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211BELBAR, FROM LIMITATIONS TO OPPORTUNITIESDISCOVERING THE NATURAL POTENTIALS

Atyeh Ashtari1, Faranak Khas Ahmadi1, Paya Salem1, Mona Tajeddini2

1 University of Art,Tehran, Iran 2 University of Tehran, Kish International Campus, Iran

Keywords: Howraman, Belbar, rural architecture, harmonization with nature, limitations, mountainous climate, compressed contexture, step like geometry, native materials, Vernacular constructing technology

Guiding professors: Dr.Behshid Hosseini, Mr. Majid ZiaeiIntroduction:First glance: The land of Iran is located in western half of historical Silk Road. Howramans region is situated in western south of Kordestan province which lies on outspread mountainsides and plains of Zagros mountain range. Howraman is an ancient region which has been populated since the arrival of Aryans. Howraman’s writings on leather (charm-nebeshte) which belong to first century AD are evidences to age of this fascinating land. The word, “Howraman” means divine land or the place of Ahura-mazda(the name of God in ancient Persian theology). Second glance: Studying and forming a precise understanding of villages are of importance from so many aspects, since present cities are formed from the heart of small and grand villages which many of those are on the edge of destruction. On the other hand, these rural settlements in Iran are perfect examples of harmonization with nature and transforming limitations to opportunities. In general, rural architecture can be described as the resultant of given responses to climatical, economical, cultural and social conditions of the village that’s been embodied in stone, wood and straw-clay. Third glance: The rural settlement that’s being discussed, Belbar (i.e. forty springs), is one of the villages of Howramans region. Residents of this village have dealt with many limitations such as geographical, climatical and social limitations in constructing their settlements. This article is an effort to study the kind of responses these people gave to each one of these limitations. These limitations are discussed in two categories of A) contexture Formation and arrangements of the blocks of the settlements and B) form and construction methods of residential blocks of Belbar.

Fig. 1:Whole vision of Belbar

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

Proceedings

122

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123

In geneC) sociarespons

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formation of

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C.1) ethnic groups

C.2) road network

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slopeA.1.b) locating ettlements as 

steps

A.2.a) locating the ontexture betweentwo main flood 

streams

A.3.a) fertile soil in vicinity of river

A.3.b) more coarse‐grained oil in the middle 

of valley

A.3.c) soil with cobblestones in upper levels

A.4.a) permanent riv

(Sirvan)

A.4.b) seasonarivers (springsand summers

A.4.c) Kannats(man‐made water cannal)

A.4.d) springs

B

B.2.a) disturbing western wind

B.3to 

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.1.b) putting windoon southern face osettlements (facing

valley)

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on theB.2.a.2) locayard on east

river for acontam

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during the year

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(house)

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al, B) climatportunities a

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and b.1) In of agricultural and houses

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124

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Not being damp ding destruction of woods)

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) Not being in ath of flood

4) Not being lanche‐prone

) near round main roads

) locating in close proximity to 

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125

Fig. 9: (A residential block in Belbar)

B.3) Construction of Rural Settlement:

B.3.a) Limitations in Choosing Materials:

Table 2

Where they are usedAbilityMaterials

the bearing walls, ceiling

Bear pressure forces/vertically transfer weight of the walls and ceiling to the ground/High Heat Capacity/recyclability

Stone

Flat ceilings, door and window frames, different sections of the exterior walls

high tensile strength/High Heat Capacity/recyclability

Lumbers, made from a native tree called "Daar" or "Chenaar", length 4 to 5 meters.

On the beams of Ceilinghigh tensile strength/High Heat Capacity/recyclabilityWooden boards

Fill the cracks, join the materials, cover the inside surfaces of the walls and ceiling, and as moisture and thermal insulation.

adhesive quality, High Heat Capacity, High Thermal Resistance/recyclability

Straw-clay plaster

B.3.b) Construction Methods: Construction technology adapts to using accessible materials and confronting nature forces like wind. For instance their special method of placing stones emphasis on reinforcing resistance against vertical forces. Also Longitudinal and transverse lumber are used to distribute loads in walls evenly. (Fig. 7) A fine example of this vernacular technology, considering the low tensile strength of stone, is using lumber pieces in particular places of different sections of the exterior walls as tension frames to connect the parts of the whole structure in order to make the walls strong enough to stand the horizontal forces.

126

Fig. 10: the exte

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