318

607

A BREIF SURVEY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF IRANIAN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE Bahareh Hosseini �, Atefe Zand Karimi �

�Shahid Beheshti University, Iran

Keywords: Iranian Islamic architecture, Culture, Principles of Iranian Islamic architecture, Iran, traditional buildings

Introduction:

This essay is a brief study on the principles of Iranian Islamic architecture, to extract the major points and challenge them from different points of view. After introducing Islam into Iranian territory outstanding architectural landmarks affected dramatically by this newborn religion. Iranian architecture did not lose its identity in confront with Islam ethic, but Iranian architects re-created the buildings based on local culture and civilization with adaption to Islamic point of view. Previous buildings changed to follow new orders and new ones such as mosques, Islamic schools and new kinds of tombs were created to join and enrich the architecture of Iran.

The word Islamic architecture refers to a kind of architecture that has been built in Islamic territories. This kind of architecture was created in the country of Iran when the religion of Islam was introduced to the world in around 600 A.C. and flourished in duration of almost thirteen centuries. [1] In spite of racial and cultural differences among people of different parts of the country, some new kind of architecture was created which had extensible unity in all of its parts. It means that all of the buildings in the category of Islamic architecture placed in different territories of Iran possessed similar features. However aside this unification, there are some slight differences which are derived from the local cultures and life style. [2]

So Iran as a country that is being intruded during centuries for its strategic location in the Silk Road find a new opportunity to develop its architecture and aesthetic fields. Efflorescence of cities such as Isfahan, Yazd, Kashan and Shiraz are signs of the huge impact of Islam on Iranian's life. Many different reigns have ruled Iran during this period. (1-13 century in Hijri calendar) [2] Consequently these political terms have had impacts on the architecture of this region of the world, but they do not mainly influence the architecture of Iran.

As it is mentioned above some principles dominate the Iranian Islamic architecture seem to be derived from beliefs that the religion of Islam brought and vernacular culture at the same time. Architecture in Iranian territories in which the climate is hot and arid possesses its own specifications. It is dependent on the climate, religion, worldview and above all culture that has had the greatest impact on its architectural features. Being humanistic and proportional, abstinence from inanity, having structure as aesthetic elements, self sufficiency, introversion, purity in shapes and volumes, having symmetry and being colorful are some of the origins that can be found in any building of Iranian Islamic architecture. All of these principles are legislated for one purpose and that is to build an excellent building. [2] Terminology wise if we concern the word "Architecture" that is driven from ancient Greek word defining something more than sheer to build a building, implicates on a higher meaning which is to build perfectly, like other aesthetic works. [3]

In the regard of some meaning-oriented critics like Henry Corbin (1973) that consider this world one of two which god has designed, the artist's main duty is to discover mysteries of the other and the so called hidden world. He should seek spiritualism in his works in order to disclose them. [4]

Archi-Cultural Translations through the Silk Road2nd International Conference, Mukogawa Women’s Univ., Nishinomiya, Japan, July 14-16, 2012

Proceedings

319

Consideprinciplesmallesa concis

1.

Humanelemenalwayssuitable

HumanFor instas largePersiancome ibuildinga perso

2.

It has barchiteccountriedetailingornamesuitablehumanisun glabeauty

3.

The Peknowledhad a sgainedchest. [layer va

ering this, es for arch

st details of se and mea

Humanism

ism in Islats and humbeen an a

e for human

ism in Iranitance a sine as it is con) are also dn. (Fig. 1)

g, for exampon to lead on

Abstinenc

been tried cture. In hoes have hadg just for

entation. [1]e for living. stic proport

are and its of elements

Structura

ersian worddge of statisensible noa lot of info

[6] The comaults are we

the aforemitecture in athe design.

aningful ma

m and Pro

amic architman body anart that hadns and respe

an architecgle space l

omfortable fdesigned toDetails are

ple plinths in.

ce from In

to abstain oly Koran wd arts pertathe sake

] They usedEven whention by the heat enter s but their e

l Conside

d "Niaresh"ic, building

otion of struormation abmmon usageell-known in

mentionedall parts of . It has beenner as foll

oportional

tecture is nd his phys tangible reects his bel

cture is obvlike three-dfor an averao remind ane also desn most mos

nanity

from frivolwe see:" belaining to ar

of beautyd everythinn they usedmeans of the room.

efficiency an

rations

have beetechnologycture. Theyout constru

e of masonr Iranian arc

Fig. 1: Interi

features aIran. Thesen studied inows:

ity

the heed ical and emelation withiefs and pe

ious when woor room w

age family t Iranian fam

signed propsques are h

ing and bulievers, whochitecture s

y, in Iran g for a cer

d ornamentait, or they bTherefore Ind utility.

n used in y, and matey did not diuction methory walls, arcchitecture of

or of an Iran

are acceptee principlesn this article

of human motional nee

daily life. rsonal amb

we have a which is preto live. Commily glory foportionate fhigh at a lev

uilding supeo they abstsuch as paiarchitectsrtain reasonation underbuilt colorfuIranian arch

Iranian arcerial sciencescrete strucods by expech-shaped cf that time.

ian House

ed as unifos exist frome to introduc

proportioneds. The paIn Iran arc

bitions. [5]

look at spaevalent in trmmunity spaor the guestfor a persovel that mak

ernumerarytain from ininting figurenever use

n in order tr the vaults ul windows hitects didn

chitecture ae. Iranian trcture from erience andceilings and(Fig. 2-4)

orm and e generalitie

ce these fea

betweenast architecthitecture ha

aces and itsraditional hoaces (calledts who are a

on who utilikes comfort

y in Iranian anity." If Eu

es or sculpted them asto make the they want in order to

n't just cons

a lot. It meraditional arbeauty. Th

d transfer it d the subtle

essentiales to the atures in

building ture has as been

s details. ouses is d talar in about to izes the table for

Islamicuropean turing or s sheer e space to have prevent

sider the

eans the rchitects ey have chest to double-

320

4.

Iranianthe builsomewwas moobtain sbelievedfacilitiesmateriadifferenaccordisufficien

5.

Basicaltraditionthe issintrospenot poswithin tone waof the o

Fig. 2:th

Fig. 5, of the tr

of Yazgroun

Self suffic

architects hlding in a where else. Sore compatsupplementd that mates as possib

al in the plant kinds of ng to availncy in these

Introversi

ly people nal architecue of tendection is to ssible to unhe building

alk through Youter side o

: Seraglio (She Nasirol mo

6: Vertical exraditional hozd in order tond water and

stages sun

ciency

have alwayway that it wSo in this wtible with vtary materiaerial shouldble. [6] Fo

ateau of Iranmortar useable vernae buildings.

ion

beliefs hadcture. The mdency to thdivert the anderstand t

in order toYazd or Ke

of the buildi

habestan in olk mosque,

xtention of ouses in the co reach unde supply lowe

n light.

ys tried to pwould not bway the buivernacular nal in order t be indigenr instance n was the bed in the ccular facilit(Fig. 5, 6)

d a great imost stable ahe inside aattention to tthe buildingo understanderman's strengs. (Fig. 7

Persian) of Shiraz

necityerer

 

rocure essebe dependelding procenature. Aso repair the

nous and it the usage

basis of muonstructionies is one

impact on and sturdy

and in genethe inside ag from outsd the main

eets he just 7) But as s

Fig. 3dome, Igreate

ential materent on gettiedure would

a result it e building inshould be of clay w

ultiple geneprocess. T

of the othe

establishinpoint abouteral introve

and refuse oside. [7] In

story of tharecognizes

soon as he

: The Tajol msfahan, one st examples

kind.

rials from loing materiadn't take lon

was also an the case otried to ben

which was trations of bThe optimizer example

ng unified ft Iranian Islaersion. Theoutside, in sthis status

at building. s the simpleenters one

molkiof the of its

ocal areas aal and methng and the always posof renovationefit the vethe most abricks and tzation of fos regarding

features in amic architee main aimsuch a way one shoulFor instanc

e and earthe of them, h

Fig. 4: Thethe Nezam

dome, I

and built od from building

ssible to on. They rnacular

availabletiles and ormation g to self

Iranian ecture is

m of the that it is ld stand ce when en crust

he might

e detail of mol molki sfahan

321

find higis due ttrue abtendencprovidewants to

In the nspace hdecreesarchitecaround[8] But causeseach otthe spatwo or ithe relawhich th

ConseqtexturesFiguremunimecities inwalls su

hly decoratto the need

bout the pucy to get p

es the feasio try the sp

notion of suhas all the s some spcture. The oit is famousas mentionthe buildin

ther. This cace order foin some ca

ation betweehe privacy i

quently the s became 10 shows. [ent against n Iran neverurrounded t

ted interior of having

ublic spacesprivate. (Figbility of augatial experie

ubjectivism,decoration

patial disciorder of cos in Islamicned above g to find tw

contrast is or open and ses three den inside as crucial the

perspectivea collection[11] There i

intruders. r felt securehe city, let a

Fig. 7Outlookone of

alleys incity o

kerma

Fig.contem

deteriora

facades. Thprivacy in bs such as g. 8, 9) In gmenting thence he wo

the outsidens and attraiplines andurtyard in t

c architecturthe impact

wo different one of the fclosed spa

domains: puand outside e most intric

e of the citin of closeds another pHaving str

e from attacalone leavin

Fiinter

7:k of the

n the ofan

. 10: Aerial vmporary (left) ation of spati

he misleadibuildings sumosques afact the no

he influenceould find him

e of the buiactions. Th

d that is ahe middle ore for the prt of introveaspects, twfeatures of ces that fin

ublic, privatget more c

cate cases

ies also chad and openprospect attrategic situack. They usng their hou

g. 8, 9: The rior (Right) of

Ka

view of traditiurban fabrical sequence

cities.

ng point is uch as housand forumsotion of inve of the spamself compl

ilding has nhis organizaa central of the buildrivacy it brinrsion is no

wo aspects tIslamic arcally leads toe and in becomplicatedof access s

anges becan spaces thributed to ination betwe

sually beleauses being e

exterior (left)f Amino dole

ashan

onal (right) a of Yazd shoin Iranian tra

that it seemses, but we s (bazzars)viting the vace to him etely wrape

no appearaation manncourtyard

ding and forngs. (Shownt only the that are tota

chitecture. Eo separationetween spad. In traditiosystems are

ause of thehat periodicntroversioneen Middle guer themsexposed.

) and e forum,

andows the aditional

 

ms that introfind this powhich nee

visitor to thesince the w

ed.

nce but theer of the bin Iranian

rming othern in figures privacy it bally in contrEventually in of the builces. [9] As

onal Iraniane seen. [10]

e introspectically duplicthat justifieEastern c

selves behin

oversionoint also eded no e inside when he

e interior buildings

Islamic r spaces

5 & 12) brings; it rast with t affects ldings in a result houses

ion. City cated as es it as a countriesnd great

322

6.

The Iraand volachievinused elcourtyageometlimitatiolike bein11, 12)

Patternwhich mthe formherbal.

7.

Havingmodernthe centhing isused wthe role

Purity in S

nian traditioumes. In thng the bestlement in Is

ard, elevatiotrical and ons he woung geometr

s in this kinmentioned,m of round,

Symmetry

symmetry nism totally ntral elemens that not juwater to brines. (Fig. 14)

Fig. 13: Theplan of the H

grange

Shapes an

onal architehe general ft design is slamic archon, plan apure. Evenld skillfully rical. The ar

nd of architand the patsoft, ringlet

y

is one of threfuses. [1

nt seems moust physical ng another k

e symmetricaHasht-Behese, Isfahan

nd Volume

ecture had sform of Iranevident in t

hitecture is and volumen when ondesign therchitect of t

ecture maytterns of arats and is int

e features o3] In a spaore importaelements m

kind of sym

alsht

 

es

strict regulanian Islamicthe selectiopure and g

es of buildne could no interior in

the Friday m

y be dividedabesque wtertwined a

of traditionaace or planeant than themakes sym

mmetry in w

Fig. 11, 12: P

Fig. 14Pal

ations in corc architectuon and comgeometrical

ding are crot design a way that

mosque of Y

d in two grohich is a cond wavy wh

al Islamic ae with symm other elem

mmetry. Ingewhich the bu

Plan (left) anFriday mos

: Reflection oace in the po

rrespondenre, seeking

mbination of l. Elementsreated within "right a

t every singYazd maste

oups: the geombination ohich at first

rchitecture metry and p

ments. (Fig. enious Iranuilding and

nd perspectivsque of Yazd

of Chehelsotool, Isfahan

ce to using out perfectshapes. [1

s like pool, h shapes tngles" due

gle key spaerly knew th

eometricalof different glance see

which the nperpendicu13) The intian architecits virtual tw

ve (right) of td

tun

shapes tion and 2] Each garden,

that are e to the ce feels

hat. (Fig.

patterns signs in

em to be

notion of lar axes teresting cts have win play

he

323

8. colorful space

Another interesting feature of Iranian Islamic architecture is the extensive use of colors in the buildings. A variety of limited and splendid colors usually wraps the whole interior of the buildings. [12] This is not like what we call "decoration" today; it is like giving a final spatial quality to a world of strict regulations. The designer wishes to express his feelings through colorful and abstract patterns. By the means of a thin layer of color whether be painted on the wall or a tile the characteristic of the space changes hugely; what Iranian Islamic architects discovered in order to bring their imaginary gardens to their earthenware buildings.

Conclusion:

What has been set down in this article was a brief introduction of what is called Iranian Islamic architecture and some of its main principles. It is an architecture that pursues tranquil and peace by the means of using spiritualism in the buildings. The thing that led to different styles was the diversity of how architects and literally people looked at the space. An Iranian Islamic architect worships his God by the means of building. He pursues a space that is perfect, a fault-free and inconvertible space. He utilizes available elements in order to satisfy the hunger of tranquility of the people he builds for. As mentioned the priority of the interior over the exterior, the seeking of the complete and geometric pattern for forming spaces and shapes, the hidden contemplation behind the simplicity of the buildings, being from and for the local environment shows that the architecture is a cultural phenomenon, an art that is in a daily correspondence with the people. As a result Islamic architecture in Iran was greatly influenced by its traditional culture, and gradually adjusted itself to the new insight of Islam religion.

References:

[1] Pirnia, M. Sabk Shenacy (Methodology), Journal of Art and Architecture, No. 10-11, Tehran, pp. 20-36, 1971.

[2] Haji GHasemi, K. A contemplation in Iranian Islamic Architecture and the way of understanding that, Soffe Magazine, No. 52, pp. 2-14, 2012. ( In Persian)

[3] MadadPoor, M. a Breif Survey on Architectural Spiritual Philosophy & The Future World,Andish nameh, Shahid Beheshti University,2008.

[4] Corbin, H. En Islam Iranien: Aspects spirituels et philosophiques. Gallimard, Paris, 1973. [5] O'Gorman, K. and Prentice, R. Iranian hospitality: from caravanserai to bazaar to reporting

symbolic experience. Proceedings of the Conference of EuroCHRIE 2008 Congress, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 11-14 October, 2008.

[6] Ghobadian, V. Climatic Analysis of the Iranian Traditional Buildings, Tehran University Publications, pp. 308-37, Tehran, 2001. (In Persian)

[7] Memarian, GH. Ashnaii ba Memari Maskooni Irani, Ghuneh Shenasi Darunghara (An introduction to house typology in Iran: Courtyard houses), Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, 1993. (In Persian)

[8] Memarian GH, Brown, F. The shared characteristics of Iranian and Arab courtyard houses. In SM. a. HM. Edward B (eds) Courtyard Housing, Oxon, pp. 21-30, Taylor & Francis, 2006.

[9] Ramezani, S. & Hamidi, S. Privacy and Social Interaction in Traditional Towns to Contemporary Urban Design in Iran, American Journal of Engineer and Applied Sciences, Vol.3, pp.501-508, 2010.

[10] Memarian, GH. & Sadoughi, A. Application of Access Graphs and Home Culture: Examining Factors Relative to Climate and Privacy in Iranian Houses, Scientific Research and Essays, Vol. 6(30), pp. 6350-6363, 2011.

[11] Shabani, M & Authors, Achieving Privacy in the Iranian Contemporary Compact Apartment through Flexible Design, University Kebangsaan, Malaysia, 2011.

[12] Haji GHasemi, K. Searching for Meaning in Persian Islamic Architecture, Annual MESA Conference, Washington, 1999, http://ilex.ilexfoundation.org/confer/mesa.html

[13] Meiss, P. Elements of Architecture: from Form to Place, E & FN Spon, London, 1992