In Search of Role of Missing space in Residential Architecture

Throughout the history open spaces have played a prominent role in man's life. Not only they have acted as trade centers, but also, embodied several personal and social phenomena. In this regard, the use of open spaced has been widely adopted in architectural design, and a number of Iranian architectures have emphasized the use of open spaces. In recent years, the role of open spaces in Iranian residential architecture has deteriorated, and many of its functionalities have been subject to change. Even, in some cases, open spaces have been downgraded to passageways. These variations, i.e. deemphasizing the position of open spaces in Iranian architecture, not only raises concerns from an aesthetic point of view, but also dramatically affects the mental and physical health of residents, among whom children and the elderly are more susceptible, due to excessive time that they normally spend in residential complexes and associated open spaces. This article aims to present a review of the functionality of open spaces in the traditional architecture, and make a comparison between the lifestyles in the past and present. Finally, regarding the essential needs of today's life, attempt is made to assess the fundamental reasons for deterioration of the role of open spaces in Iran.