alongside a library study, aims to achieve a deeper understanding of the concept of identity and identitarian architecture. Through field observations of historical architecture and references to ancient documents and texts, the physical identity elements are identified. The results reveal that the identity and architectural identity of this region are deeply connected to its rich history and culture. It is essential to recognize the physical elements of Iranian historical architectural styles. Subsequently, two significant styles of Iranian architecture are introduced, and their physical characteristics are extracted and presented.