Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

An analysis on Promoting the Public Acceptability of Earth architecture in Yazd City

Amirreza Sadeghian; Roxana Abdollahi; Ali Akbari; ,Mehrdad Javidinejad

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 19 December 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.400964.2048

Abstract

Earth architecture is one of the construction techniques in architecture with a rich history of several thousand years, whose traces are visible in the architecture of different nations ... Read More Earth architecture is one of the construction techniques in architecture with a rich history of several thousand years, whose traces are visible in the architecture of different nations of the world, including the country of Iran. Despite the rich background and existing capacities; The trend of widespread use and acceptability of earthen architecture due to the growth of technology in competing industrial materials and cultural changes in construction has been accompanied by a noticeable decline in the contemporary period.The purpose of this research is to know the bottlenecks and ways to improve earth architecture with an emphasis on the context of the historical city of Yazd. The method of this research is qualitative and based on library studies and deductive reasoning along with the dual nature of theory and application. The research data collection tools are content analysis of theoretical literature and an expert-oriented questionnaire with reference to ten architectural and urban planning experts in Yazd city. The findings of the research show that “earth architecture”, despite having a set of advantages and disadvantages like other techniques and styles in architecture. The grouping and prioritization of the challenges, obstacles and drivers of earth architecture in the research literature and experts of Yazd shows the similarities and differences that indicate the place-based of the public acceptability of earth architecture. Therefore, “public acceptance of earth architecture"; "Non-university programs and courses" and the two categories "Innovation and Technology" and "Development of Standards and Control Criteria" are the priority challenges, obstacles and drivers of Yazd city, respectively. This prioritization can be identified and used collectively in certain physical contexts in order to implement architectural policies. Also, this new policy is the basis for more general attention to the category of "public acceptance" and can be effective in promoting the general acceptance of earth architecture.

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Exploring the Impact of Regional Factors on the Sense of Place; A comparative study of the Historic Districts of Rasht and Yazd

Guilda Daghighi Masoule; Mojgan Khakpour

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, , Pages 265-280

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.191454.1249

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, by the transition from premises of structuralism, subjects like the sense of place have been studied in the paradigm of ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, by the transition from premises of structuralism, subjects like the sense of place have been studied in the paradigm of post-structuralism. This has been done through the lens of post-structuralism to better understand the unique characteristics that contribute to this sense. However, it is valuable to understand the importance of comprehending the sense of place, including cognitive processes and analyzing the factors that contribute to this perception. This article challenges the notion that regional features are solely determined by weather and conducts an analytical study in two distinct regions in Iran to examine the impact of regional factors on the sense of place. The sense of place, in general concept, means the different quality of perception of the space through living and being in the space, which can convert a space into a place. The place, with all of its unique features, belongs to a special territory that creates its own region and habitat, which is distinct from other places.Methods: The objective of this study is to examine how regional factors impact the sense of place. The research focuses on two categories: the natural-geographical environment and the human-made environment. The goal is to identify which regional factors have the greatest influence on the sense of place. This study is a qualitative phenomenological survey that employs an existential (third-person) approach and a comparative analysis method. The study involves field research conducted in the historic districts of Rasht and Yazd cities. According to the research subject, initially, the literature was reviewed, and previous studies were examined. Subsequently, with the aid of field research and an existential approach, the significant factors influencing the sense of place were illustrated in a descriptive manner. Fundamental descriptions of research are extracted in a documentary method and then obtained results are compared with the outcomes of field studies that involve direct observations and interviews with individual or group participants. In fact, the discrepancy in comprehension of humans from a place is the most significant concept of this article, and we can perceive the reasons by recognizing effective factors on comprehension. This research, in a theoretical method, depicts that personal characteristics and environments are pivotal factors in human comprehension. The aim of our study is to compare the impact of regional factors and the built environment on the sense of place. For this purpose, we have chosen two different regions in Iran: Rasht and Yazd. These cities have a rich historical background and are known for their cultural heritage. These cities were selected since they are good examples of places where the sense of place has been preserved over time and is deeply rooted in the collective memory of the local community, according to experts. For compiling the conceptual model of the research, the researchers reviewed the descriptions, concepts, and opinions of experts and researchers and universal experiments on the subject of the sense of place to select the criteria and sub-criterions for this article. According to the opinions of the majority of experts, the sense of place can be identified in three dimensions: somatic place, functional system, and connotation. Considering the holistic concept of the region, which encompasses the habitat and the entirety of a geographical area, including its culture and social values, it is evident that the region influences everything from social norms to cultural practices and habits.Findings: According to studies of this research, the formation of the sense of place can be identified in three dimensions: somatic, functional, and connotation. Effective somatic characteristics that contribute to the sense of place are derived from spatial constraints and encompass a range of factors, from building and architectural elements to furniture. The second category that can affect the sense of place is the functional system, which is influenced by the residential and urban living requirements as well as social and cultural needs, resulting in different activities and various urban usages. The sense of place can be influenced by these various functions. The third group, referred to as connotation, encompasses both tangible and intangible meanings that interact with the physical surroundings and biological characteristics, as well as normative meanings that are influenced by individual and social values. After that, the research focuses on identifying the most influential factors of the region on the sense of place, which in turn affect the related sub-criteria. These factors include spatial constraints such as horizontal and vertical elements, connectors, openings, and fixed furniture. Furthermore, the region can influence the organization of residential, commercial, collective, cultural, and religious activities, as well as intuitive meanings, and can also affect the tangible features of the place, such as the adaptability of elements to atmospheric conditions, decorative elements, visual background, dominant materials, somatic characteristics of the place, and the scent of natural native elements. The symbolic normative meanings influenced by the region include semiology, tales and fables, inclination towards urban gatherings, the presence and activity of individuals on a daily or occasional basis, accessibility to all age and gender groups, social control, security, and the existence of social and public activities. Conclusion: According to a comparative assessment of these factors in the historic district of Rasht and Yazd, it can be stated that the factors of the region that recreate the sense of place have diverse appearances in somatic characteristics, functional systems, and connotations in each of the studied areas. By taking into account the paradigm of this research and examining the elements and sub-components, we can confirm the breadth of the region’s impact on the emergence and understanding of the sense of place in the two factors mentioned earlier, i.e., natural-geographical and human-formed factors.

Determining the effective factors on promoting the "place attachment" for the residents of contemporary neighborhoods centers (Case study: Kooy-e-Asatid neigborhood in Yazd city)

Ali Riahi Dehkordi; Mahdi Montazerolhoja; Mojtaba Sharifnejad

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 93-110

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.185974.1217

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Place attachment is one of the topics in the field of urban design. This concept is a result of linking people with their environment in ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Place attachment is one of the topics in the field of urban design. This concept is a result of linking people with their environment in order to improve environmental quality. The concept of place attachment includes different scales, including city, house, and neighborhood attachment; however, peoples' attachment to their residential environments is the most important. Place attachment is manifested in neighborhood attachment formation by staying and living in the residential environments and eventually developing strong interest. Neighborhood centers are considered the most prominent component of neighborhoods and play an important role in keeping the neighborhood alive to shape neighborhood attachment for residents. Kooy-e-Asatid neighborhood center located in district three of Yazd is the main part of the neighborhood; however, it is faced with many environmental issues such as deteriorated social relationships and declined security due to the reduced presence of people. There are other destructive problems in this neighborhood center, such as the loss of cohesion and spatial integrity due to unbuilt spaces and consequently reduced place attachment and bad quality of life. However, there are some considerations that place attachment can increase people's presence and make sense of attachment in their neighborhood center and functionally save it from isolation. Therefore, the main purpose of this quantitative study is to determine the affecting factors and their impacts on promoting place attachment. Methods: In this regard, in order to collect information, library documents and resources, interviews, field observations, and questionnaires have been used. Eventually, in order to analyze the obtained data SPSS software has been used. The questionnaire designed to be distributed among the residents of the Kooy-e- Asatid neighborhood consisted of 44 questions of variables, and in order to measure the results, a 5-point Likert scale was used. The statistical population included all 1182 people (342 households), and the sample size was 181 questionnaires, calculated by Cochran's formula at 95% confidence level with p = q = 0.5 and with error d = 0.1. Then, they were distributed among the respondents by using the available sampling method. In order to assess the reliability of the questionnaire, the "Cronbach's alpha" test was used, and to evaluate the normality of data distribution, the "Kolmograph-Smirnov" test was utilized. The Bartlett test was applied to determine the correlation between the research data. Finally, the exploratory factor analysis test was used to analyze the affecting factors on the promotion of residents' place attachment. Findings: Findings indicate that among the factors extracted from the questionnaires, physical-visual factors (cumulative factor load of 20.769), individual characteristics (cumulative factor load of 36.645), personal and collective memories and values ( Cumulative factor load 45.760), spatial facilities (cumulative factor load 544.184) and distance from neighborhood center (cumulative factor load 58.900) have the most impacts on Kooy-e- Asatid neighborhood residents' place attachment, respectively. Furthermore, among the obtained factors, the physical-visual factor with indicators such as architectural features, visual signs, type of materials, etc., had the most impact on Kooy-e- Asatid neighborhood residents' place attachment. Apart from the similarities in physical-visual contributors in Kooy-e Asatid and other studied urban areas, architectural features such as designing living spaces by considering proportions and their differences from other contemporary neighborhood centers are very important features in Kooy-e-Asatid neighborhood. Conclusion: After examining the findings, it can be stated that according to physical-visual factors, some features such as individual characteristics, personal and collective memories and values, spatial facilities, and distance from neighborhood center can help the creation of place attachment in contemporary urban centers. Some different suggestions can also be made to promote place attachment in contemporary urban neighborhoods centers: 1. Accurate and calculated design of space in neighborhood centers and paying attention to design features such as the proportions, balance and harmony of space with the existing texture in order to differentiate it from other neighborhood centers; 2. Designing contemporary urban context based on historical context to shape the identity of new urban neighborhoods; 3. Consideration of neighborhood values in designing the neighborhood centers in order to engage people with the place and encourage them to have a greater presence. 4. Creating a connection between different spaces and providing an atmosphere of a collective space into the neighborhood centers in order to create continuity and integrity of spaces.

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Keywords = Yazd

An analysis on Promoting the Public Acceptability of Earth architecture in Yazd City

Abstract

Exploring the Impact of Regional Factors on the Sense of Place; A comparative study of the Historic Districts of Rasht and Yazd

Abstract

Determining the effective factors on promoting the "place attachment" for the residents of contemporary neighborhoods centers (Case study: Kooy-e-Asatid neigborhood in Yazd city)

Abstract