Space Ontology International Journal
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Autumn 2018

The concept of sustainability inspired most urban development plans after Rio 1992, although many such plans have not been too successful. An important reason for this is the disjuncture of science from culture and traditional knowledge and planners’ inability to conceptualize the environmental values of societies.This research aims to explore storytelling’s ability to aid in identifying of environmental values of communities and the ways they are developed through their traditional knowledge. Furthermore, it integrates the subjective and normative nature of storytelling with the objective and rational procedure of the planning process. To achieve this aim, the cultural pathways of storytelling for practice on cities within a narrative context are investigated, along with critical naturalistic discourse analysis, which corresponds with the primary levels of a profound planning process. An analysis of the conceptual commonalities and contrasts found in these approaches suggests that the intrinsic social features of storytelling can fill the normative gaps in the rational planning procedure to create a storytelling planning process. This approach is suggested as a general framework to forge a common language among people and planners’ interventions into local environments based on community environmental values, especially in traditional cities.

The process of developing architectural forms has greatly been changed by advances in digital technology, especially in design tools and applications. In recent years, the advent of graphical scripting languages in the design process has profoundly affected 3D modeling. Scripting languages help develop algorithms and geometrical grammar of shapes based on their constituent parameters. This study aimed to discover new concepts through the use of computer tools, especially algorithmic tools, in the form design process. The statistical population included high-rise buildings constructed worldwide in the past two decades. The main research questions include: 1) What are the main features and properties of algorithmic applications in comparison with conventional drawing applications? 2) How do algorithmic applications affect the process of devising an architectural form? In this case study, the quantitative research method was employed along with computer simulation. In addition, desk studies and the Internet references were reviewed to collect data. According to the research results, the use of graphical scripting languages as form design tools can develop a smart and generative geometrical framework. Such a smart geometrical framework can relate geometrical grammar to the mathematical relations of shapes. As a result, the changed geometrical parameters of a shape can be reflected on the other variables of dependent forms to change the primary features and specifications of the form. Moreover, changing the existing parameters can result in morphogenic forms, the development of which complies with specific principles.

Monumental tombs are among the most important monuments of contemporary Iran; they have become the symbol of different cities over time and attracted the attention of the audiences with various tastes. This study tries to explain the architectural components that affect the durability of these buildings and answers these questions: What are the architectural components of the emergence of form in monumental tombs in contemporary Iran that have had the greatest impact on the durability of audience’s mind and does the construction of memorial of tombs based on ancient architectural components have a good result in the present eras? In this study, type of research is qualitative and the research tool is interview. These interviews were conducted based on the questions about eight monumental tombs of Society for the National Heritage of Iran; and cause in achieving a good result through qualitative content analysis. Many architectural components affecting the durability of these buildings are identified based on the gained results; they include ten different components: the impact of urban location, visual impact of form, use of familiar elements, visual impact of materials, use of perception concepts and conceptual elements, the impact of personality traits related to the monuments and audiences’ tastes, and the need for an independent context and functional spaces. This study also evaluates the impact rate of these categories in the current period. Because of attaining through qualitative method, these results can be used by designers of these buildings to obtain a favorable quality.

Flexibility is a concept associated with variable needs of human beings.Today transformable structures are used to meet human changeable demands with different purposes and functions such as facades, roofs, sunshades, etc.A Flexible structure must be able to change physically and adapt to predetermined conditions.To provide flexibility and adaptability,transformable systems are required to possess appropriate covering and a proper mechanism.Given their high elasticity, membranes can be considered as the first and easiest solution, but not necessarily the best one,for such deployable structures as they may interfere with the function of the structure;so that the use of membranes in deployable structures often leads to functional, operational and visual problems which indicate the necessity of application and investigations into rigid covers for such structures. Aimed at finding a new solution to improve flexibility of transformable structures with rigid covers, this paper attempts to evaluate and assess a variety of coverings suitable for the structure proposed in this research.Being widely used, suiting various functions and having capability of design in different forms, scissor-like structures are chosen among other types of transformable systems and a design is proposed for rigid cover of scissor-hinged transformable domes.The solution for adding rigid covering involves adding additional kinetic elements to the scissor-like structure.Reciprocal elements, are connected to the structure in two directions, on which rigid covers are installed.One of the advantages of this proposal is that the elements are designed in such a way that rigid covers can be installed through various forms and configurations of modules.

Today, a major range of studies in architecture and urban design have been devoted to concepts such as place attachment, place identity, and etc. In all these studies, human-human interaction, human-place interaction and the impact of place on people are fundamental subjects of analysis. Place attachment is closely related to satisfaction, emotional characteristics, physical characteristics, attitudes and experiences in a place, belief, and etc. With the growth of urban population, changes in the work and life patterns, increased distancing from the natural origins as the setting which provides peace of mind and thought for people in modern life, the need for focusing on design factors that are effective in increasing social interactions in urban spaces has gained further significance, and has turned into one of the major needs. The aim of this paper is to explore the concept of place attachment in the context of urban spaces design factor. In this research, Tabriz-Iran has been chosen as the sample for this study. Cochran’s formula was used to determine sampling volume and questionnaires were distributed among citizens; then the required data have been collected and analyzed via SPSS software. The research findings show that: Designing urban spaces with an approach toward third place has a significant impact on the level of place attachment. Therefore, factors that are effective in promoting place attachment, the sense of belonging, and the dynamics of space, should always be given a further consideration by architects and urban planners in designing these areas.

Outdoor environment and its requirement are one of the crucial issues of the designer especially in the residential complexes .early stage simulation is a method which is considered in many studies and projects to demonstrate and predict the environmental performance of the buildings. Therefore in this study to assess the importance of the early-stage environmental consideration through simulation method using both simulation tools and experimental measurement of the environmental parameters. Thus Envi-met 4 is used for simulation purposes and data logger (Lutron LM-8000) is used for frequent measurements. In order to show the accuracy of the simulated Tmrt, the measured data are put into the formula of the Tmrt and all of the calculations are done via Grasshopper parametric tool. Ekbatan residential complex is more prone to have a comfortable environment in comparison with the Apadana residential complex but the best happens in the simulated residential complex. The finding of this study demonstrates that if at the earlystage of the design process, the environmental parameter takesinto consideration,the final real output will be more satisfactory in terms of outdoor thermal comfort.