Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

Original Research Paper

Assessing the Effect of Green Roofs on Urban Microclimate, Case study: the Low-Rise Context in Hot-Dry Climate of Shiraz

Sina Karamirad; Roza Vakilinezhad

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 5-19

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.237674.1453

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, various solutions have been proposed to reduce urban heat islands. The most common of these strategies is the use of cool ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, various solutions have been proposed to reduce urban heat islands. The most common of these strategies is the use of cool surfaces (on roofs and sidewalks and vegetation surfaces) and increasing green space. However, the shape of urban blocks, the duration of direct sunlight, and the average radiant temperature play an important role in the thermal comfort of the outer space of cities. The microclimatic temperature conditions of the city affect the thermal behavior of buildings as well as the thermal comfort of pedestrians. Since the simplest way to change the microclimate and reduce the urban heat island is to use cool surfaces and increase green space, in recent decades, the use of green roofs in different climatic regions has expanded. The application of green roofs is one of the common strategies to reduce the thermal load of buildings. On the other hand, it is recommended to use cool surfaces and greenery to change the microclimate and mitigate urban heat islands. This research aims to investigate the effect of green roofs on the urban microclimate in the hot and dry climate.Methods: This study aims to determine the effect of green roofs on local microclimate and urban heat island in the low-rise contexts in the hot and dry climate of Shiraz. The research method used in this research is a computer simulation method, carried out using Envi-met software. Envi-met is a 3D simulation and measurement software for microclimatic conditions of urban climate and is used to analyze the open spaces of urban environments. This software has been selected due to its numerous capabilities and different validated results. The case study is a part of a low-rise urban context in Shiraz, and the research was carried out using Envi-met software for thermal simulation of the outside environment on one of the hottest days of the year. Thermal effects of three roof types on the surrounding environment have been evaluated: a common roof with reflecting isolation layer, a green roof with grass, and a green roof with trees. The simulation was done for the first day of July as one of the hottest days of the year. Data output is taken at the height of 0.5 m above the roof surface (6.5 m above the ground).Findings: The results show that the application of green roofs with trees or grass would slightly improve thermal comfort in the neighborhood. The maximum reduction in air temperature is between 0.27 to 0.74 degrees in the receptors, and 5.05 degrees in mean radiant temperature. In the case of relative humidity, the maximum changes are an increase of 0.36% or a decrease of 0.48%, while the maximum fluctuation of wind speed is an increase by 0.68 m/s. The analysis of the correlation coefficients between the variables and the thermal comfort index of PMV shows a significant correlation. In verifying the results, they are represented as descriptive statistics, including the changes in the variables of air temperature, radiant temperature, wind speed, humidity and thermal comfort. In addition, the relationship between radiant temperature, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed and the thermal comfort has been investigated using statistical analysis and the coefficient of correlation between them has been calculated in three modes: green roof with grass and green roof with tree at 9 am and 5 pm. The correlation coefficients in most cases are more than 0.7 and indicate a strong correlation. In this way, the obtained correlation coefficients show a strong significant direct relationship.Conclusion: Providing A green roof with trees is more efficient than a green roof with grass providing better thermal comfort conditions in urban microclimates. The green roof area is more important than the green roof itself. The application of green roofs in small areas (urban blocks and neighboring) has little effect on the thermal comfort of the microclimate. It would effectively reduce air temperature and cooling effect only if it is used in a vast area. The correlation between the variables and the thermal comfort created in different conditions shows a strong correlation. Based on the results, the extent and the size of the green roof have a more important effect on the region’s microclimate. These results are consistent with previous studies (Battista et al., 2016: 1058) and (Peng et al., 2013: 598) and (Alcazar et al., 2016: 304) and indicate that considering green roofs in small extents such as an urban block or a neighborhood unit has little effect on the microclimatic conditions of the region. In order to benefit from the cooling effects of green roofs and reduce the heat on an urban microclimate scale, it is necessary to use green roofs in a wider area. In summary, the following can be extracted from the results of the present study:- Using a green roof can slightly reduce the outdoor temperature and improve thermal comfort conditions on a neighborhood scale.- A green roof with trees is more effective than a green roof with grass, and from this point of view, it is more preferred.- If the use of green roofs is considered as a solution to reduce air temperature and improve thermal comfort conditions, it should be considered in large urban areas (several urban blocks or several neighborhood units).

Original Research Paper

Creating Pocket Parks for Regenerating People’s Social Interactions, Case study: Khorramdareh City

Mohammad Taghi Heydari; Anita Majidi Heravi; Maryam Rahmani

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 21-39

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.264783.1605

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Urban space is an essential element of a healthy urban life and an arena for shaping human beings since this public life requires tolerance ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Urban space is an essential element of a healthy urban life and an arena for shaping human beings since this public life requires tolerance between human beings. Today, the pocket park approach has been introduced as a platform for creating potential capacities for public space development. The fragmentation of the urban fabric, the destruction of public spaces, and the outbreak of the Coronavirus as a rogue crisis have increased the depth and breadth of production of such a space. Until yesterday, neighborhoods, public baths, mosques, etc., were the basis for friendly and neighborly relations between individuals and families. Today, the development of parks, especially local orchards, can pave the way for the beginning, consolidation, and continuation of friendly and neighborhood relations between local people due to the reduction and elimination of the people’s social role. This is because local parks are places where different groups and social strata get to familiarize themselves and interact with each other. Therefore, the need to use pocket parks as important social stimulus projects of the city, promoting authority and social development, establishing capacity, and developing social capital is considered essential. Khorramdareh city’s capacities and potential in creating local green space in general and pocket parks, in particular, can increase the city’s social presence by benefiting from citizens’ participation; because such parks are considered a lost space in the hierarchy of Khorramdareh urban parks. They can play an effective role in creating relaxation, interactions, and leisure spaces for citizens. The reproduction of pocket parks as a driving force for social presence in Khorramdareh was one of the main objectives of this study. The creation of pocket parks as a driving force for social presence in Khorramdareh was one of the main objectives of this study, and creating a city with a social, democratic, and citizen-oriented quality is one of the consequential goals of this research. This research is aimed at revitalizing the neighborhoods of Khorramdareh in the form of pocket parks and to provide solutions to use its capacity to develop relationships and interactions in the form of neighborhood units. According to the topic, the mental gap of the research investigates the conditions in which pocket parks revitalize the socialization of Khorramdareh neighborhoods. With this approach, the purpose of the present article is to introduce the pocket park development approach as the most effective method in promoting the production of social presence in the neighborhoods of the Iranian city.Methods: The present study is applied in terms of research type, and the research nature is based on a combination of qualitative strategies and correlation method. The current research is hybrid in terms of type, application, and nature. The present study is also considered cross-sectional in terms of time span (September 2017). In order to collect the data required for the research, documentary sources were studied, and some field observations were conducted. Consequently, a factor analysis test, one-sample T-test, and path analysis test in the form of DPSIR model have been run to analyze the data.Findings: The presence of plants, trees, and generally natural elements in public spaces encourages people to be present in these spaces. Research has shown that there is a direct relationship between the use of public spaces and the duration of people’s presence in these spaces with the number and location of trees. Therefore, the existence of green space, by increasing the use of public spaces and the presence of people, will increase the solidarity and social motivation for the neighborhoods in Khorramdareh city. According to the results, the more such high-quality areas are created in neighborhoods, the more opportunities are provided for group social interactions such as meeting, chatting, playing games, sports, etc. As a result of the above activities, these aforementioned spaces acquire the characteristics of vitality and civil life while offering the characteristics of a place. Conclusion: The results of the studies showed that the promotion index of social and neighborhood relations has the highest coefficient, with an impact rate of 4.83. In addition, the classification of indicators affecting the creation of social presence in the form of DPSIR model showed that the “pressure” index with a total effect factor of 0.713 has the greatest impact and causal relationship for creating social coexistence by creating parks in the city of Khorramdareh. Given that the pressure component consists of indicators (quality of social trust between residents; quality of feeling social security; quality of responding to the personality of individuals; a variety of activities tailored to the different needs of different groups of people during the day), these components should be emphasized in the creation of social presence in the city of Khorramdareh. Furthermore, examining what people want from pocket parks and leisure areas and the qualities they like should be on the agenda of employers, investors, and executive working groups. Therefore, the need to review and explore pocket parks, which can be a place for social interaction and increase the presence of people, is significant.

Original Research Paper

Syntactic Analysis of Spatial Transparency in Contemporary Iranian Architecture

Hosna Varmaghani

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 41-57

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.290149.1721

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The positive position of space, or in other words, space-axial against a volumetric viewpoint, is one of the key aspects of Iranian architecture. ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The positive position of space, or in other words, space-axial against a volumetric viewpoint, is one of the key aspects of Iranian architecture. In this regard, transparency is considered one of the principles and fundamentals and among the special and fundamental qualities in the spatial structure of Iranian architecture. Based on this, some contemporary Iranian architects have tried to make it visible and realizable and have continued it based on these principles and the inspirations from the eternal works of this land. Relying on the importance of addressing this indicator, the aim of this research is to measure the application of the transparency concept and how it manifests itself in the physical elements and spatial structures of contemporary Iranian architecture. Accordingly, in the current research, the way of realizing transparency in the contemporary architecture of Iran and the extent and quality of its emergence and development have been questioned and discussed. In order to examine this issue in detail, two cultural centers in the contemporary period that have paid attention to the formal and semantic aspects of Iran’s past architecture have been selected to be analyzed and measured in terms of transparency. The current research started with the hypothesis that the examination of the way transparency is represented in the two buildings of Dezful and Isfahan cultural centers reveals the differences and similarities that can be effective in enriching the contemporary architecture of Iran. Therefore, research questions about the quality of transparency in these two buildings are proposed and lead to measures to make the space transparent in contemporary Iranian architecture: Which physical elements and spatial structures have been used by each of the two cultural center buildings of Dezful and Isfahan and how to create transparency? What are the differences and similarities between the transparency appearance in these two buildings?Methods: The current research has used two quantitative and qualitative strategies. So, the descriptive-analytical and analogical, and logical reasoning methods, as well as bibliographic and document studies, have been used to collect and analyze data. In order to investigate the transparency issue in contemporary Iranian architecture, the main factors that create transparency in architecture were extracted from the existing theories. Then, these components were categorized into four subsections containing the main indicators of spatial transparency. The reason for choosing Dezful Cinema Cultural Center and Isfahan International Cultural Center among existing contemporary cultural centers is the architect’s exceptional attention to the use of Iranian architectural elements and techniques. In order to perform a quantitative analysis using Agraph software, Justified Plan Graphs were first drawn from the floor plans. Since the amount of visible area at any point of the space is an important indicator in evaluating the transparency level, UCL Depthmap software was used to measure this component. In the final stage, each of the four indicators of the transparency concept was measured and concluded with a quantitative analysis of syntactic indicators.Findings: Four syntactic factors of visual cone, spatial integration, connection, and depth were selected to evaluate the degree of transparency. Spatial connectivity and depth, as well as the number of spaces, were analyzed in Agraph software, and two factors of visual accessibility (Isovist) and spatial integration were analyzed and interpreted in Depthmap software. In Dezful Cultural Center, the location of the main volume of the building in the depth of the ground and the externally blocked walls have minimized the continuity and sequence of the internal and external areas of the building. While in Isfahan Cultural Center, the division of the plan into two inward and outward parts has maximized the visual transparency and continuity and sequence of inside and outside in half of the building. In the Dezful building, the depth indicator showed that despite the hierarchy and the distance of the spaces from the external area, the location of open and semi-open internal distributable spaces is in the points that created the continuity and sequence of the internal areas at great depths from the building’s entrance. In the Isfahan building, the low number of depth indicators for most spaces means more integration in the interior space. The comparison of the number of spaces in the two Dezful and Isfahan buildings, and its ratio to the maximum depth in the plan, shows that although there is a significant relationship between the number of spaces and the amount of integration, the presence of a large number of spaces in a slight depth can moderate the effect of high spatial multiplicity on integration reduction. The numerical and figural comparison of the local integration and the maximum and minimum values clearly shows the important role of the inter-space in spatial integration and transparency.Conclusion: In this research, the results were obtained after analyzing the criteria related to the transparency of the spatial structure, including spatial openness, integration and overlap, continuity and sequence, and spatial coherence using the tools of depth, number of spaces, connection, visual cone, and integration. Transparency, in general, is observed in both buildings with the use of relatively similar measures. However, there are differences in how this transparency is created and its amount, which is caused by the difference in how these elements and spatial structures are used. In general, the measures adopted in the physical elements and spatial structures of Isfahan Cultural Center have mainly led to visual transparency. In Dezful Cultural Center, physical and mental transparency has emerged more than visual transparency.

Original Research Paper

Aspects Affecting the Beauty and Ugliness of the City from the Residents’ Point of view, Case study: District 2 of Tehran

Faranak Atarod; Mohsen Habibi; Hossein Zabihi

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 59-72

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.239481.1463

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: This research aims to answer this question: From the residents’ point of view, what is the beauty and desirability of the form and ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: This research aims to answer this question: From the residents’ point of view, what is the beauty and desirability of the form and appearance of urban masses and buildings and their composition? What standards and values are considered for the designers and builders of today’s buildings, which are embodied in the current masses and building forms? Accordingly, this research explores relevant theoretical texts and objective and subjective issues of residents living in District 2 of Tehran. The origin of beauty and aesthetic perception is often defined between the two concepts of objectivism and subjectivism. However, newer philosophical analyzes that adopt an interactive perspective believe that the sense of beauty originates from the patterns that connect people and things. In fact, a reasonable (and usual) solution to the objective-subjective controversy in the evaluation of aesthetic quality acknowledges that aesthetic quality is the joint product of observable characteristics that interact with psychological processes in the human observer. With the flourishing of aesthetic perceptual research and the publication of their results, the differences between the previous evaluations of beauty and these studies became clear. They prompted researchers to look into these differences more.Methods: In the literature review, descriptive and bibliographic methods have been used to progress the research. For the contextual studies, a type of qualitative research method called Grounded Theory Method, which is based on interpretation analysis, has been chosen. Finally, the comparative method (comparison and evaluation between the results of theoretical and contextual studies) has been used to analyze and present the results of the article. The grounded Theory Method applies interpretation in order to discover concepts and relationships between primary data and to organize them in the form of a theoretical explanatory plan. In the present research, the mentioned method has been used to reach the type of view and mental frameworks of the citizens of District 2 of Tehran in relation to urban building and mass aesthetics. Findings: Based on the findings of the research, in the context of irresponsible urban management, ambiguity in the demands of the residents between the new and the past, and the change of conditions and demands over time has created some issues. These issues are classified as conditional categories: “Speculative urban management”, “Wandering between urban fabric protection or change”, and “Instability of residents’ demands and conditions”. In addition, the residents of District 2 of Tehran, in relation to the visual aesthetics of their living environment, believe in “visual irregularities and deterioration” (related to shape combinations) and “lack of open space and increased density” (related to the combination of masses and spaces) which are classified as interactive categories. The interviews affirm that the interactions and processes experienced by the residents have led to consequential categories such as “forgetting the presence of the living environment” and “disconnecting with the living environment”. Accordingly, sub-categories such as distortion of memories and nostalgia can distort the future image and peace of mind, invigorate a sense of indifference towards the living environment, and lead to the thought of migration. They were the guides for the formation of the two main consequences mentioned in this research. Also, an important point emerging from the comparative evaluation between theoretical and contextual studies is the concepts that have been focused on in these two categories of studies are quite common. The concepts mentioned in both categories almost cover each other. But what happened in District 2 of Tehran is actually the opposite of what was desirable. In other words, while the principles and criteria derived from theoretical studies were considered to achieve a pleasant and beautiful physical-visual combination, the results obtained from contextual studies reveal an absence and lack of attention to aesthetic criteria in the formation of mass and building volumes in District 2 of Tehran. Conclusion: According to the conducted investigations and the obtained results, it is possible to determine a physical-visual aesthetic theory with two aspects: content and procedural. The content aspect of this theory is related to the principles and criteria that shape building volumes and masses, which are the same physical-visual components or forces and are compatible with interactive categories obtained from contextual studies. Its procedural aspect is discussed in relation to the conditions and context of the formation of building volumes and masses, which are non-physical components and forces and are consistent with the conditional categories obtained from contextual studies. The absence and lack of attention to physical aesthetic criteria in the formation of building masses and volumes in District 2 of Tehran can be caused by the fact that the designers or constructors not only look at the building differently from the aesthetics experts, but also they have taken an almost opposite path to the theoretical criteria. Based on this, residents and users of the environment have an ugly and undesirable visual perception. The difference in the views of these two groups can be a confirmation of the existence and influence of external forces affecting the formation of building masses. In this context, the land price and its related components are the main factors affecting the appearance of buildings. In addition, the type of choice, approach, and taste of designers, contractors, or builders can be another non-physical component affecting the formation of aesthetic judgments resulting from the analysis and comparison of physical-visual components. The mentioned components, in the lack or shortage of appropriate legal controls and lack of specialized education related to contextual architecture and urban planning, can play a very effective role in the urban visual composition and cause a large gap between the desired and existing situation regarding physical-visual aesthetics in the building masses.

Original Research Paper

Investigating the Evolution of Computation Role in Simulating the Formation Process of Natural Phenomena for Generating Architectural Forms

Yashar Gharachamani Asl; Mohamad Baharvand; Sahar Toofan

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 73-88

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.242338.1476

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Thinking about nature and paying attention to how biological phenomena grow and take shape has a long history and is more valuable than superficial ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Thinking about nature and paying attention to how biological phenomena grow and take shape has a long history and is more valuable than superficial and formal imitation. But more scientific and technical ability is needed to implement it in practice. This may be due to the superficial selection of complex and unambiguous topics due to weaknesses in scientific fields or lack of technical facilities for implementation. Given the technical and scientific developments in recent decades, the possibility of such an inherent approach is not far from the mind. The emergence of new theories and computing methods derived from biological systems over the past few decades has made it possible to deepen the principles and rules of the form production process. The main question is: how can biological growth and formation patterns be used to methodize the process of producing architectural forms? The main purpose of this article is to investigate the modeling and growth processes in biological phenomena to be used in the methodization of the form production process in architecture. One of the patterns in the growth process of biological phenomena is the differential growth pattern.Methods: The research method in the present research is descriptive-analytical, and data collection includes library studies and documents. First, the theoretical and practical backgrounds of computing inspired by biological principles and their evolutionary evolution were examined. Then, using a simulation research method with a logical reasoning strategy, different growth patterns were formed. Finally, during the process, the production of the architectural form was tested and examined. In a simulation experiment, a model of the growth pattern was presented in the production of computer forms. In the analytical part of the present study, considering the importance of the role of algorithmic thinking in modeling the growth process and the formation of biological phenomena for the computational production of an architectural form, a logical reasoning strategy was established to provide a logical thinking system for realizing a relationship between biological realities in the growth process. It has been used to form a general conceptual framework in order to describe the subject and formulate growth guidelines using the abstract values of producing architectural form. Findings: This research started with the classification and analysis of theories in the field of computing inspired by biological processes, according to the time hierarchy of their occurrence, then continued with the introduction of new computing methods inspired by biological principles. Finally, this research was completed using such theories and methods in the production of the digital form. The result is evidence of the historical and evolutionary course of such an approach from theory to practice. For more clarity, theories, methods, and manufacturing processes are presented below with an evolution timeline, which is a new step in this field of research. Achieving the ability to simulate computational theories demonstrates the possibility of modeling growth processes and the formation of biological phenomena in the process of producing an architectural form along a path called computing. In this process, the growth algorithm is programmed within the software environment and then equated. So that all the parameters affecting the formation and growth of the organism are identified and entered into the algorithm, and then the virtual growth process takes place. The result of such an algorithm is the application of the construction method of these organisms to architectural projects and the use of the characteristics of that organism to increase the efficiency of space. In this process, architecture can inherit the qualities that the process of natural products has given to the organism and imitate them in their appearance and form, as well as in their function and behavior.. Conclusion: The form of the process is first generated in the virtual environment by entering various environmental parameters as well as various growth patterns. Then, if it responds to the mentioned environmental conditions and parameters, it will be placed in the path of digital manufacturing and built physically. As a result, the presence of such forms in the not-too-distant future in urban environments and architecture is still being determined. Therefore, the direction of research is more in the field of opinion. Nevertheless, attempts have been made in the field of architecture to create a new design logic based on the path of growth patterns. Naturally, this research is the beginning of further research in areas such as biology and algorithms. Subsequent researchers can examine and test other natural patterns, with a wider range of variables, in the algorithmic process, and step into the development of the research literature. The main result is that algorithmic simulation of growth patterns and the formation of biological phenomena through the computer channel can effectively create new methods for the architectural form production process.

Original Research Paper

Analytical Study of Urban River Regeneration as a Sustainable Public Place and Explanation of its Conceptual Model; Case studies: Balgholi Chai (Ardabil), Zayandehrood (Isfahan), Karun (Ahvaz), Zarjoub (Rasht)‎

Seyed Mojtaba Safdarnejad; Seyed Abdolhadi Daneshpour; Mostafa Behzadfar

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 89-110

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.248179.1512

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Urban rivers are public spaces whose relationship with humans has been the focus of renewed attention in the 2000s and are considered a suitable ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Urban rivers are public spaces whose relationship with humans has been the focus of renewed attention in the 2000s and are considered a suitable opportunity for local communities. The experiences of the cities such as Dezful, Isfahan, Shushtar, etc., show that rivers have played an effective role in locating and expanding cities, providing water and energy, ventilation and climate comfort, creating social spaces and spending leisure time, and have been a part of the residents’ lives. However, their current situation indicates oblivion and ignorance of the links between people, cities, and rivers. So, rivers have faced many challenges, such as instability, pollution, habitat destruction, and malfunctions with the rapid development of urbanization. In urban design, this situation has weakened the spatial quality and turned rivers into wetlands with various problems. Therefore, any effort to preserve and restore these water sources is very important. In this regard, urban design can play an important role by re-establishing the links between the city and the river. For this purpose, the current research seeks an integrated approach of “river regeneration as a sustainable public place”; A natural-urban area that brings the river from the peripheral regions to the urban context to be effective in the quality of urban life. The latter approach of “sustainable waterfront urban regeneration” seeks to revive them as “sustainable places” in balance with the category of ecological protection. The current research is trying to explain how to revive the river as a sustainable public place while investigating people’s assessment of the measures taken on rivers and their macro quality as public places.Methods: The philosophical foundation of the research is pragmatism. Therefore, the research approach is combinational, and the research method is based on the case study of the rivers in Isfahan, Ahvaz, Ardabil, and Rasht. The concepts and methods of sustainable revitalization have been analyzed through literature review and similar experiences and have been completed through field surveys based on content analysis and contextual theory.Findings: “Sustainable revitalization of the river as a sustainable public place” is a comprehensive and integrated approach and a strategic and synergistic program in the framework of sustainable development (with a priority on the environmental dimension) in line with connecting the river with the city’s life system and returning it to the context of citizens’ lives. So, this framework is introduced along with revitalizing the river and paying attention to its challenges, with minimal physical interventions and changing the instrumental view of humans, through the processes of bed creation, place-making, exploitation, place ownership, and place cultivation, as a “sustainable public place” focusing on the urban rivers to emerge, play a role in the social life of citizens and compete with other economic sectors. Using the latest aspect of sustainable urban regeneration, i.e., creating a “sustainable place” that relies on the dimension of social sustainability as a certainty of development, this approach has made the public space of urban rivers centered on the river a criterion of action and the relationship between the city and its residents. It establishes a close relationship with nature. In fact, the attraction and access of the city people to the river by relying on the social aspect of nature, such as spending leisure time, their common interest, the protection of the river in the minds of the citizens, etc., leads to a balance between economic interests and environmental goals and provides public access to the river. Conclusion: The geospatial information of the case studies shows that from people’s point of view, the quality of public places based on Karun and Zarjoub is at a medium to a low level, Balgholi Chai of Ardabil is at a medium level, and Zayandehrood of Isfahan is at a medium to a high level. Nevertheless, corrective measures have improved the condition of the rivers and their public places to some extent. The sustainable revitalization of urban rivers seeks to revive them in the form of a “sustainable public place”. The macro mechanisms of this approach include the balancing of the river dimensions, an active and comprehensive consideration, the facilitation of various functions, a holistic approach to the river, the priority of the river sanitation condition as an open biological system full of diversity, simultaneous focus on “input, process, output, qualities, effects”, river integration, grounding the human presence to experience the place, redefining the place of the river in macro-environmental, social, economic systems, balancing the process with the life cycle of the public place and relying on its formations, paying attention to the expectations of the citizens in the process and facilitating the communication of the city, the citizens, and the river.

Original Research Paper

Analyzing and Assessing the Elements of Urban Development Strategy in Small Cities; A Case Study of Galougah, Mazandaran

Ali Hosseini; Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi; Zahra Kabiri; Ramin Zarbi Kenari

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 111-129

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.280499.1682

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: A city’s long-term future vision is created through the process of creating an urban development strategy, upon which executive plans ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: A city’s long-term future vision is created through the process of creating an urban development strategy, upon which executive plans are created. The main objective of urban development strategy is to increase economic competitiveness, but it also addresses issues related to the environment, finances, infrastructure, urban design, and poverty alleviation. The aim of this research is to analyze and evaluate various aspects of the development strategy in Galougah city in order to gain a better understanding of the situation there. The study outlines the comprehensive urban plan that was implemented in 2010, as well as a detailed tourism plan for the Galougah Sea that was developed in 2003. However, the city’s master plan has failed to effectively guide urban development and meet the needs of the current population. The planning process does not involve the urban beneficiaries, and they lack knowledge about how decision-makers make decisions regarding urban challenges. Urban challenges, such as services, environmental problems like the urban sewage system, specific problems of inefficient urban fabrics, and physical problems like the transportation network, sidewalks, and road network lighting, have not been properly identified due to a lack of awareness and effective two-way communication between various city managers. To support this research, the implementation of an urban development strategy plan in Galougah city can be beneficial. This is due to the fact that the issues with urban management not only affect the city but also impact other urban stakeholders, such as the economy, sustainable urban employment, and seasonal migrations. By considering these issues, along with the structural limitations of traditional plans and the distinct conditions of Galougah city, an urban development strategy plan could provide a more comprehensive approach to addressing the city’s challenges.Methods: This research is both descriptive and analytical in nature and aims to be practical. The data was collected through surveys and documentary methods. The researcher developed a questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale as the research tool. The statistical population of this study includes experts in urban issues and residents of Galougah city. In order to gather information, documentary, library, and survey methods were employed. Before being distributed to the statistical population, the prepared questionnaire underwent content validity by being tested with individuals who had opinions on this issue, which helped to ensure its dependability. Cochran’s methodology was followed and employed by a simple random sampling technique to distribute 355 questionnaires to heads-of-household, ensuring that they were representative of the city. A random selection technique was used for each questionnaire. A snowball sampling approach was used to identify a group of specialists, and ultimately, 22 experts were included in the study. To analyze the data, descriptive analysis techniques such as frequency percentage, mean, standard deviation, and variance were employed. Inferential tests in SPSS, including the one-sample t-test, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), LSD post hoc test, and Pearson correlation, were also used.Findings: The results of this study demonstrate that Galougah is dealing with issues, all of which have resulted in a decline in the city’s quality of urban life. The mandatory components of the urban development strategy can be strengthened in order to improve the city’s livability. According to the statistical tests conducted, the research findings showed that the relevant indicators for the residents and experts of Galougah City are below average. The dimension of urban livability was found to be weaker than other dimensions among the average indicators for residents, while the dimension of urban competitiveness ranked second. The following scenario involves urban governance and banking. Urban specialists assess these dimensions in the same context. The statistically significant difference observed between the two study groups’ viewpoints is due to the lower average of the analyzed dimensions by the experts, despite their alignment with the residents’ perspectives. This is because experts are more involved in practical and unbiased city issues, such as competition and government, which may have influenced their evaluations.Conclusion: According to the test results, Galougah City is not in an acceptable state for city development strategies, and there is a greater need than ever to prepare and implement the city development plan. Due to the poor and intolerable situation in Galougah city, improving and applying livability approaches appears important. The study of sustainable development goals in cities is based on governance, and proper observance and use of indicators can increase public confidence in institutions of urban management. The assessment and analysis conducted in this research can serve as the framework for assessing various concerns for the mentioned program. In general, the results of this research demonstrate the importance of developing an urban development strategy plan. The research results have the potential to improve our understanding of various challenges faced by citizens and urban management. These findings can be used by managers, planners, and policymakers to develop a city development strategy plan that addresses the city’s current situation and helps to solve its problems in a logical manner.

Original Research Paper

Understanding the Qazibala Farmstead Based on the Six Criteria of Farmsteads Owned by Lords

Hosein Raie

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 131-144

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.271946.1634

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, extensive studies have identified historic residential farmsteads in the central plateau of Iran. The cultural geography ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In recent years, extensive studies have identified historic residential farmsteads in the central plateau of Iran. The cultural geography of cities such as Qom is an example of Iranian architecture. Farmsteads like Sezavar, Alborz, Kahak, and Cheshmeh Ali, as well as Qazibala farmstead, were formed at some point in history, particularly during the Qajar era, and their remnants can still be seen in and around Qom. The study focuses on communities’ lack of knowledge on recognizing historic farmsteads. Regardless of their identity, many lord-owned farmsteads are being improperly reconstructed or registered on the National Monuments List under different names and titles. The Qazibala farmstead in Qom has also faced these problems. This study focuses on two primary questions; 1. Which criteria for identifying the lordly farmsteads of Iran corresponds to the Qazibala Collection? 2. How does identifying the Qazibala as a lordly farmstead help protect it? The research aimed to introduce the Qazibala farmstead as a lord-owned farmstead in Iran. To this end, the interpretive approach and historical interpretive strategy are easily used with document research and field studies. The findings revealed that six criteria for identifying lord-owned farmsteads in Iran had been identified. So, the Qazibala farmstead is recognized as Lord-owned Farmstead following criteria such as the establishment of physical elements, historical documentation, historical continuity, lordly ownership, fixed population, and stable status. Therefore, identifying this complex as a Lord-owned farmstead can affect its introduction, preservation, and revitalization and prevent improper physical and functional interference from stakeholders.Methods: The research aims to introduce the Qazibala farmstead as a lord-owned farmstead in Iran. To this end, the interpretive approach and historical interpretive strategy were used with bibliographic research and field studies. To give the researcher complete access to the current condition of the farmstead, the farm’s territory and its components, including the mansion, reservoir, tower and barrow, garden, and Qanats, were initially mapped, photographed, and documented. Following that, historical and legal documents, like Naser al-Din Shah’s travelogue, genealogy, deeds, and pictures of the Harvard University Document Center were studied, and interviews with Mohammad Vafaei and Afshin Bakhtiar were conducted to complete the research. The overlapping of the preceding information produced findings that were interpreted and analyzed to meet the six criteria of lord-owned farmsteads in Iran’s central climate.Findings: During the Qajar period, the Qazibala farm was managed using the feudal lord system. This system was maintained in the same order and under the ownership of lords such as Haj Hossein Khan Khalaj, Haj Isaq Khan, and Sardar Motazed until the constitutional period and the first period of the National Assembly. Many farmsteads, particularly the Qazibala farmstead, lost their original form and function during the second Pahlavi period, as the Iranian Land Reform began, and their owners dispersed and migrated. Lotf Ali Khan, the previous owner, entrusted the farmstead to Nazanin Vafai after the Islamic Revolution. The earthquake of 1980 also destroyed a portion of the farms’ tower, barrow, and fence. The social and political changes allowed farm workers and serfs to cross the farm’s fence into the fields, forming the Qazibala village. According to the research findings, the Qazibala farm meets all six criteria. The Qazibala farmstead meets the first criterion, which is the establishment of physical elements. Within this field were features like agricultural land, Qanats, mosques, manors, towers, and barrows, which are still standing or currently experiencing a revival. This farmstead meets the second criterion because it is credible according to two historical travelogues by two venerable and seasoned authors, along with numerous antiquated images and records that support the farm’s credentials. Based on the third criterion, along with the existence of architectural patterns in the physical components, and the mentioned documents, this farmstead dates back to the historical eras of the Qajar and Mohammad Shah. According to the studies conducted in the fourth criterion, the owners of the farm from the Qajar period until it was converted into a village were Mohammad Hossein Khan, Haj Eshaq Khan, Motazed Nezam, Zinat al-Moluk, and Lotf Ali Khan; thus, this farmstead has been privately owned by their lords. Moreover, the fifth criterion reveals that, according to the mentioned documents, this farmstead had a fixed and floating population from the start. Their number increased from 266 to 85 people between 1346 and 1390. These changes and demographic sequence have demonstrated the farm’s viability over time. The Qazibala farmstead is also valid in the sixth criterion. Pictures 10–13 depict the farmstead’s evolution from the beginning to the present, demonstrating its stability despite changes in shape and substance.Conclusion: Previous research demonstrates that the Qazibala complex satisfies the six requirements for identifying lord-owned farmsteads and is recognized as one. This farm was overlooked during the course of social, economic, and political changes and developments. Still, in the form of a “cohesive whole” and with the presence of all possessions and associated elements, it can now be referred to as “Qazibala Lord-owned Farmstead” and be registered, according to documents and archives in the list of national monuments of Iran. Registration based on accurate information can help introduce and preserve this site. By registering this complex as a lord-owned farmstead, all its associated elements will be physically and functionally linked. None of these components can be subjected to inappropriate physical intervention on their own, but their role in the farmstead, along with other related elements such as reservoirs, mills, Qanats, and waterways, should be understood before taking appropriate action. Moreover, by stating that this site is a residential farmstead owned by a lord, it can be classified as an “Important Agricultural Heritage” and registered in the GIAHS system. The GIAHS secretariat in Iran can prepare the global registration file with five criteria based on executive instructions. With this action, many related data in the architectural, agricultural, economic, social, political, cultural, legal, and judicial fields hidden in the Qazibala farmstead and other farms will be introduced and then placed on the path of dynamic preservation based on time and place requirements.

Original Research Paper

Developing a Conceptual Framework for Knowledge-Based Urban Development by Integrating and Analyzing Theories

Masoome Jafari; Manuchehr Tabibian; Hossein Bahraini

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 145-160

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.248491.1516

Abstract

Extanded AbstractBackground and Objectives: Knowledge has been a vital resource for progress since human existence on Earth began. However, the rapid delivery and completion of explicit ... Read More Extanded AbstractBackground and Objectives: Knowledge has been a vital resource for progress since human existence on Earth began. However, the rapid delivery and completion of explicit and targeted knowledge management as a strategic resource are new these days. In fact, due to a lack of understanding of the concept of knowledge assets and its resources, and regarding the lack of knowledge of content management development in cities, the nature of knowledge development and its pattern in the cities of developing countries needs to be clarified. There is also no written plan to move towards knowledge-based urban development. In this research, the influential components of knowledge-based urban development in Iran have been provided by analyzing and integrating the opinions of relevant thinkers.Methods: This research has a qualitative nature in terms of descriptive-analytical targeting, and it is conducted by content analysis and comparative research methods. The analytical approach of this article is non-interventional, and it is only used for highlighting and systematically expressing the optimal patterns and points that have been extracted from a collection of texts. Therefore, the bibliographic method has been followed to collect information. First, the opinions of thinkers were collected in three time periods of 1990-2000, 2000-2010, and 2010-2016 regarding knowledge-based urban development. Thereafter, the models and successful experiences in this type of development were collected and finally analyzed through categorical content analysis. The data were coded, and the Likert scale was used for the survey, which was theoretically saturated with 20 experts using the snowball sampling method after the screening. In the end, the indicators were prioritized by these people. Findings: After analyzing thinkers’ views in three different decades, examining the experiences of cities and countries in perspective and practice, and analyzing urban development patterns, the quality of criteria was analyzed. According to this method, using the Likert spectrum, six components, and twenty-five indicators were obtained based on the consensus of 20 urban experts, including professors, managers, and experts in this field. The obtained data were used to analyze potential cities in Iran in the realization of knowledge-based urban development. Finally, experts were asked to rate the components of knowledge-based urban development concerning Iran. First, the knowledge or institutional management component was prioritized at the top, and then the economic component, technology and communications, urban environment, knowledge indicators, and finally, the priority knowledge location were put into scrutiny. The main causes of the mentioned challenges were the inefficiency of management, the lack of integration, and the inexistence of integrated knowledge management in Iran, leading to the lack of realization of knowledge-based urban development.Conclusion: Urban development is a knowledge-based development in the 21st cities century resulting from extensive social, economic, environmental, managerial, and physical changes. According to extensive studies and projects in developed and developing countries, urban development has performed very well, and it can replace the current urban development plans in the world, given the existing context. One of the challenges is the need for integrated urban management to realize knowledge-based urban development. Another challenge is the need for more effective communication between universities, units, and educational institutions with growth places or knowledge-based industries to exploit the infrastructure and facilities and prevent the leaving of knowledge-making employees from the knowledge context. Another important challenge relates to a passive society that does not participate, especially in urban affairs, and creates social divisions. Another challenge is the need for more knowledgeable staff with political and social roots. As mentioned in this study, elite knowledge employees want adequate and appropriate infrastructure in this environment; however, when the vision of basic knowledge in Iran remains only theoretical, and the necessary infrastructure is not provided to attract these employees, brain drain occurs daily. Another challenge is the mono-product economy and the inflexibility of the market and government interference in private affairs, which can be seen in the social, managerial, and even ecological context. The impact of technocratic, inflexible, and coercive decisions on economic affairs is evident. Therefore, this development will not take place except in societies with good and transparent governance and a democratic society with cultural diversity and adequate and receptive infrastructure.

Original Research Paper

The Criteria for Selecting Architecture Teaching Assistants and Visiting Instructors; Case Study: Hakim Sabzevari University

Vahid Sadram; Seyedeh Mahsa Mousavi Shilgani; Sara Asaadi Jafarabad

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 161-173

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.252278.1537

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In most architecture schools in the country, having teaching assistants alongside qualified professors is essential due to various reasons, ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In most architecture schools in the country, having teaching assistants alongside qualified professors is essential due to various reasons, including the sudden increase of architecture students in the last decade and the lack of experienced professors, and the need to train architecture instructors for the bright educational future of this field. In addition, the universities that do not use such assistants for any reason will face the sudden aging and retirement of their professors in the future. For this reason, it is important to hire teaching assistants to solve the shortage of professors regarding the increase of architecture students and train teachers for their educational future. However, on the other hand, the professors of architecture or architecture schools do not apply any criteria for selecting assistants. The vagueness of the appropriate criteria for selecting teaching assistants and visiting instructors has sometimes led to the selection of people who do not have the necessary qualifications and interest in educating architecture students. On the other hand, people who are good at being teaching assistants have a lower chance of being selected for the position due to the high volume of applicants. This might also lead them to give up their application. Therefore, the article’s authors aim to find the criteria for better selection of teaching assistants and ask, “What are the appropriate criteria for selecting teaching assistants and visiting instructors with inadequate experience to help the main professors in teaching architectural design workshops?” The research results can be useful and generalizable for other architecture schools by changing the research parameters.Methods: The research uses the “contextual” research method, and it was conducted through interviews and questionnaires. Bibliographic studies have also contributed to conducting the research. Two groups were allocated for data collection. The first group was comprised of professors, and the second group was comprised of students. This research was carried out by interviewing the faculty members of Hakim Sabzevari University, Khayyam University of Mashhad, and Hakim Nizami University of Qochan (choosing multiple universities in Khorasan was necessary to increase the internal validity of the research. In addition, several universities were requested to cooperate. These two universities agreed to cooperate with the researchers) and a questionnaire was compiled for architecture students at these universities. In fact, this research was concerned with the selection criteria of assistants from the perspective of these two groups, that is, the main professors (and the assistants above) and the architecture students (and the assistants below). By examining and comparing the interview data and the questionnaire output, we achieved the criteria for selecting visiting instructors and teaching assistants and finally prioritized these criteria.Findings: The features deduced from the interview and questionnaire show that qualifications such as “proper communication with students”, “proper transfer of content”, “being available for students”, “updated information” , “study in the field of teaching” , “appropriate social behavior” , “learning from the professor” , “ mastery of the relevant subject” , “ coordination with the professor” , “ regular attendance” and “ motivation and interest in teaching” were addressed by both professors and students. On the other hand, “professional work” , “ helping the professor” , “class management skills” , “ appropriate age difference with the student” , and “ having been graduated” were only expressed by professors. Other qualifications such as “presentation of tasks” , “perseverance” , “satisfaction with the teaching method” , and “ encouraging students” were only mentioned in student statements. The shared opinions of the two groups in choosing the criteria and prioritizing them came from the same concern in both groups. The difference in opinions seems to be caused by two different perspectives of professors and students.Conclusion: The students’ concern and dissatisfaction with some teaching assistants in the architectural design workshop, as well as the lack of clear criteria for selecting these assistants or instructors, prompted the authors to find and prioritize the selection criteria in this research. The data of this research was collected in the form of “interviews” with architecture professors and faculty members of three architectural schools in Khorasan, and the completion of a “questionnaire” by the students of these schools. After coding and analyzing the data, the following criteria were extracted and prioritized based on the opinions of professors and students: “regular attendance”, “updated information”,” coordination with the teacher”, “mastery of the relevant subject”, “proper communication with students”, “knowledge of teaching”, “being available for students”, “professional work alongside teaching”, “appropriate social behavior”, “learning from the professor”, “proper transfer of content”, “motivation and interest in teaching”, “encouraging students, “helping the teacher”,” class management skills”, “presentation of tasks”, “satisfaction with the teaching method”, “perseverance in carrying out responsibility”, “being graduated”,” appropriate age difference with the student”.

Original Research Paper

Assessing the Feasibility of Using Office Building Envelope Optimization Solutions in Temperate Regions of Iran; A Case Study of Zero Energy Buildings in Similar Climates

Fatemeh Yarmohammad; Fatemeh Mehdizadeh Saradj

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 175-195

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.225316.1384

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Air pollution and excessive energy consumption are two crises that seriously threaten metropolises today and endanger the health of society ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Air pollution and excessive energy consumption are two crises that seriously threaten metropolises today and endanger the health of society and energy sources in the future. Nearly half of the world’s non-renewable energy resources have been consumed. An energy shortage is inevitable because more than 40% of energy consumption is in the construction sector. The average energy consumption of buildings in Iran is more than 2.5 times the world average, and big cities suffer from air pollution, which is often caused by fossil fuels. More than 98% of the energy in Iran is consumed as oil and gas products, which account for 26.4% of carbon dioxide emissions. The buildings are designed and built in such a way that they do not retain the cold and heat that is provided with exorbitant costs. The heat exchange occurs quickly due to the un-insulated outer envelope (walls, roof, and floor) and un-insulated cooling and heating facilities, which leads to an increase in energy consumption by heating and cooling systems. The energy consumption research in the recent decade comprises sustainable, zero-energy, and zero-carbon buildings. The annual energy consumption of these buildings is nearly zero, and they do not produce carbon pollutants. Considering the non-use of carbon dioxide-producing energies and renewable energy supply, zero-carbon buildings can effectively reduce air pollution in big cities. This research aims to identify and explain the design principles of European zero-energy office building envelopes to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Then it will evaluate the feasibility of using the solutions above in cities with similar climates in Iran.Methods: At first, the principles and solutions of reducing energy consumption, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and using renewable energies that directly or indirectly affect the design of the building envelope have been identified and specified. Then, to reduce energy consumption, carbon dioxide emission, and the use of renewable energy, 34 examples of office buildings in temperate European regions have been examined, and the most applied methods for designing their envelopes have been identified. Then, the most widely used solutions identified for the feasibility of implementation for office buildings in areas with similar climates in Iran have been weighted by the Shannon entropy method and ranked according to the combined weight of application, feasibility, or based on some parameters such as cost, ease of implementation during construction and after construction, the need for skilled labor and specialized equipment, execution time, the produced energy and payback period of the investment. Findings: The results of the research show that the most employed solutions are related to the use of photovoltaic panels, thermal insulation of the walls, the use of natural ventilation, attention to the dimensions and position of the windows, the use of daylight, the use of materials with suitable thermal capacity, the use of greenhouse and atrium, and the use of green wall and roof.Conclusion: The results of this article indicate the most effective principles and common solutions for the envelope design of zero-energy buildings in Iran with climates similar to the European climate. The combined use of these solutions in the design of envelopes can greatly reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the short term. Due to the novel nature of the construction and operation of zero energy buildings in Iran and the lack of experience in obtaining the productivity and energy efficiency of these buildings using various solutions so far, using the experiences of advanced countries and the feasibility of implementing those solutions is indispensable to achieve an optimal and appropriate design and the highest energy efficiency of the buildings in Iran shortly. Therefore, the results of this research can effectively help designers in this field.

Original Research Paper

Analysis of the Impact of Volume Changes on Acoustic Behavior in Mosques; Case Study: the Historic Mosques of Tabriz

Abbas Ghaffari; Farzaneh Gholizadeh

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 197-210

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.230007.1410

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Hearing in humans is a sense which has no role in selecting entries and responds unconsciously to various sounds. The environment in which ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Hearing in humans is a sense which has no role in selecting entries and responds unconsciously to various sounds. The environment in which humans live is overfilled with such sounds and vis saturated with different types of sounds from a variety of sources. Depending on the location of the human, the maximum amount of sound exposure that the ear can tolerate is determined. Architecture limits and frames sound. This causes the sound to behave differently indoors than outdoors. The type of difference is sometimes desirable and sometimes undesirable, and this is due to different architectures. There are many effective components in the formation of architecture and the physical structure of a place. However, early studies in Acoustics for architecture, exemplified by Sabine's formula, placed emphasis on the size, materials, and surface area of space as the most important factors in shaping its acoustics. As mosques are of a particular function in terms of acoustics, they require multiple behaviors in this field. An acoustically ideal mosque should not only provide quiet spaces for individual concentration, but also distribute sound effectively for collective use. According to Sabin's formula, this can be achieved through careful consideration of the volume, materials, and surface area of the space.Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate how changes in volume affect the acoustic behavior of mosques. To achieve this, the study aimed to maintain consistent parameters affecting sound measurements to analyze the impact of volume variations on the acoustic behavior of mosques. Findings suggest that traditional mosques with smaller volumes generally have more homogeneous sound behavior and exhibit higher sound pressure levels throughout the space. In contrast, larger mosques may have areas with high sound pressure levels but inconsistent sound behavior. The study was conducted in two phases - a theoretical phase and a field study - focusing on analyzing the acoustic behavior of mosques using advanced tools to obtain accurate results. The main objective of the research was to differentiate between acoustics in different volumetric types and identify effective techniques. In order to measure the Reverberation time, the 2260 device of B&K Denmark has been used, and several points have been measured in mosques depending on the size of the plan surface. The SINUS Acoustic Camera was utilized for imaging purposes and was operated in two positions. During the first stage, the samples' overall noise level was recorded. In the second position, the sound source was utilized. In all instances, the position of the source in the Mihrab was taken into account. This was done to simulate the preacher's typical placement in the Mihrab. The selected frequency range is up to 10 kHz. Findings: The findings indicate that all samples had a consistent sound distribution of 94 decibels. However, the largest volume exhibited the lowest sound pressure level, while the smaller volumes had higher sound pressure levels in proportion to their size. This shows that the effect of loud noises in space is much less felt with increasing volume. This acoustic event intensifies with increasing frequency and the effect of volume is less at low frequencies. On the other hand, increasing the volume increases the reverberation time, and this change, in contrast to the SPL, is greater at lower frequencies. In other words, the volume at lower frequencies is an effective factor in changes in the reverberation time and does not play a significant role in the reverberation time of space at high frequencies.Conclusion: The results show that increasing the volume in the same structure of the samples reduces the sound pressure level in the building and, at the same time, increases the reverberation time. This is directly dependent on the frequency, and at lower frequencies, increasing the volume has less effect on the sound pressure level. In the reverberation time factor, the frequency behavior is inverse and the volume will be less effective at higher frequencies, which proves the acoustic balance in the samples. The three factors of volume, reverberation time, and sound pressure level vary in relation to the frequency range. The relationship between volume, reverberation time, and sound pressure level also varies depending on the frequency spectrum. This finding will be effective in designing mosques with a similar structure because the reverberation time and the desired sound pressure level can be predicted depending on the desired volume. On the other hand, since a standard amount is defined for reverberation time in mosques and other settings, the volume of the space can be designed, and the sound pressure level can be adjusted to achieve the desired Reverberation time.

Original Research Paper

Evaluation and Introducing Effective Models of Regionalism for Integrated Governing of Iran's Metropolitan Regions

Iradj Asadie; Esfandiar Zebardast

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 211-229

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.254622.1553

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The recognition of metropolitan regions as well as the question of appropriate and effective institutions and structures for the governance ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The recognition of metropolitan regions as well as the question of appropriate and effective institutions and structures for the governance of them has been a serious intellectual concern for nearly a century. These pioneering metropolitan scholars argued that the management of contemporary metropolitan areas based on the ideas, methods, structures, and institutions of traditional urban management were no longer effective. A great deal of governmental reorganizations should take place in these areas to address the managerial inefficiencies of these new space realms. The argument for governmental reorganizations and establishing large-scale metropolitan governments was based on the belief that the process of physical growth and development of twentieth century cities has transcended the boundaries of traditional political divisions in such a way that the city and the political boundaries of the historic municipality no longer correspond even to the territory of the built-up urban area. In other words, the city and the built-up urban areas with its horizontal expansion covers a much wider range of traditional political divisions of the municipality and even larger political territories such as county and districts, and this means that there is no correspondence between the built-up territory of the city and its political and governmental organization. This non-compliance poses the greatest managerial challenge for this type of large urban regions, known as political or governmental fragmentation. On the other hand, metropolitan regionalism generally refers to a set of strategies aimed at overcoming the challenge of political and governmental fragmentation. As the metropolitan scholars emphasize, all kinds of strategies and models of metropolitan regionalism are in fact a response to the growth of urban areas beyond the usual administrative-political boundaries, during which the metropolitan areas or regions transcends political boundaries of tens or hundreds of cities, counties and districts. Hence, the discussion of governance organization in metropolitan areas in the form of various models and strategies of regionalism has been a topic that has been raised at the same time with the beginning of the first dispersal of cities and sprawl beyond conventional legal-political boundaries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. All strategies of metropolitan regionalism seek to create a variety of structures or processes to create coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various territorial and institutional actors in the region in order to mitigate the adverse economic, social, political and environmental effects of political fragmentation. In the last two decades, from when the issue of metropolitan regionalism in Iran was discussed with the approval of the bill "Planning and management of the Majmooe-a-shahri of Tehran (Tehran metropolitan regions) and other major cities" in 1995, governments and academics have developed various models and strategies to overcome the challenge of political fragmentation in metropolitan areas, although almost none have been implemented. Reviews show that in a significant part of the proposed models for reorganizing the government of these areas, the specific spatial and political context of metropolitan areas in Iran have been less considered and therefore, in terms of theoretical and practical criteria for action in any governmental reorganization, the proposals presented suffer from methodological errors. For example, for the integrated management of the country's metropolitan areas, a two-tier (federal) metropolitan government model has been proposed, which has been used in the world to overcome political fragmentation in the built-up urban or metropolitan area, not huge functional urban regions that are very different from the former in terms of geographical definition and functional requirements. This methodological error is mostly due to the lack of sufficient consideration for the nature of different types of city-based regions on the one hand and not so deep knowledge of regionalism models and political and functional requirements of their implementations on the other hand. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to find those models of metropolitan regionalism that are in relative proportion with the geographical definition of metropolitan regions (majmoo-e-shahri) as well as the characteristics of local and regional territorial management of the country.Methods: For achieving our purpose, various models of metropolitan regionalism are examined in order to show the scope of their application - in terms of spatial-territorial, political and functional requirements of each. So, after a concise discussion of the reasons for dealing with metropolitan regionalism, discusses the various well-known typologies of metropolitan regionalism and provides a detailed list of main models of metropolitan regionalism. In the following, the appropriateness and effectiveness of each of the models of metropolitan regionalism in terms of two major definitions of "city", one in the sense of urban or metropolitan built-up area and the other in the sense of urban or metropolitan functional region are examined. Findings: The research findings show that among the different models discussed in this paper three models, namely annexation, local and regional special districts and formal inter-municipal cooperation have been used in Iran before. However, the important point is that, apart from local and regional special districts, the other two models are used to consolidate territorial governance in urban or metropolitan built-up area rather than whole of a large metropolitan region. Other three models, two-tiered metropolitan government, comprehensive urban county, and city-county consolidation are also used to consolidate territorial governance in urban or metropolitan built-up areas or small urban regions within a county borders. The two models of regional councils as well as regional government are the only models and structures that by definition can cover the whole of a large metropolitan region frequencies.Conclusion: The intellectual contribution of this paper is to show which model will have the most effectiveness to establish unity in the governance of large metropolitan regions. Here, by examining the spatial extent and functional spectrum of different models of regionalism, it is clear that two models of regional councils as well as regional government are the only models and structures that by definition can cover the whole of a large metropolitan region.

Original Research Paper

Analysis of the Internal Brand Image of the Historical Context of Isfahan

Hajar Nasei Isfahani; Mahin Nastaran; Rasoul Bidram

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 231-245

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.261676.1593

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Historical contexts are the relative advantage of old cities, which can attract both human and economic capital in urban competitiveness ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Historical contexts are the relative advantage of old cities, which can attract both human and economic capital in urban competitiveness approaches. However, this advantage becomes a competitive one when the place brand can create a unique valuable image in the minds of its stakeholders. Therefore, any planning and designing to promote the brand of the place requires accurate identification of the current situation and perception of the beneficiaries of that place. Consequently, it is very important to examine the mental image of the internal stakeholders of that place, including residents, business owners, and citizens, all of which determine the internal brand of the context. The urban context is only successful in satisfying external stakeholders, including tourists and investors, once it creates value, a positive image, or satisfaction for its internal stakeholders. Therefore, this study was first conducted to investigate the perception of the internal brand of the historical context of Isfahan and to know what factors shape the mentality of internal stakeholders in the perception of the brand of the historical context of Isfahan and also what the current status of its brand image is.Methods: The methodology used is organized and implemented based on the grounded theory of Strauss and Corbin. Considering this theory, recognition of the phenomenon or the presentation of the theory comes from the data collected. Based on their systematic collection and analysis, it is rooted in the conceptual data. The purpose of a grounded theory is to provide an abstract analytical framework for a process, action, or interaction. Based on this fact, in this research, the emotions, feelings, and behavior of the internal stakeholders in the context are investigated using open-ended qualitative interviews. The data gathered is used to analyze and interpret the perception of the context for discovering their concepts and relations and organize them in the form of a necessary theoretical explanatory plan. Therefore, by conducting in-depth interviews with 245 people in five historical neighborhoods of Jubareh Dardasht, Jolfa, Takht-e Foulad, and Naqsh-e Jahan, the internal image of the place brand was investigated and analyzed. Findings: The data gathered helped us extract 72 key concepts and 19 main categories. The results indicate that the brand image of the historical context of Isfahan -from the stakeholders’ internal point of view- is consisted of tangible and intangible cultural heritage attractions, social compatibility versus social conflict, economic activities, and social interaction that is affected by factors such as physical and social issues. These involve the degree of desire to reach the context in various aspects, such as residence, investment, and visiting and spending leisure time. However, in some historic neighborhoods, it leads to economic stagnation, lack of social vitality, and capital withdrawal. The dominant mental image of the audience in Jubareh neighborhood is based on its social identity and the Jewish residence. In Jolfa neighborhood, it is based on the social and economic identity of the Armenian population. The entertainment and leisure activities and shopping in Dardasht neighborhood are considered because of its tangible and intangible cultural identity, including religious occasions and historical monuments. In Naqsh-e Jahan neighborhood, it is based on its cultural and economic identity, including its great square and large handicrafts market. And finally, in Takht-e Foulad neighborhood, in its ritual religious, cultural ceremonies, and identity.Conclusion: In a comparative study of the related literature review with the findings of this grounded theory research, the conceptual model of the internal brand image creation of the historical context of Isfahan indicates two stages of cognitive factors and emotional factors. The cognitive stage includes tangible and intangible cultural heritage attractions, economic activities, social and physical issues, structural capital of urban management, and local lifestyle. The emotional stage also indicates interaction and adaptation versus social conflict, stakeholders’ religious values on the one hand, and the manifestation of religious values in the place. On the other hand, belonging to the context versus not belonging and the existence and symbolic human capital causes motivation or lack of motivation to participate in the context. These two stages create an attitude of the place in the mind of the stakeholders that leads to the process of creation of the brand image in the behavioral stage. Then, based on the interests of the stakeholders, willingness or unwillingness to live, invest, spend leisure time, do shopping, and visit is manifested, and of course, it is associated with the existence or lack of economic and human capital, economic and social vitality in the context.

Original Research Paper

Sense of Presence in the Future; The Manifestation of Futuristic Architecture in Science - Fiction Cinema

Mohammad Navid Fattahi; Nina Ghaslani; Salahedin Molanaei

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 247-263

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.248688.1518

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In contemporary society, the media has become a significant influence and can serve as an ideal platform to showcase various forms of art, ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In contemporary society, the media has become a significant influence and can serve as an ideal platform to showcase various forms of art, including architecture. People can experience architecture not only through physical visits to buildings but also through virtual means. Little research has been done on the interaction between cinema and architecture in the past. More recent research shows that the manifestation of architectural styles in cinema has been studied to a limited extent. Few people have studied how to use architecture in cinema and also to create a place for the ideas of architectural designers to appear. The majority of research in this area has been disseminated through articles in art and film magazines, which have been more beneficial to filmmakers. However, this article aims to produce practical results that can be utilized by architects, including designers. When analyzing the use of architectural elements in futuristic films, the focus is on examining the items utilized by filmmakers and stage designers. After identifying the architectural items used, the issue of their compatibility with futuristic styles is evaluated. To accomplish this, an analogy was made with the field of archaeology, which coincided with the emergence of futuristic films and placed significant emphasis on humans and their critical choices. The present study examines the relationship between architecture and cinema from a reference perspective in the type of architectural presence in cinema. The type of films reviewed in this article is futuristic, considering the research intentions and focusing on examining architectural items, after an overview of different cinematic styles, according to the context of the event in futuristic films. This cinematic style is chosen because the interior location is typically a futuristic residence..Methods: The research method utilized in this study is a relative kind of correlation method. In this approach, the relationship between variables is investigated based on the research objective. A homogeneous collection of 24 science fiction films, chosen from among the top-rated films in the history of cinema, were analyzed from the perspective of reputable websites that focused on futuristic films. The films were categorized and reviewed as part of the study. In this study, the researchers analyzed the content of film sequences using architectural styles identified through library and Internet research. Important sequences and frames were selected for analysis, and a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was distributed to architecture students, graduates, and professors to collect their opinions. The results were then analyzed and reviewed.Findings: After analyzing the collected data, the researchers identified five main architectural factors that create a sense of presence in the future. These factors include the use of specific materials and colors, the presence of massive singular buildings and spatial structures, the scale of the buildings, mixed-use buildings with symbolic meaning, and a return to traditional architectural styles. The results of the research indicate that 88% of the 24 films analyzed contain sequences depicting futuristic architecture, indicating a significant presence of such elements in science fiction movies. The analysis of the research results reveals that architecture has a significant presence in futuristic films compared to other factors. However, this presence is not always very prominent. The use of materials and the creation of large buildings are the two most commonly used architectural factors in these films. The use of cold, lifeless, and often metal materials is also a prevalent feature of futuristic architecture in these films.Conclusion: The research results confirm the hypothesis that futuristic architecture has a significant presence in science fiction films, with a combined total of over 88% between films that feature purely futuristic architecture and those that incorporate a combination of styles. The analysis of the most successful films reviewed revealed that the most effective factors were the use of huge monoliths, unusual metal materials, scale, and spatial structures. These factors were found to be present in at least one of the scenes analyzed in 92% of cases, indicating their significant impact on the overall futuristic atmosphere. The film industry is an important platform for architects to express their ideas and showcase non-executed designs. Science-fiction films are created by filmmakers to give audiences a glimpse of the future, including architectural styles. Therefore, it would be beneficial for architects to advise and collaborate with filmmakers in creating futuristic films. Additionally, the definition of architecture needs to be reevaluated, as it is not solely about constructing physical structures for human habitation but also about designing virtual spaces for avatars to inhabit in the digital realm.

Original Research Paper

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.

Original Research Paper

Identification and Prioritization of Quality Indicators for Building Facade Design; Using a Fuzzy Approach

Ahad Nazari; Mohammad Reza Torabi

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 281-295

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.235394.1436

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Since 2013, with the formation of facade committees in Iran municipalities, and the start of reviewing designed facades in the process of ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Since 2013, with the formation of facade committees in Iran municipalities, and the start of reviewing designed facades in the process of issuing permits, the quality of building facades have been taken into consideration. However, facade qualitative aspects and its indicators (which have always been a point of disagreement among experts) are the most important challenges of this committee. Talking about qualitative issues and criticizing and analyzing the quality of a phenomenon has complexity and ambiguity, and the quality of the facade is no exception to this rule. Especially regarding the quality of facade design, aesthetic and sensory issues make evaluation and criticism more difficult. This has made the facade evaluation meetings difficult in the municipal committees. It appears that conducting research to determine the quality indicators and dimensions of facade design, as well as identifying issues of criticism and evaluation of building facades, would be necessary in order to clarify the topics discussed in facade committees. This article’s objective is to address the aforementioned challenge by identifying quality indicators associated with building facade design and prioritizing them through the lens of professionals in architecture and urban planning. In order to clarify the goal and the research questions, the current research is focused on mid-rise residential buildings in the city of Tehran.Methods: This research approach is to deal with the issue of quality in building façade design comprehensively and without prejudice. In this regard, firstly, in order to identify quality indicators in architectural design, reliable scientific sources have been studied, and as a result of this study, 22 quality indicators related to facade design have been identified by interviewing and consulting with experts and specialists. The indicators related to building façade design are divided into three main aspects: functionality, persistence, and impact. They are further classified into seven subgroups. In the next step, in order to prioritize the indicators, a questionnaire with a Likert scale and fuzzy numbers was given to the design supervisors in architectural and urban planning consulting offices in Tehran. The population for this study consists of 182 members. A total of 132 questionnaires were distributed for data collection, and 126 completed questionnaires were received. Findings: According to the survey responses, safety, privacy, lighting, and durability were identified as the most important quality indicators for building facades from the perspective of experts and specialists. On the other hand, flexibility and adaptability, continuity and integration, and enclosure were found to be the least important factors. “The “Safety indicator” refers to the measures taken to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. This includes features such as protection of the edge of platforms, restricting access for unauthorized persons, and ensuring that the walls, doors, and windows are strong enough to prevent unauthorized entry. The “Privacy indicator” pertains to the importance of maintaining the privacy of spaces and allowing for social monitoring through the use of appropriate openings, while the “Lighting indicator” focuses on having enough openings and depth of light penetration to make use of natural light, providing enough light to display facade and volume of the building at night and lighting up the urban space adjacent to the façade. According to the findings, the experts gave the most importance to the subgroups related to comfort, building engineering systems, and environment in building façade design. These subgroups were identified as containing the most significant indicators by the experts. Also, from the expert point of view, the durability aspect, then the functionality aspect, and then the impact aspect are considered the most important building façade design quality indicators. In addition, experts consider durability and pollution, and waste production as the most important indicators of the persistence aspect; safety and lighting as the most important indicators of the functionality aspect; and privacy and identity as the most important indicators of the impact aspect.Conclusion: In a general view, according to the surveyed population of this study, performance and durability are considered more significant than urban aesthetics and impact-related matters. Impact aspect indicators play a very important role in the formation of urban image and identity, and it is necessary for designers and specialists to pay more attention to these factors. Also, according to the results, it can be concluded that the designers’ focus is often on the project as an isolated building, and it is necessary to pay more attention to the relationship between the building and its neighbors, alleys, and streets, and finally the neighborhood and the city.

Original Research Paper

Principles of Ecological Architecture for Designing Residential Building Facades in Hot and Humid Climates to Lower Indoor Air Temperature Based on Ecological Architecture

Zahra Mahdinejad Godarzi; Jamaluddin Mehdinejad Darzi; Fatemeh Mozaffari Qadikolaei

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 297-316

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.249604.1524

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Increasing fossil fuel consumption, on the one hand, along with their non-renewable nature, escalating costs, and the destructive environmental ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Increasing fossil fuel consumption, on the one hand, along with their non-renewable nature, escalating costs, and the destructive environmental and economic effects of energy consumption, on the other hand, increase the need to use passive systems in buildings. One of the effective solutions to reduce energy consumption and consumption of fossil fuels in the building and also to reduce its adverse environmental effects (increasing greenhouse gas emissions) is the use of passive energy. The facade of residential buildings, as the main mediator between indoor and outdoor space, is an important element in controlling sunlight to the interior and reducing energy consumption. Two important strategies to improve the thermal performance of the building facade include shading devices that reduce annual energy consumption and provide better protection against glare. The second solution aims to investigate the effect of heat transfer or heat resistance of materials used in the building facade by controlling the effects of solar radiation and designing the facade under climate conditions, and reducing the heat transfer by choosing the right materials that can reduce the amount of domestic energy demand. The shape of the building, the orientation of the building, its external and internal walls and materials, the thermal insulation of the facade, the dimensions of the window, the ratio of the window to the wall, and the external shading device can be introduced as effective parameters in reducing energy consumption. Improving the performance of building facades is possible through facade materials, shading devices, and window-to-wall ratio structure. It is important to carry out practical investigations into the thermal efficiency of building facades in order to decrease the amount of energy used for cooling and heating buildings, which represents a significant portion of the world’s energy consumption. As a result, an architectural strategy that focuses on morphology (specifically, architectural morphology) should be examined.Methods: In the hot and humid climate of Bushehr, the most significant climatic condition is excessive heat. Therefore, it is crucial to research climate-based solutions that can manage the transmission of undesirable heat and lessen the cooling requirements. This study focuses on exploring the thermal efficiency and the transfer of heat caused by solar radiation through building facades in the hot and humid climate of Bushehr. Additionally, it examines the impact of facade design strategies inspired by Bushehr’s native architecture on decreasing the indoor temperature of the building. The research variables that were examined include wooden shading devices (horizontal, vertical, lattice), porches, deep windows, facade materials, and window-to-wall ratio. Each variable has an effect on various types of energy consumption, such as electricity, heat, heating energy, and cooling, which were analyzed in the study. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between independent and dependent variables and analyze their impact on each other. The study involved simulating each building for all twelve months of the year. This simulation included assessing the amount of solar radiation absorbed by building surfaces, its transfer to the interior, and the resulting cooling load demand. The findings are presented through separate diagrams. In the first step, the behavioral pattern of the building facade with respect to the north-south openness was examined to control and reduce the amount of sunlight received and also to reduce the indoor air temperature subsequently, the study extracted general patterns from indigenous facade components that were related to the structure and function of shading devices, facade materials, and their openings. To understand the historical context of shading devices in Bushehr, the various types of shades present in the buildings of this region were classified, and the different shading solutions used in Bushehr were identified. In line with the purpose of the research, it is necessary to test different types of shading devices as research variables. Then check the type of materials and the dimensions of the openings used in the facades.Findings: To address the research questions, separate simulations were conducted to evaluate the thermal performance of shading devices, window-to-wall ratio, and facade materials in an apartment building. The optimal variable to reduce the cooling load was selected and applied to the building, and its thermal behavior to improve the thermal performance of future buildings in hot and humid climates was studied as the optimal building. The simulation was performed using Design Builder software with Energy Plus simulator engine and Climate Consultant software version 55 and Ashrae thermal comfort model. The findings indicate that the most efficient facade configuration comprises of vertical blinds, lattice windows, and a white cement facade, which resulted in a cooling load reduction of up to 38% and a total load reduction of up to 33% for the building.Conclusion: The simulation results reveal that the optimal building configuration outperformed both the basic research model and local models on selected days throughout the year, in terms of load testing. This highlights the importance of implementing local solutions in the architecture of hot and humid climates.

Original Research Paper

Assessment of Eye-Hand Coordination in Children Taking Purdue Pegboard Test

Maryam Heidari; Seyed Hashem Mosaddad

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 317-329

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.349466.1944

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The impairment of cognitive development, motor skills, fine motor skills, and the lack of coordination between the child’s eyes and ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The impairment of cognitive development, motor skills, fine motor skills, and the lack of coordination between the child’s eyes and motor organs can negatively impact the learning process at later ages and result in low self-esteem in children. Thus, it is crucial to consider the level of coordination between the child’s eyes and hands when designing products intended for children. The objective of this study is to assess the capability of children in creating products that necessitate eye-hand coordination during their use.Methods: The research conducted was a semi-experimental intervention study. The study involved 20 children between the ages of 3 and 6 who attended a kindergarten in the Panj district of Tehran. The Purdue Pegboard test was used to evaluate the children’s manual dexterity and two-handed coordination. This test is commonly used to measure movement and cognitive skills in a variety of populations, including children, adults, the elderly, post-surgery patients, and those with special needs. The test evaluates both gross movements of arms, hands, and fingers as well as fine motor skills of the fingers. Additionally, the test can also be used to assess cognitive skills. To perform the test, the child was asked to place the pieces on the Purdue Pegboard with the right hand, left hand, and both hands, within a period of one minute, and five separate points were collected, which include the following is.1. Right-hand privilege.2. Left-hand score.3. two-handed privilege.4. The sum of the points of the hands, which is the sum of the points of the right hand + left hand + both hands.Findings: The findings show that most four-, five- and six-year-old children had higher scores on the right hand than the left hand, which could be due to the influence of the dominant hand on the test process, but three-year-old children scored more on the left hand. Also, the findings ‌show that girls scored higher than boys in right hand, left hand, both hands and assembly. Most three-year-old children spent more than three seconds in choosing and deciding to place pieces, while this time was significantly reduced in five- and six-year-old children. The findings showed that the Eye-hand coordination in children increases with age. Most six-year-old children picked up and placed the pieces with two or three fingers, which shows that the child is at an acceptable level in terms of fine finger skills. But three- and four-year-old children were faced with tremors and lack of hand control when removing the parts and placing them, and even some three-year-old children used their other hand to place the parts to prevent tremors and control their hands. Contrary to what was expected, there is no significant relationship between gender and problem-solving skills, but the findings showed that boys try to create a new structure more than girls in the test process.Conclusion: The research results show that the age variable has an effect on the speed of action and Eye-hand coordination as well as the fine dexterity of children’s fingers, and children at older ages have higher and better performance, which is consistent with the results of the study of Pehoski et al. (1997), Brito and Santos-Morales (2002) as well as Wilson et al. (1981). For this reason, necessary measures to improve movement skills should be taken into consideration from the age of three so that the child can improve his skills in the path of growth. Also, the results showed that girls have a higher operating speed in each hand and the assembly process than boys, which is in line with the results of Pehoski et al. and Brito and Santos-Morales. As Brito and Santos-Morales point out, the significant difference in the speed of action between boys and girls is due to the mental differences and neurological development of boys and girls, which affects the concentration and attention of children. The results of this research show that 6-year-old children have better performance in the assembly process, which is affected by cognitive skills, and it can be concluded that with increasing age, cognitive skills such as learning, memory, planning, etc. improve significantly in children. The difference in the scores of boys and girls in the assembly process also shows the influence of gender characteristics on cognitive processes in boys and girls. The observations of this research show that cognitive processes such as learning, memory, problem-solving skills, etc., have an impact on the Purdue Pegboard skill assessment test process, and in this regard, with the study of Bakhshipour et al. (2020), Koyler et al. (2020) and Findik et al. (2022) is aligned. In total, the results of this research showed that 33% of 6-year-old children, 50% of 5-year-old children, and 43.8% of 4-year-old children in the studied community have motor delays in their right and left hands and weakness in Eye-hand coordination. Also, 33% of 3-year-old children had movement delay in the right hand. This research can be used for researchers and designers in the field of children studies in the process of designing interactive environments as well as designing products such as personal accessories, toys, rehabilitation equipment and rehabilitation aids, services and systems. Designers should identify the cognitive, physical and movement characteristics of children in each age range and evaluate the child’s abilities to interact with the desired product because children’s abilities are very different and variable even in normal children of preschool age. Children in this age range try to improve their skills to gain independence and enter the next stages of life, and smart designers can help children in this way. The expectation is that through this approach, we will witness the development of effective and practical products for children.

Original Research Paper

Development of a Framework for Suitable Housing Design in Deteriorated Urban Fabrics; A Case Study of Deteriorated Fabrics in District 6, Mashhad

Neda Rafati Sokhangoo; Vahid Ahmadi; Mohsen Tabassi; Seyed Moslem Seyedalhosseini

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 331-349

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.353480.1957

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In today’s deteriorated urban fabric, many urban areas with weak physical and operational structures are surrounded by new construction. ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In today’s deteriorated urban fabric, many urban areas with weak physical and operational structures are surrounded by new construction. These regions require more significant consideration for the residential building due to their unique economic, cultural, social, and physical qualities. In addition to comprehensiveness in developing criteria, it is crucial to consider the residents’ priorities and aspirations when deciding on the supply of housing in deteriorated areas. Moreover, the effectiveness of proposed plans relies on how well they align with people’s habits, lifestyles, family finances, and environmental and legal considerations. Acceptance and compatibility with these factors play a crucial role in the success of these plans. The research’s primary goals included identifying the most crucial elements of desirable housing, examining the characteristics of deteriorated urban fabric, identifying these elements from the residents’ viewpoint, and developing a framework for building in deteriorated urban fabric in District 6 of Mashhad city.Methods: This study used an analytical survey technique, complemented by documentary and field research, to identify the visible and invisible issues of deteriorated urban fabric in District 6, Mashhad. In this regard, the full physical, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and legal criteria of suitable housing were established and applied. Excel and SPSS statistical tools were utilized to facilitate and ensure the precision of the research analysis. In addition, this research employed GIS software for graphical and spatial analysis. The statistical population of this study consists of 34,497 units in the deteriorated urban fabric in District 6 of Mashhad Municipality. Based on Cochran’s methodology, there are 380 samples. Given the size of the statistical population and the regionalization of the area, cluster sampling was employed. Each neighborhood in the statistical population is treated as a cluster, and a sample is drawn from each cluster (neighborhood) depending on the proportion of its residential units. The Cronbach’s alpha method was utilized to determine the questionnaire’s reliability (Part 3 of the questionnaire: Neighborhood resident survey). Findings: The study’s findings include a characterization of Mashhad and criteria for appropriate housing in the deteriorated urban fabric. The requirements include general characteristics of the parts, characteristics of the residential environment, building architecture, as well as detailed legal and economic aspects. Finally, the relationship between these components has been examined. In addition to the physical dimension and general features of the residential plots as one of the primary criteria, the inhabitants have identified the appropriate size of the land lots as the essential factor in obtaining the desired housing in deteriorated fabrics. When it comes to designing fair housing, the most critical economic factor is ensuring that the rent is affordable. In terms of the social dimension, the most important factor in creating an optimal housing model is ensuring that the housing unit is suitable for the number of people living there. The compatibility of building designs with the social and cultural characteristics of the population is one of the most crucial concepts for producing a viable housing model in the city, particularly in deteriorated urban areas with particular and delicate social characteristics. The cleanliness of the surroundings, which is currently in a state of disorder, is the most crucial factor in building a suitable housing model in the environmental dimension. Finally, it could be argued from a legal standpoint that the misuse of promissory notes can undermine the residents’ feeling of ownership over their property.Conclusion: Based on the research data evaluation, the social aspect is considered the most important among the housing desirability factors, while the legal aspect is considered the least significant. Based on the inhabitants’ perspective, the issue of ownership is considered to be one of the most significant factors in the development of the housing model. The size of the units, the number of rooms in each unit, and the residential unit’s infrastructure are all directly correlated with household income in deteriorated urban fabric. In these fabrics, the level of residential occupancy deviates from typical patterns and development standards. Residential plots are often subdivided into smaller units in deteriorated urban areas. This is one of the characteristic features of such urban fabrics. To clarify, in deteriorated urban areas, it is common for residential buildings to violate construction codes by having more than one apartment per floor. As the number of floors in these buildings increases, there is also a trend to construct toilets within each residential unit. The greater the area of residential lots, the greater the proportion of units with parking spaces. The access method to residential units is a crucial aspect of the design of residential units in deteriorated urban areas. It is reasonable to design the reception and living rooms as a single space in residential units located in deteriorated urban areas because it helps to reduce housing costs and overcome limitations in the size and dimensions of living areas.

Original Research Paper

Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review of Global Theoretical Context in the Field of Urban Health

Marziyeh Fallah Barzeghar; Ahmad khalili

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 351-372

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.395942.2039

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The definition of health has different meanings. In the simplest case, it is defined as the absence of any disease or illness. The evidence ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The definition of health has different meanings. In the simplest case, it is defined as the absence of any disease or illness. The evidence indicates the relationship between the components of the urban environment and health and related behaviors, which emphasizes the importance of urban planning and urban interventions in order to face health challenges. Nowadays, health promotion at the community level, considering a wide range of threatening factors in the field of urban health, the need to identify the effective components on human health is considered essential. Based on this, the link between the urban environment and urban planning is emphasized to achieve urban health and well-being. The purpose of this research is to analyze the scientometric analysis of urban health studies, to discover the main issues and developments, as well as to find the emerging performance trends of articles and magazines, to know the patterns of cooperation and research components, and to discover the intellectual structure of urban health in the world literature.Methods: Bibliometric Analysis is a precise method for examining and analyzing a large amount of scientific data. This technique is intended to understand the interrelationship between scientific citations and to summarize the situation according to the current research topic. Researchers use scientometric analysis to find trends in the emerging performance of articles and journals, to recognize collaboration patterns and research components, and to discover the intellectual structure of a specific field in existing literature. In order to check the relationship between articles from a database and to classify different keywords based on their simultaneous citation by following clustering techniques, VOS Viewer software is used. Web of Science Core Collection has been used for the process of searching and extracting data from the Web of Science scientific database. The main focus of this research was scientific data regarding the subject of research with the term “urban health” in the title and abstract. On August 13, 2022, an initial search of 3,102 document titles was extracted, and for a more accurate analysis, among the 3,102 documents obtained, 2,581 documents including articles were extracted as main data, and other professors included books and conference articles, etc. It was removed from the total of primary data.Findings: Co-occurrence results based on keywords show that the keyword “Urban Health” has the highest total link strength and the number of co-occurrences of two items. In other words, this keyword has been seen more times in an article and the probability of this keyword appearing with other keywords in an article is higher. “Mortality” and “prevalence” components are ranked second and third, respectively. The component of Covid-19, green space is one of the common components in the field of urban health, which has been the focus of researchers in recent years. Co-authorship analysis based on countries shows that Asian and African countries have the lowest amount of scientific participation and influence in the production of scientific documents in the field of urban health. Also, the results indicate that the authors of three countries, the United States, England, and Australia, respectively, have the highest level of cooperation with the authors of other countries in the production of scientific documents in the field of urban health. Finally, the co-citation analysis based on co-citations of the authors revealed that the World Health Organization has the highest number of citations.Conclusion: A comprehensive review of global studies in order to discover the emerging performance of researchers in the field of urban health has been one of the study gaps in this field, and this research has tried to answer this need to some extent. This study is considered as a comprehensive review study with co-occurrence analyzes of the occurrence of two items (in three aspects of visualization, data density, network overlap), citation, bibliographic pair and authorship. Paying more attention and examining the individual components of health including healthy diet, life expectancy, body mass index in the search of scientific documents due to the increasing importance of physical health is felt in future studies. Urban health is related to various issues. However, from searching for the keyword of urban health and extracting the keywords of thermal islands, life expectancy, green space and pedestrian circulation using VOS, it can be seen that there are keywords whose publication year is related to the years after 2018, in other words, in the years The latter are still of interest to researchers, and they can be used in the future to expand the research topic as potential subject areas related to urban health. Also, in the future study, the sources of different scientific databases such as Scopus, Dimensions, Lens and PubMed should be used. Future researchers can use each of the existing keywords as potential subject areas of urban health. Henceforth, research will focus on opportunities and challenges, urban health efficiency, and possible solutions to emerging issues.

Original Research Paper

Exploring the Sensory Impact on Improving Users’ Navigation in Tehran Railway Station; Case Study: Valiasr Square Subway Station

Sanaz Haghshenas; Mahnaz Mahmoudi Zarandi; Nasim Khanloo

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 373-386

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.236861.1447

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Background and aim: Despite the existence of many advantages in Iran’s rail transportation, only a certain range of users has benefited ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Background and aim: Despite the existence of many advantages in Iran’s rail transportation, only a certain range of users has benefited from this massively useful system due to its performance-based approach and reliance on visual cues. As a result, users have experienced difficulties with navigation- orientation, among other issues. These difficulties stem from a lack of attention to other sensory experiences and the need to enhance the sensory richness of users through thoughtful design of architectural and informational components within rail stations. Thus, explaining the suitable solutions to improve navigation - orientation has a significant impact in decreasing user confusion and establish a sense of place within these spaces. The general perception of navigation and orientation strategies in public spaces involves a variety of signage, boards, and information systems that have been employed at the city level, sometimes effectively and sometimes ineffectively. However, in this research, the purpose of navigation- orientation is to make the environment detectable and give it a strong structure by “informational” and “architectural” elements and components, which are the most important components for influencing routing and orientation in station spaces. The purpose of this study is to present solutions to facilitate and improve the performance of users’ routing and orientation in Tehran railway stations. It seems that the process of routing and orientation of subway users is facilitated by informational and architectural components based on sensory enrichment.Methods: This study utilized a descriptive-analytical method to examine the navigation-orientation process in a selected case sample. After evaluating the sample and identifying areas for improvement, strategies were proposed to enhance routing and orientation within station spaces by emphasizing the sensory experiences of users. Valiasr Square subway station was examined based on some reasons, such as the complexity of the station, intersection and multi-functionality, the combination of underground and surface space and the diversity of the station’s users. The statistical population of the study was the users of Valiasr station, who are selected using a purposeful random method. Data for this study was collected through both bibliographic and field methods. The bibliographic method involved presenting the theoretical framework and identifying research components. The field method, on the other hand, utilized space syntax analysis and a researcher-designed questionnaire in two stages to gather the necessary information. The data collection instrument for this study was a closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 40 Likert-scale questions. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first part focused on personal characteristics of the respondents, while the second part comprised questions related to the research variables presented in an illustrated format. Finally, the validity of the questions was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis and its validity was verified using Cronbach’s alpha method. In the first stage, the sample station was analyzed using the space syntax method in the DepthmapX software. This is because of enriching the questionnaires by the users in the next stage of the research. In the second stage, the sample station was measured by completing the research process, developing an illustrated questionnaire, and creating special sensory conditions by the users. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (path analysis) with SPSS- software. Findings: The collected data was analyzed by path analysis. The increase of path coefficients from 0.435 to 0.536 and 0.571 by the impact of sensory richness on the informational and architectural components of the sample station verified the solidarity of the research hypothesis and the results indicated that the coefficient of sensory richness on the informational components is 0.462 and 0.531on architectural components. Also, information components with a coefficient of 0.218 and architectural components with a coefficient of 0.256 are effective in facilitating the navigation process for users. Indeed, these components mitigate the complexity of the space. The results of the analysis by space syntax, in the DepthmapX software (the sample station (Vali Asr Square)), indicate the improvement of the navigation-orientation performance of users in the station, in case of widening from the street level to the rail. The use of VGA analysis shows which spaces are more visible and which are less. Spaces that are more enclosed and lack vertical expansion restrict users’ depth and angle of view, leading to decreased legibility of the space and difficulties with routing and orientation. Conversely, expanding the central spaces of the station increases users’ depth and angle of view, directly enhancing the ease of routing and orientation within the space.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that sensory-based design of informational and architectural components is an effective approach to improving the navigation and orientation process. The study’s findings suggest that creating sensory-rich station spaces that fully engage users’ sensory perceptions, incorporating meaningful elements, and improving navigation and orientation can reduce confusion, enhance users’ sense of confidence, and provide psychological security. Furthermore, it can increase productivity and create opportunities for individual and collective memories, a sense of belonging, and complementing functions such as festivals, memorials, exhibitions, and urban gatherings. By improving the quality of station spaces from a mere functional space to a safe, diverse, memorable, and dynamic place, rail transport systems can become more efficient and accommodate more users while providing suitable sensory places for citizens. Most of these improvements can be achieved with minimal changes and low costs to existing station spaces.

Original Research Paper

Analyzing the Impact of Qualitative Components Affecting Residential Open Space Based on Cultural Ecology; Case study: Residential Buildings in Tabriz

Sahel Ghasemi Baghdadi; Mozayan Dehbashi Sharif; Mohammadreza Pourzagar

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 387-402

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.239379.1459

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In traditional Iranian architecture, the courtyard serves an important purpose of providing a secure and private space for family activities. ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In traditional Iranian architecture, the courtyard serves an important purpose of providing a secure and private space for family activities. This is based on cultural and ritual practices that prioritize creating an enclosed and protected environment that is not visible to outsiders. Based on the definition of the relationship between open spaces and closed spaces, Iran’s traditional residential architecture is classified into two types: extrovert and introvert. In both extroverted and introverted types, the formation and quality of open spaces have been affected by natural conditions and social and cultural factors. During the second Pahlavi period from 1961 to 1971, the construction of modern houses and residential complexes became popular in Iran, which ultimately caused a complete transformation in the relationship between open and closed spaces in Iranian residential architecture, and as a result, the role and function of open spaces in residential buildings changed completely. Compared to traditional housing, the nature and function of open spaces in modern residential buildings has undergone significant changes. In traditional housing, open spaces were meant for communication with nature and provided a secure and private area for family activities. Therefore, this research deals with the qualitative investigation of open spaces and the identification of the relationship between culture and the environment in residential open spaces, and the analysis of residential buildings in Tabriz city.Methods: This study has an applied purpose and its methodology is based on a descriptive-analytical approach. The information required to extract the theoretical framework and identify the components affecting the open spaces of the residential building was collected using the bibliographic and document method. Moreover, in order to collect the required data in the field studies, two methods of questionnaire and observation were used. To evaluate the open spaces of residential buildings from the perspective of residents of Tabriz city, a questionnaire was designed based on a five-point Likert scale. Taking into account the statistics published by Iran Statistics Center, the number of households in Tabriz is 563,660, of which 518,187 live in Tabriz. Therefore, the statistical population of this research is equal to 518,187 people, assuming that every household owns a house. Taking into account the number of households living in the sample areas, which is equal to 1634 people, and the people who were able to answer the questionnaire, the sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula, and the questionnaire was distributed among 196 residents. The sample spaces of the research were selected purposefully and according to three different models of current urban housing in Tabriz city. These three patterns are: apartment (south-north), residential complex, and tower. AVE and CR methods were used to measure the reliability and validity of the research.Findings: The physical components of the study were evaluated and the top six indicators with an average score of more than 3 were identified as follows: 1) enjoyment (3.92), 2) signs (3.53), 3) intersections (3.49), 4) natural elements (3.46), 5) pollution (3.42), and 6) boundaries (3.02). Additionally, in the section related to perceptual components, the two indicators of mobility and unreal spaces had the highest average of 3.46 and 3.36, respectively. In terms of emotional components, the results analysis showed that only the precognition index had an average higher than 3, while the excitement index had an average of 2.99, which is close to the centrality index. Comparing the total average of the indicators across the three components, it can be concluded that the physical component with a total average of 2.98 is ranked first, followed by the emotional component with a total average of 2.25, and finally the perceptual component with a total average of 1.85 ranked last.Conclusion: The main users of this research, which aim to identify the factors that influence the quality of residential open spaces from a cultural ecology perspective, are architects and landscape designers. The research findings offer valuable insights for these professionals to enhance the open spaces of residential environments. Considering that a complete framework for evaluating and measuring the quality of open spaces in residential buildings has not yet been defined, one of the main achievements of this research is to empower experts and designers to better understand the environmental and cultural characteristics of open spaces in residential buildings; which will be effective in increasing the quality of open spaces in the house. This research showed that physical-functional components and emotional components play an effective role in increasing the quality of open spaces and there is a direct relationship between the aforementioned components. According to residents, the quality of residential open spaces is greatly affected by the physical-functional structure (physical indicators) and cultural identity is created by paying attention to emotional and social concepts (emotional indicators) in residential open spaces. Giving consideration to cultural symbols, signs, and historical memory of residents, as well as ensuring a sense of security, liveliness, and vibrancy, can enhance the cultural aspect of open spaces in residential areas.

Original Research Paper

The Theoretical Relation of Patterns and Regulations in Architecture

Azadeh Mohajer Milani; Alireza Einifar

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 403-417

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.257504.1577

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In lands with a rich historical background, architecture contains principals that is created through the cultural interaction of architecture ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In lands with a rich historical background, architecture contains principals that is created through the cultural interaction of architecture and society. These principals known as “Patterns” were passed down through generations to another and ensure the quality of buildings without limiting creativity in design. After the industrial revolution and with the appearance of the modern movement, developments such as industrialization and standardization created fundamental changes in architecture and as a result, a clear line has drawn to divide the architecture of today and the past. This is when Patterns started to see a decline and replaced with another organizational method called “Regulation”. In this era, architects devoted to structural, physical, functional or technical aspects of building more than the so-called Patterns. However, the quality resulted from using regulations established in this time is far from the result of using patterns in past architecture and therefore, architecture faced a dramatic transformation. Since then, the terms “Pattern” and “Regulation” are among the two most used words in the literature of Architecture and Urban Design. Regulation has been proposed as interventions by the governing party to ensure the presence of minimum quality for the built environment that shape the city image. Patterns also have been considered as one of the main concerns of architects that ensure the connection and continuation of former architectural principals in today’s constructions. Putting these two terms alongside each other is of interest to this paper since both have a role in systematizing and organizing the built environment, but at the same time resulting in different outcomes. This raised several questions such as: • Do patterns have the capability of reviving and being expressed in the form of regulations in today’s architecture?• Do they have the same correlation with the built form? Therefore, this paper explains the correlation of patterns and regulations with the built environment through analyzing today’s architectural changes in comparison with the one used before. This effort ends up contributing to the knowledge landscape by defining a theoretical framework through a model. Methods: In terms of methodology, logical argumentation seems to be appropriate and effective in developing theories and filling the existing research gap, and therefore, was selected as the main research method for this paper. The main element in this method is the conceptual demarcation of the framework’s content, which in the case of this paper is words that describe pattern and regulation. To gather these necessary terms in making the model, Delphi technique used in a group of 350 architects and urban planners, who are active both in academia and practice. This technique helps to extract what is inferred as pattern or regulation both in the research environment and the operational knowledge in practice.Findings: According to the findings of this research, patterns showed a subjective and abstract nature due to being theoretical and therefore, they can be identified in the form of concepts in the design process. However, regulations are formulated and based on high-level decision-making in the governing parties in each context and developed to control the quality of the built environment and therefore, their application requires less skill or expertise. The results showed that today’s regulation has reduced chances of creativity in design and limits architects in providing the design question with wider answers because of their very nature. Investigation of this research showed regulation by themselves cannot guarantee the presence of former architecture’s principals in today’s one. The reason for this phenomenon is the restricting role of regulation in design. This study showed that this role not only limited creativity, but also shaped new templates. These templates are on the verge of becoming patterns of today’s architecture, but in nature, they are fundamentally different from the patterns used previously. The reason found is the origin of these newborns’ patterns, which is limitations, as opposed to cultural and structural innovations.Conclusion: Since it is necessary to obtain regulation to organize cities, we cannot eliminate their existence, rather we need to modify their role in the design process. In this regard, the modification of regulation is one of the basic needs of today’s built environment. Therefore, the main achievement of this research forwarded to policymakers and urban planners, who by modifying the nature of regulation, can transform them to an effective asset in the design process.

Original Research Paper

Optimization of Townscapes with Emphasize on Flood Resilience

Fatemeh Fotouhi Ahl; Azita Belali Oskoyi; Yaser Shahbazi

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 419-434

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.349273.1943

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Landscapes in general and townscapes in specific are susceptible to various natural and non-natural risks. Flooding is considered one of ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Landscapes in general and townscapes in specific are susceptible to various natural and non-natural risks. Flooding is considered one of the primary factors that contribute to the vulnerability and problems faced by landscapes and townscapes. Although these conditions are present worldwide, they are more severe in Iran compared to other countries. On the one hand, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes threaten this region. On the other hand, the built environments of this country are threatened by the weakness of inadequate building construction trends. In many cases, the structural systems and materials used in buildings do not meet the risk management requirements of the development process. The negative impact of the threatening development process has relatively different consequences on place dimensions. The impacts of disasters are often linked to the sensitivity of the specific features of a place. Among these features, townscapes and landscapes are particularly vulnerable to various disasters, more so than other dimensions of a place such as function and management. The future of a place is shaped by the consequences that occur in different zones and areas of communities. The measurement of vulnerability and resilience should consider the normative qualities of the environment, especially in terms of geographical contexts. The aim of this research is to assess the resilience of townscapes in relation to their environmental qualities, such as efficiency, richness, attraction, and variety, through the use of a case study approach. The research aims to assess the flood vulnerability of the Pole-Dokhtar region and city, with a particular emphasis on the spring 2019 flood. The study will use a case study approach and evaluate the resilience of the townscapes in relation to environmental qualities, such as efficiency, richness, attraction, and variety. The region of Pole-Dokhtar in Lorestan province, Iran, will be the specific area of focus.Methods: The research method will involve the application of the development category to identify and address the major problems related to flood vulnerability. By this condition, the city engine analytical software has been used for analysis and finding trends of case study area data and information process. The research methodology involves three actions in field study techniques, which are the examination of current documents, site observation, and interviews with relevant stakeholders at the local and national levels. These studies incorporate data gathering stages. For data gathering trends, three sources have been used: 1- the information from the Pole-Dokhtar city’s master and detailed plans, as well as any written documents relating to any regional development plans and studies 2- Official data from 2019 flood variables. 3- Field survey, with emphasis on direct observation in the Pole-Dokhtar urban area. Observation trends encompass a journey to Lorestan province, Pole- Dokhtar County and Pole-Dokhtar city in spring 2020. In addition, the data has been analyzed through GIS and SPSS logic, techniques, and tools. Then, using the SWOT matrix helped researchers to compare the basic influential factors in terms of contextual strengths, weakness, threats, and opportunities.Findings: The research has produced three main findings. Firstly, it highlights the vulnerability of areas like Pole-Dokhtar not only to floods but also to other natural and man-made disasters. Secondly, the research reveals the importance of specific attention to the land slope, river basin, and soil foundation to maintain environmental quality in urban landscapes. Lastly, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive examination of various planning documents at different levels, including master, structure, and detail plans.Conclusion: In summary, the achievements of this study encompass various research outcomes regarding both townscape resilience and vulnerability of national, regional level and scale on various geographical contexts. In spite of this, long-term experiences in disasters like wars, earthquakes, droughts, floods and the same Iranian communities could not benefit from their valuable lessons. Learning from these valuable experiences should be the key lessons to solve and resolve ongoing problems and challenges which are essential for the comprehensive development of a country.

Original Research Paper

Analyzing the Effects of Urban Highway Construction on the City with a Futuristic Approach

Samaneh Jalilisadrabad; Shaghayegh Parhizgar

Volume 13, Issue 2 , February 2022, Pages 421-442

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.278400.1673

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: With the ever-increasing population expansion and the scattered growth of cities, especially in cities centered on personal transportation, ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: With the ever-increasing population expansion and the scattered growth of cities, especially in cities centered on personal transportation, we are witnessing the creation and expansion of road networks, especially highways. Transportation can be considered one of the central elements and a role player in the growth and development of the city. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the issues of transportation problems, such as problems related to inner and outer city transportation, traffic problems, noise and air pollution, and waste of time and capital. Managers and urban planners tried to solve these problems, and some urban planners believe that building a highway is one of the ways to improve transportation and adjust the issues and problems related to it, but others believe that highways do not have the ability to respond to existing problems. During the rapid global changes, cities are experiencing a paradigm shift, of which the highway is one of them, and they play an important role in urban mobility and accessibility. In this regard, their effects on the city should also be examined.Methods: The current research method is descriptive-analytical of applied research type. Information and documents have been used to extract indicators affecting highways. The effects of each indicator were analyzed by foresight and cross-effects analysis. The cross-effects analysis method is a kind of foresight method that tries to achieve the possible and likely scenarios in the future for that subject with the cause-and-effect relationships between the factors affecting a subject. In this research, after extracting some indicators using the Delphi method in three rounds, experts were first asked to complete the indicators and effective factors, and in the next step, the mentioned indicators were categorized and finalized, and in the last round, points were determined. The factors have been discussed, which were scored from 0 to 3 and P (possible effects) and entered into Micmac software. Therefore, ten versions of the questionnaire were completed by the experts to determine the points of the factors, and by using the method of cross-effects analysis, which is one of the common and accepted methods of foresight, it analyzed the effective components related to highways. A number of 24 factors related to highway construction have been investigated, and finally, the factors have been analyzed in tables and graphs extracted from this software. The outputs of this method classify the factors affecting highways into five categories of risk variables, influential, secondary leverage, independent and dependent, and show its stability or instability pattern.Findings: In the first stage of model implementation in the current research, using the Delphi method and the opinion of 10 professors and experts, all 24 factors affecting highways were entered into the software, and a short indicator was considered for each one, then the impact of each factor on other factors have been measured with the help of Mic Mac software. In other words, the cross-effects matrix is formed. MicMac software analyzes the direct and indirect relationships of a network by using different calculations and finally creates a map and an influence graph based on which variables can be analyzed and categorized. The level of impact in this model is divided into four groups: no impact (number zero), weak impact (number), medium impact (number two), and high impact (number three). The results of this research show that the variables of the road network change rate, motorized transport use, pedestrian and bicycle paths, the performance and efficiency of land use, the level of surface water pollution, the direction of the city expansion, and the amount of wind and airflow among the indicators and factors that were investigated. The number of changes in the road network and the amount of motorized transport used were the most important effects of intra-city highways.Conclusion: In general, these things (the amount of change in the road network, the amount of motorized transport use, pedestrian and bicycle paths, the performance and efficiency of land use, the level of surface water pollution, the direction of the city expansion and the amount of wind and airflow) are seven key factors. In addition, there are effects of intra-city highways that should be given special attention in the process of micro and macro-planning to improve the condition of the city and highways.

The Role of Mental Schemata in Production of Space (Criticism of Lefebvre's Spatial Triad from the Perspective of Vygotskian School of Cognitive Psychology)

Behrad Farmahini Farahani; Mozaffar Sarrafi

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 5-21

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.223709.1376

Abstract

Extended Abstract Objective and Background: Henri Lefebvre’s theory of production of space has been one of the most influential theories in spatial studies that deals with the ... Read More Extended Abstract Objective and Background: Henri Lefebvre’s theory of production of space has been one of the most influential theories in spatial studies that deals with the relationship between the mentality of urban residents and urban space. The triad of spatial practice, representations of space and representational spaces, which have been discussed in that theory, have proven to be problematic due to its failure of explanation of the way that semeiotical significations in a representational space lead to the creation of meanings in the mind. In addition, it is not precise from the perspective of the cognitive psychology. The objective of present essay is the criticism of Lefebvre’s triad and explanation of the process of thought and representation in mind by means of Vygotskian School in cognitive psychology and application of the mental schema model. By criticism of Lefebvre’s theory and revelation of its deficiencies and finally, by the use of model of mental schema, the following question is answered: How is urban space created in relation to consciousness and mentality of its residents? Methodos: The methodology of current essay is based on two general methodological approach: system approach in epistemology and structurationist ontology; with emphasize on becoming, which is dialectic. Thus, it is emphasized that there is something beyond the mere expression of the mutual relationship between structure and culture, environment and psyche of man and it is that social and spatial phenomena should be studied in the course of their evolution, maturation and fall in history; this is indeed the method of dialectic. Although Lefebvre’s method from the perspective of its three moments helps us to avoid the absolute and one-sided encounter with spatial issues, it is still problematic and subject to criticism that how representational spaces influence human psyche and mind through the process of semiotical significations as well as the adi of physical objects that contain meanings (whether in line with political and social resistance or in line with the regeneration of the dominant way of production through systematization of space and exertion of hegemony over the space). Findings: This criticism took place through the encounter of the ideas of Lefebvre with the ideas of Vygotsky and Bakhtin and expression of the role of mental schema in understanding of meanings and interpretation of the inputs and their externalization. Firstly, Vygotsky in his discussion as regards inner speech showed that on the one hand, there is a distance between the meaning of a word and its sense. On the other hand, he proved that there is a difference between the scientific concepts and everyday concepts, which in turn reminds us the Hegelian difference of “In-itself” and “For-Itself. In addition, scientific concepts, which are the result of education, surpass the everyday concepts in mental analyses. Secondly, according to Bakhtin’s theory, process of thought has a dialogic nature, and in the word of every individual, there is always a trace of “otherness”. This issue leads us towards understanding the role of social groups in individual consciousness. Thirdly, mental schema, which are the dynamic element of individual consciousness and have a propositional nature change following the creation of question and search for answer. Following the change of the mental schema, if the individual finds the opportunity for institutionalization and popularization of his own idea, the culture would change too. Then, culture can be defined through the change in mental schema. On the other hand, problem of cognitive distortion is also related with the concept of exertion of hegemony and false consciousness, which can be discussed in the form of the intentional manipulation of the mental schema. Through these three theoretical foundations, one can conclude: 1)consciousness acts by means of the concepts that build mental schema; 2)since reality is changing, concepts also change in the course of time, and change in concepts and their relations through raising a question, findings answer, training and institutionalization leads to the change of mental schema; 3)individual consciousness has a collective structure, i.e. it is influenced by social groups which host the individual as their member; 4) factors of hegemony succeed to control cultural space and lived space thanks to cognitive distortion. Definition of culture through model of mental schema causes the mode of production and change of space to be clarified without being entangled with the cognitive deficiencies of Lefebvre’s cognitive theory. In an analysis that was proposed of the everyday concepts and scientific notions, it became clear that perceptions and ideas that take place due to the semiotical metaphors and significations within lived space and through spatial representations of Lefebvre are mere everyday concepts. Therefore, they do not have the logical structure of scientific concepts and even if the end of the concatenation of associations leads to similar action, since they have led to that action with an inferential method and by means of different notions and interrelations between them in the form of mental schema, soon or later, the difference and contradiction of them will be revealed. Therefore, Lefebvre’s political project, i.e. the ideal society that will be realized through resistance of different groups like oppressed, underclasses, ethnic groups, gender groups and other before the capitalist system, is more a poetic notion than a scientific analysis of the mental conditions of those groups. Conclusion: The results acquired through findings and discussions show that semiotical significations in lived space not in a poetic form that is hidden in Lefebvre’s expression rather through the role that concepts and the relations between them are established between them in the form of schemata in mind. Moreover, study of formation and change of space requires the study of the evolutionary schemata of intentional and active man whose consciousness has taken form by mediation of the semiotical systems and tools and of course, changes in the course of time. Since the consciousness of every individual is influenced by the social group to which the individual belongs, the mental schemata of social groups regarding a determinate space should be studied.

Determination of biophilic design strategies that affecting the patients’ health in hospitals

Ghazaal Zare; Mohsen Faizi; Mohammad Baharvand; Mohammad Reza Masnavi

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 59-78

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.210114.1318

Abstract

Extended Abstract Objective and background: This research proves the need to modify and develop the design of hospitals to play a perceptible role in treating and accelerating the recovery ... Read More Extended Abstract Objective and background: This research proves the need to modify and develop the design of hospitals to play a perceptible role in treating and accelerating the recovery of patients. Many investigations on the influences of nature on health reveal that the relationship with nature in built environment has a noteworthy effect on the treatment and reduction of the recovery time of patients. One of the solutions suggested in this field is biophilic approach in architectural design, which has been offered by Kellert and states that humans require linking with nature in the man-made environment to preserve and promote their health and well-being. Hence, it is supposed that employing the principles of biophilic design in hospitals influences treatment and recovery time. In the study procedure of this paper, two questions were answered; Are biophilic design approaches efficient for therapeutic spaces to be healing? and What are the practical approaches for efficient biophilic design in health care spaces? Methods: In this study, according to the purpose, the research method is applied, and the study method is descriptive-analytical. First, literature related to biophilic design and health were analyzed and reviewed with a systematic review technique. Then, the most relevant papers in the field of nature and health were selected, and theories and features of health influenced by the association with nature were presented. Findings: Connection with nature influences the physical, psychological (mental and emotional), social, and spiritual dimensions of health. The most significant theories in this field are stress reduction theory (SRT) and attention restoration theory (ART). According to stress reduction theory, the amount of stress decreases subconsciously and spontaneously in people facing nature and being in nature, and as stress is the reason for many diseases and abnormalities, it plays a starring role in people's health, especially emotional health. Attention restoration theory reveals the ability to link with nature in subconsciously renewing and restoring attention by promoting cognitive function, which improves individuals’ productivity and mental ability, and has positive impact on the mental health of individuals and on diseases related to this field such as Autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Obesity, Schizophrenia, Blood pressure, Hyperactivity (ADHD) in children, etc. In the continuation of the research, 14 biophilic design patterns in 5 hospitals, Östra Hospital in Sweden, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, Ng Teng Fong Jurong Hospital in Singapore, Dell Children Hospital in Austin Texas, and The Royal Children Hospital in Melbourne Australia, are compared and assessed in 3 levels of the general aspects of building and its site plan, building organization and planning, and finally interior design of patients' rooms. Conclusion: As a result, according to the evidence-based results, the design model of the biophilic hospital and the most practical biophilic design approaches in each of the hospital wards were obtained for the use of the design community and to improve the healing quality of the therapeutic spaces. Based on the recommended model, in the eight main internal wards of the hospital including hospitalization, intensive care, medical emergency, surgery, medical diagnostic laboratories, clinics, waiting area of patient companions and services, due to high stress and overcrowding, as well as no need to comply with certain health standards associated with other spaces, the waiting space of patient companions have the greatest potential to apply biophilic strategies. In fact, 12 of the 14 patterns of biophilic design can be applied in this area, and meaningfully can decrease anxiety and stress, increase social interactions, satisfaction, and peace of individuals. Hospitalization rooms can accelerate patients recovery and treatment time by applying 8 biophilic design patterns included patterns number 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11. Surgery, intensive care and emergency areas should obey some special design standards, so only some biophilic design patterns such as; visual connection with nature, dynamic and diffused light and material connection to nature, are compatible with these zones design. Also, in general level using different courtyards and view to nature are the main design principles in architectural planning of biophilic hospitals, and in interior level view of nature, presence of natural light, natural air and natural materials are the most practical strategies in biophilic rooms of healthcare spaces. Nevertheless, empirical and practical assessment of the influence of biophilic patterns and their continuous development is still required.

The Optimum Design of Open and Green Spaces in Educational Complex to Improve Students Perception and Quality of Educational Environment (Case Study: Girls High Schools in Isfahan)

Seyedeh Marzieh Tabaeian

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 127-139

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.214757.1339

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: In the architectural and physical design of many schools and other educational spaces within the country, the psychological aspects of students ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: In the architectural and physical design of many schools and other educational spaces within the country, the psychological aspects of students and space users are highly neglected. However, these spaces and environments have the highest level of contact with children and teenagers, thus bearing long-term psychological and emotional effects on them. According to experts in the field, the school's educational environment should be designed so as to make learning easy and enjoyable. The ever-growing need to expand educational spaces along with the increased student population and the weakness of open spaces, and lack of suitable green environment in schools, is one of the main problems of today's society. In the meantime, the design of green space in these environments and the way of organizing the elements and integrating the occupied empty spaces with the desired capacity in the school space, both the interiors and exteriors such as courtyards, should be more flexible so that it can yield positive results in the teaching process. The arrangement of the elements together can create different-looking courtyards with various capabilities for relaxation and rest, exercise and the exploitation of green space, just as children and teenagers want a plethora of green spaces with different functions in school. Establishing a close and direct connection with the environment and outdoor nature makes the school a manifestation of the student's second home and at the same time. When space is in direct and close contact with such courtyard, it is possible to use both spaces simultaneously for both functions of learning or leisure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the desirable design of open spaces and outdoor educational environment at all educational levels, as shaping a sense of interest towards the educational environment and the subsequent interaction with green spaces and roaming space of the yard are highly contributing factors in the desirable attitude of students towards their learning environment and their resulting educational progress. The desirability of such spaces is also very effective in reducing the stress of the teaching staff and educators, thus forming constructive steps in the process of education and training. Methods: The research method in this paper is qualitative that employs descriptive (retrospective causal-comparative) indicators. The statistical population of this research includes all-girls high schools in Isfahan. According to the standards offered by the General Directorate of School Renovation of Isfahan Province, the schools of the four educational districts were divided into two groups of desirable and undesirable. In this research, a simple random sampling method was used to select subjects. Hence, 208 students from both school types (desirable and undesirable) were examined. Then, four high schools (one school from each district) were randomly selected from the list of schools. Two classrooms were subsequently randomly selected from each school. From each class, all students responded to the questionnaire items. In addition, students from both groups of desirable and undesirable schools were homogenized and compared in terms of intelligence quotient, education level of parents, economic and social status of the family, and lack of inflicting disorders. This self-report inventory consists of 32 Likert-scale items and is designed to examine attitudes of students toward educational spaces and the perception of the open environment and green space. In developing this questionnaire, a prototype questionnaire (preliminary design of the design scale) was used. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for this inventory was estimated to be higher than 0.7, and the reliability of the data was thus confirmed. Findings: The results show that there is a significant difference between the average scores of the open space design of the yard and the green environment of the school from the students' point of view in two groups of schools. As such, the students studying at desired schools had a positive attitude towards the school and the educational environment in terms of exploiting the open spaces according to the students' psychological characteristics. The learning process in interaction with the open space, owing to the formation of gathering spaces, provides the possibility of group work practice and higher student participation. Conclusion: Overall, this collective learning and the relationship between the internal body and the external space positively affect students' intellectual activity. Also in consolidating the sense of place, this study explores the concepts of socialization and interpersonal interactions of students, learning and attractiveness of learning and promoting indirect education in the interaction between open and closed spaces (as well as the connecting semi-open spaces), softening the environment and appropriate landscaping and positive psychological effects of students and creating thermally comfortable seating space to be used in the outdoor environment, controlling the reflection of disturbing lights and sheltering rain or other climatic conditions in certain environments, strengthening students' sensory and visual communication with the environment and educational-oriented communication in the open environment and providing space for relation, rest, interpersonal interactions, observing others and creating creativity through research strategies and achievements, which requires appropriate design and careful application of the principles of architecture and environmental psychology.

Evaluating the effective environmental factors on the satisfaction of patients and companions with the patient’s rooms in Tehran hospitals

Hani Hadadzadegan; Zahra Sadat Zomorodian; Mohammad Tahsildoost; Shadi Jamy

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 251-264

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.118129

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Various studies confirm that indoor environmental quality (IEQ) evaluation plays an important role in health, wellbeing, and satisfaction, ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Various studies confirm that indoor environmental quality (IEQ) evaluation plays an important role in health, wellbeing, and satisfaction, especially in healthcare facilities. Moreover, these building types are among the major energy consumers. The variety of the users’ requests (patient, patient companion, and staff), physiological conditions, and mental sensitivities increase the importance of choosing the appropriate method of studying healthcare buildings. Previous studies have suggested many methods for assessing indoor environmental quality. Recent research has found IEQ to be largely influenced by thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, lighting comfort, and indoor air quality. Also, due to the differences in users’ perceptions of the limits set in the relevant standards and conditions in hospitals, questionnaires were used to compare the users’ satisfaction with standards and real situations. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of the patient’s room indoor environment in order to identify the most important indoor quality indices affecting user satisfaction and compare environmental conditions with existing standards such as American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (Ashare) standard, world health organization (WHO), Iran standards, etc. in this field. In this regard, physical measurements data of environmental parameters affecting the quality of the indoor environment in medical centers were collected. Then by comparing the results obtained from the users’ questionnaires and physical measurements with related standards and previous research, the most important factor influencing indoor environment quality in patient’s room is identified. Finally, the relationship between the type of users who are separately affected by indoor conditions is expressed. Methods: In the current study, based on the results of previously validated studies, the physical data and users’ satisfaction levels are measured via questionnaires to assess the hospitals’ indoor environment quality. Indoor environment quality evaluation is generally studied using the four main characteristics of thermal, lighting, acoustic, and indoor air quality. Five hospitals in Tehran have been selected, and their IEQ has been evaluated. In this regard, 482 questionnaires were completed by the patients and their companions. In these questionnaires, four indices mentioned above, out of the total indices affecting indoor quality, were evaluated. At the same time, these indices have been compared using environmental characteristics such as dry air temperature, relative humidity, lighting intensity, and sound level intensity, carbon dioxide concentration (CO2), fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) concentration by the researcher, simultaneously with the completion of the questionnaire by users under specific protocols. Findings: Based on the results, the highest compliance with the standard was observed in indoor air quality (IAQ) and the lowest in sound quality according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The results show that there is a significant correlation between the thermal and optical indices concerning indoor quality, which are 0.59 and 0.42, respectively. However, the two indices of acoustic quality and IAQ, despite their high correlation with indoor quality (0.62 and 0.67, respectively), have an internal source. Comparing the frequency of case samples within the standard temperature range (23-26°C) with other cases shows an 11% increase in user dissatisfaction due to non-compliance with this range. Conclusion: Although the acoustic quality of most case samples is out of standard, 30 to 40% of users have reported usual satisfaction with the sound condition. Due to the excess of standard lighting intensity in most case samples, lighting quality has maintained the average level of user satisfaction at the highest level. Also, comparing the results of the users’ satisfaction in the questionnaire with the standard range of the four indoor environmental quality indices stated 100% compliance with indoor air quality, 68% with thermal status, and 18% with lighting status. The results also showed that acoustic status had no significant relationship with standard range and user satisfaction conditions. Also, the dry air temperature factor in evaluating thermal quality is more effective than the relative humidity. Based on the data collected from the statistics, a statistical model is presented to identify the general users’ satisfaction with IEQ based on environmental parameters.

The effects of urban spaces smartification on citizens’ perception of forming behaviore settings (Case study: Hafthoz square, Tehran)

Kiana Hashemi; Rama Ghalambordezfooly

Volume 12, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 207-219

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.179583.1208

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Many different scholars have stated the importance of behavior settings in urban design and planning, such as Jacobs, Lynch, Zuker, etc. ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Many different scholars have stated the importance of behavior settings in urban design and planning, such as Jacobs, Lynch, Zuker, etc. As one of the most important components of city construction, behavior settings can greatly affect cities’ residential and biological quality. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that social relations convert a place or environment to a behavior setting. Moreover, other smart cities shall be seen as a system in which there are many newfound opportunities for proposing digital systems, smart reactions, and optimization in different levels of integration. A smart city uses information and communication technology for city vitality and sustainability, but how is this goal manifested in urban design and behavior settings? Promoting social interactions in behavior settings in urban space is one of the discussed subjects in the field of urban design, which has been more emphasized recently. Regarding the advent of smart cities, the question is whether city smartification can affect the promotion of urban space quality in various fields or not. Therefore, generalizing the question, the study objective seeks to investigate the relationship of urban space smartification with constructive components of human behavior. Behavior settings are considered places out of individual boundaries or small groups almost everywhere and every time rather than being related to private and intimate space (Kashani Jo, 2010). Behavior settings in the past had a pivotal role in the life of individuals, families, neighborhoods, and cities. Many public, collective, and group activities took place in behavior settings. Therefore, a part of social activities, spending leisure time, and exchanging information and experiences used to be conducted through face-to-face contacts (Soltanzadeh, 2006). These behavior settings underlie the formation of memories. The internal activities define the behavior settings, and such activities and relationships among human beings cause mental images and urban memory (Fadaeinejad, 2006). Behavior settings belong to citizens. They are not limited to the physical aspect, and in fact, it gets meaning by the presence of humans and their activities. In other words, behavior settings are defined according to their time and place, and activities occur in regular order in their organized human and physical components (Scott, 2005). Additionally, the urban smartification process in the world includes creating new cities or making the existing ones smart. The first step in this process might be an agreement on a comprehensive definition and its general and detailed features from the smart city (Fazli, Modiri, and Farhoodi, 2018, 24). There have been many attempts to investigate the relationship between technology and urban space during the past century to design a pleasant urban environment (Phi II I ps, 2000). To summarize the theoretical principles, it is said that effective behavior patterns on the formation of behavior settings can be affected by the components of urban spaces, which have been smartified. In this study, global experiences of smartification of urban spaces such as Dubai, Amsterdam, Singapore, and Toronto were investigated. Using smart equipment in the fountains, kiosks, benches, public transportation stations, sidewalk flooring, lighting fixtures of these samples, the performance of such components has been changed. Smartification can be categorized into four general categories of smart urban equipment, smart buildings, smart urban furniture, and smart facade. The main idea of this study is that as the result of smartifying these components in urban paces, users’ reactions and behavior patterns will change, and such changes will be effective in the formation of behavior settings. Each one of these changed components (made smart) can be regarded as the manifestations of the smart environment in urban space. Each one can separately or simultaneously affect the components of behavior settings, obtained by summarizing theoretical principles, namely overt emotional behavior, problem-solving, major motion activity, the interaction among people and changing the things, and finally create behavior settings. Methods: This study uses a descriptive-analytical method, and it is considered an applied research. In terms of the data analysis method, this study is also considered a quantitative study. Questionnaires with face validity were used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha was also used to obtain its reliability value. In the second step, referring to the subject literature and the ideas of scholars, the authors tried to extract and fix the effective factors. The measurements range between “very much and continue as high, average, low, and without effect” in the questionnaire. The effect of each factor has been investigated. Findings: The results of statistical tests indicate a correlation between the effective factors of forming behavior setting and the smartification variables in urban space. The statistical analysis of the collected data from the questionnaires showed that all the four investigated groups in urban space, including urban furniture, facade, buildings, and urban equipment, can positively and consistently affect behavior settings in the studied case after being smartified. The result of the Friedman test also indicated some points on the effectiveness of each existing component in the studied urban spaces on the formation of behavior settings in the users’ mind. Conclusion: Statistical analysis of the data collected through the questionnaire showed that all four groups of elements in urban space (including urban furniture, facades, buildings, and urban equipment) could have a significant relationship with the formation of behavioral settings under the influence of smartification. The results showed that smart furniture and facades have the most effects on the formation of behavior settings.

Original Research Paper

Simulation and evaluation of the effect of membrane canopy on outdoor thermal comfort in Semnan city

Sepideh Jafarian; Elham Sarkardehee; Danial Monsefi Parapari; Mohammad Reza Mojahedi

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.262631.1596

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Given the significance of human presence in open spaces and the influence of climate on urban activities and behaviors, this study addresses ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Given the significance of human presence in open spaces and the influence of climate on urban activities and behaviors, this study addresses the crucial aspect of outdoor thermal comfort. Urban open spaces, especially in hot climates, make users experience high thermal loads leading to thermal discomfort. Outdoor thermal comfort can be improved by controlling radiation and shading to mitigate stresses induced by surface overheating and environmental factors. This research underscores the importance of shading and radiation reduction to promote human presence, create a micro-climate, and improve comfort conditions in urban open spaces. Recognizing shade-producing factors, such as canopies, can contribute to creating desirable outdoor environments. In this context, fabric membrane structures are suitable solutions for hot climates, offering shade and natural ventilation. In hot and arid climates like Semnan, outdoor thermal comfort is not met due to factors such as intense heat, clear skies, strong sunlight, limited vegetation, and a lack of shade. Consequently, outdoor spaces are usable for only limited hours and only for specific seasons. However, by controlling the temperatures and introducing shading, a key factor in cooling the environment and reducing air temperatures during hot periods, thermal comfort conditions can be provided to some extent. Membrane canopies, with their unique properties, are suitable for outdoor spaces, particularly in hot and arid climates, offering users enhanced thermal comfort.Methods: This study investigates the effect of lightweight membrane canopies on outdoor thermal comfort in Semnan, characterized by a hot and dry climate, through a combination of bibliographic research and simulations using ENVI-met and ANSYS software. The bibliographic research is conducted through scrutinizing the sources and documents and analyzing Persian and non-Persian materials related to outdoor thermal comfort and lightweight membrane structures, employing both descriptive and analytical information analysis methods. Simulations are run using ENVI-met to assess the influence of shade on the environment and ANSYS software to simulate various common shade models, assessing their effects on thermal comfort. The simulation analysis follows a comparative research data analysis and review approach.Findings: The findings indicate that installing a membrane canopy during summer results in a temperature reduction of up to 4.7 °C, substantially improving thermal comfort conditions. Lightweight membrane canopies effectively cool the space beneath them and prevent ground overheating. According to previous researches and considering that there are two factors of high temperature and low humidity in the hot and dry climate of Semnan, the combined use of shade to reduce temperature and vegetation to increase humidity has a significant effect on thermal comfort in the hot and dry climate of the Semnan. This discrepancy is attributed to real-world conditions where wind, surrounding objects, and natural elements around the canopies disperse heat, and the flat plate strongly absorbs heat; however, in real conditions there are other objects around the canopies that reduce the intensity of heat. Although shade does not cool the ground, it effectively mitigates excessive heating. In the current simulations, the ground surrounding the canopy heats up to 70-80 °C, but temperatures are cooler under the canopy. If the lowest temperature under the canopy is the criterion, the saddle canopy is more suitable, and if the cooling capacity of the shade is important, the saddle canopy has performed better.Conclusion: Lightweight membrane canopies cause temperature differences in hot and dry climates. The Ansys simulation results with the aim of investigating the effect of the membrane shade and determining the suitable form for the light membrane shade confirm that the membrane canopy cool the space under and prevent excessive ground overheating. Out of the four membrane canopy models available, namely the Simple, Conical, Umbrella, and Saddle designs, the Saddle canopy stands out with an effectiveness rate of 43.15% in the environment, demonstrating strong performance in creating a cooler space beneath it and can be considered the most suitable choice among the canopy models.

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Original Research Paper

The influence of cultural, social, and geographical contexts on the emergence of the first religious places in Islam and Judaism

Seyedeh Mahsa Bagheri; Seyed Behshid Hosseini; Mahmoud Arzhmand

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.336840.1903

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Religions do not develop in isolation; instead, they emerge within cultural, social, and geographical contexts. Islam and Judaism both originated ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Religions do not develop in isolation; instead, they emerge within cultural, social, and geographical contexts. Islam and Judaism both originated in regions characterized by specific cultural, social, and geographical factors. Rather than rejecting these contexts, these religions often engaged with and, over time, influenced by elements that were compatible with their respective beliefs. This adaptation was driven by the need to foster empathy with the local people and facilitate the acceptance of the new faith. Consequently, religious places gradually took shape, and formed by the existing contexts. This study carries out a comparative analysis of the impact of cultural, social, and geographical factors in the birthplaces of Islam and Judaism on the development of their first religious places. It seeks to investigate the role of cultural, social, and geographical contexts in shaping the first religious places in Islam and Judaism?Methods: This research uses a qualitative, interpretive-analytical approach and utilizes a comparative methodology to investigate how the cultural, social, and geographical contexts in the birthplaces of Islam and Judaism influenced the formation of their early religious places. Data collection relies on extensive library resources. The case studies selected for examination include the Kaaba, the Medina Mosque, and the first Islamic mosques for Islam, and the Tabernacle, the Temple in Jerusalem, and the earliest synagogues for Judaism. The research treats cultural, social, and geographical contexts as interpretive and comparative units. It begins by identifying these contexts in the regions of Islam and Judaism’s origins and then assesses their impact on the formation of the first religious places in these two religions. Findings: The findings of this study revolve around an analysis of how the cultural, social, and geographical contexts in these regions influenced the development of the first religious places in Islam and Judaism. In the cultural context, aspects such as artistic expressions, beliefs, individual values, and convictions originating from previous or new religious influences were examined. The social context encompassed political, economic aspects, customs, collective habits, societal norms, and values, while the geographical context included the climate and the physical location of the birthplaces of these religions and their relationship with the formation of religious places. Specifically, the study evaluated how these aspects and contexts influenced the creation of the Kaaba, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and the first mosques in Islam, as well as the Tabernacle of the Covenant, the Temple of Jerusalem, and the earliest synagogues in Judaism.. Conclusion: The results reveal that Islam and Judaism differed in terms of the extent to which each context influenced them. In the comparison of cultural contexts and aspects, including beliefs, individual values, and beliefs derived from previous or new religions, it became evident that both religions were influenced by the preexisting beliefs of the land. For instance, Islam embraced concepts such as the interaction between the present life and the afterlife, monotheism, and the rejection of polytheism, while Judaism adopted beliefs in the sanctity of stones and directions. In the comparison of social contexts and aspects, Islam prioritized collective worship and equal access to religious spaces for all members of society, as seen in the Kaaba and the Medina Mosque. Conversely, Judaism, influenced by beliefs in social hierarchies, exhibited spatial divisions and social hierarchies in accessing inner spaces, as witnessed in the Tabernacle of the Covenant and the Temple of Jerusalem.

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Original Research Paper

Evaluation and analysis of the use of media capacities and its impact on city branding; Case study: The creative gastronomy city of Rasht

Aliakbar Salaripour; Mitra Roshan; Alieh Faridi Foshtomi; Hamid Reza Yoosefi Matak

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2021.283183.1691

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Creative urban development not only contributes to social improvement, but also fosters economic development and citizen welfare. Urban branding ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Creative urban development not only contributes to social improvement, but also fosters economic development and citizen welfare. Urban branding is a tool to promote cultural and social values, catalyze economic development, and facilitate competition among cities for investment, tourism, and global events. In this increasingly competitive environment, urban branding helps to attract visitors, capital, and residents, various economic benefits, social cohesion, and added value to cities as a whole. By emphasizing a city’s identity and local culture, branding ultimately improves the quality of life for its inhabitants. The Internet and communication technologies has ushered in a new era in the global economy, with media serving as an effective tool for marketing and advertising, significantly elevating a destination’s reputation and brand. Nowadays, the media’s critical task is to create ideas and mental images of facts. Tourism and its brand heavily rely on the relationships between stakeholders, and establishing, maintaining, and developing relationships is the key to success.Gilan province, with many gastronomic capacities, successfully designated Rasht as its Gastronomy Creative City in 2015. While Rasht has held this title as Iran’s sole gastronomy creative city for the past five years, the city image as the center of the country’s gastronomic culture has remained under-promoted both nationally and internationally. This article seeks to evaluate the capacity of various media channels, encompassing both mass and social media, in the context of city branding. Urban management institutions have the opportunity to leverage these media platforms to introduce and promote the brand of Rasht as a creative gastronomic city, thereby accelerating the city’s economic development. This research aims to evaluate and analyze how effectively the creative city of Rasht has used media capacity at the national and international levels to raise awareness about itself and introduce the creative city of Rasht.Methods: This study uses a descriptive approach to address research questions and is applied in terms of its objectives. Data was collected through surveys and document analysis. A questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale was employed to measure the media’s capacity to promote Rasht as a creative gastronomy city. The questionnaire comprises four sections (criteria): branding, social media, mass media, and media information quality (formation of destination image). The research population encompasses all residents, citizens of Rasht, and tourists who have visited the city at least once. A total of 395 online questionnaires were distributed and completed among Rasht’s residents, citizens, and tourists. The online questionnaire featured conditional questions to segment respondents based on their residence or travel status. SPSS software was used for quantitative analysis, and to verify the questionnaire’s reliability and internal validity, Cronbach’s alpha value was calculated, yielding a score of 0.914. Subsequently, Smart PLS3 software was employed to model and analyze the findings. Findings: The Friedman test was used, to rank and identify the essential criteria.. A significance level below 0.05 in the Friedman test affirms its validity and confirms the ranking of criteria impacting branding. Results reveal that the branding criterion, with an average score of 3.45, claims the top position, followed by media information quality, social media, and mass media with average scores of 2.62, 2.30, and 1.63, respectively. Then, using Smart PLS3 software, the findings were modeled and analyzed. The results highlight that “social media,” with a path coefficient of 0.361, emerges as the most influential factor in branding Rasht as a creative city. Within the social media sector, “endorsement by celebrities and social media influencers” brings in a factor of 0.784, signifying its substantial impact on Rasht’s branding. While the impact of mass media on branding Rasht is less promoted, it is essential to recognize that this criterion still holds potential for branding and promoting the city, provided that effective strategies and activities are implemented. Conclusion: City branding can only be achieved through the proper use of media and effective advertising. This study distinguishes between social and mass media. Broadcasting is the most important visual and audio mass media, but now social media has a more prominent role and capacity than traditional mass media in city branding. According to citizens and tourists, endorsements by celebrities play a pivotal role in shaping Rasht’s image on social media platforms. In today’s era, also known as the digital age, Internet communications play a significant role in people’s lives, so special attention to the Internet, advertising, and urban management investments in various social media can be a practical step in branding the Rasht city.

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Original Research Paper

Investigating the mental judgment patterns of architects in facilitating pedestrian mobility in residential complexes; Case study: district 22 Tehran

Seyyedeh Ashraf Sadat; Mohammad Sadegh Taher Tolou Del

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.269234.1619

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify and categorize the views of experts in order to facilitate pedestrian movement in residential complexes ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify and categorize the views of experts in order to facilitate pedestrian movement in residential complexes in District 22 Tehran. Given the absence of prior studies specifically focusing on empirically investigating expert perspectives on improving pedestrian mobility in residential complexes within District 22, Tehran, this research is deemed exploratory and pioneering.Methods: Due to the absence of established theoretical foundations for identifying key factors influencing pedestrian movement within residential complexes, this research is considered exploratory. The Delphi method was employed to uncover expert viewpoints, and Q-type factor analysis was used for expert opinion categorization. In the initial stage, an open-ended questionnaire was administered to generate ideas. Subsequent stages utilized structured questionnaires where participants rated each item on a Likert scale, quantifying their opinions. A nine-choice Likert scale questionnaire was designed to measure participants’ perspectives in the second and third stages. After collecting data in these stages, Q factor analysis was applied. In the third stage, participants were given the opportunity to review and revise their responses as needed. Following the completion of the Delphi process and Q factor analysis, including factor extraction and rotation, the factors were detailed and interpreted. To interpret each factor, emphasis was placed on variables with exceptionally high or low scores that were common among participants within each factor, indicating strong opinions. The selection of participants was purposeful and non-probabilistic, comprising 20 experts, primarily university professors from prominent institutions such as the Department of Architecture at the University of Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tarbiat Modares University, and Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, many of whom have designed renowned residential complexes in the Tehran region. The study’s geographic focus is Zone 22 of Tehran Municipality. Sampling adequacy was assessed using the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) test, which confirmed adequacy with a KMO measure of 0.564. The research tool was developed through an initial phase of document analysis, starting with a review of relevant literature and employing a descriptive-analytical approach and logical reasoning. In the realm of residential architecture, this research introduces a fundamental component that influences the movement and dynamics of residents. Findings: In the first stage of the Delphi method, a total of 40 physical, functional, and semantic variables were initially identified and presented to experts. Following the results of this initial stage, in addition to the existing variables, two new variables, namely spatial coherence and location, were discovered and incorporated into the variable list. Ultimately, a questionnaire for the second stage of Delphi was formulated and administered, encompassing a total of 42 variables. The second stage data underwent Q factor analysis, revealing the presence of six factors. These factors were derived from 28 common variables that received either notably high or low scores among the experts. Consequently, 14 variables were eliminated during the second stage of Delphi. The remaining six factors are considered acceptable due to the presence of shared variables exhibiting very high or low scores among the experts. These six discerned factors align with the six distinct cognitive patterns. In essence, expert opinions were classified into six clearly interpretable categories. These six patterns, namely legibility, permeability, happiness, mobility, responsiveness, and territoriality, emerged from the theoretical consensus among experts. They collectively influence cognition, meaning generation, and the physical impact on space, forming three interconnected composite patterns, each maintaining its unique identity within the subject matter. This conceptual model not only provides insights into the path of knowledge but also fosters an adaptable insight that shifts from “method within the environment” to “method within research,” possessing the potential for growth and evolution over time. Conclusion: The data derived from the Delphi process were analyzed by the Q factor, leading to the categorization of architecture experts based on their common views. Notably, 28 variables exhibited commonality, with experts assigning either very high or low scores. In essence, this implies that 14 variables were excluded during the second stage of Delphi. Subsequently, the findings were presented to the experts for controlled feedback. Based on these results, a total of 76.70% of the influential factors pertaining to pedestrian movement within residential complexes in District 22 Tehran could be confidently identified and subsequently interpreted through expert interviews. It is noteworthy that nearly 80% of respondents concurred on this topic. The primary intellectual trend can be attributed to the first group of experts, represented by the first factor, which accounted for 15.56% of the overall variance. In the context of general categorization, these patterns can be divided into responsiveness (15.56%), territoriality (15.00%), mobility (13.60%), happiness (9.60%), legibility (9.45%), and permeability (7.55%).

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Original Research Paper

Evaluating the effect of master urban plans on the region sustainability using the ecological footprint method; Case study: Boroujerd city

Sepideh Paymanfar

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.269346.1620

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: The increase in population and the development of urbanization have had destructive environmental effects. With the emergence and intensification ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: The increase in population and the development of urbanization have had destructive environmental effects. With the emergence and intensification of these problems, the sustainable development approach was placed on government’s and planners’ agenda. The history of space development programs prepared in Iran shows that sustainability considerations have been ignored in most programs. These programs are often used for research after implementation. However, the evaluation of the future situations resulting from the implementation of developmental interventions in the region is considered a practical step in modifying and revising the development plans in order to achieve sustainablity. The master plan of Boroujerd, located in Lorestan province, was prepared by the Emco consulting engineers and was approved by the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture in the spring of 2016. To assess the impact of the Boroujerd comprehensive plan on its sustainability, a comparison will be made between the ecological conditions in 2015 and 2031. With this aim, the ecological footprint and biological capacity of Boroujerd have been calculated separately for each year, and finally, after deducting the ecological footprint from the biological capacity, the sustainability of the region will be determined in terms of ecological surplus or deficit.Methods: The Ecological Footprint Index is one of the most important tools for measuring the sustainability status of specific areas or lifestyles, which was proposed by Rees and Wackernagel in the 1990s. This index offers clear insights into regions exerting higher pressure on natural resources. It calculates the ecological footprint based on four consumption categories: food, housing, services, and transportation. Additionally, it categorizes the types of land required to fulfill this consumption and absorb pollution, including forest land, built-up land, fishing land, cropland, grazing land, and carbon. In this study, a combination of a field survey and a questionnaire (the questionnaire was adapted to align with the Iranian-Islamic lifestyle to the greatest extent possible) was employed to determine the ecological footprint in 2020 (the year when the research was conducted). Subsequently, predictions for the ecological footprint in 2015 and 2031 were made. On the other hand, biocapacity pertains to the capacity of water and soil to provide ecological services. Similar to the ecological footprint, biological capacity involves the classification of land types into six groups. Ultimately, Boroujerd’s biological capacity was computed based on the area of each of these six land types, utilizing the following formula:BC= A× YF × EQFBC= Biological Capacity; A= Area; YF= Yield Factor; EQF= Equivalence FactorFindings: The results reveal that Boroujerd’s biological capacity, both in 2015 and 2031, surpasses the national average due to its abundant natural resources. However, its ecological footprint and deficit are alarmingly higher. The ecological deficit in Boroujerd is predicted to increase further in 2031, due to inappropriate consumption patterns, population growth, and changes in land use outlined in the proposed master plan. In both 2015 and 2031, the highest percentage of the ecological footprint is associated with Carbon, Cropland, Forest land, Built-up land, Fishing land, and Grazing land, respectively. Notably, the reduction in the biological capacity of cropland and the increase in the biological capacity of built-up land demand particular consideration. Due to the proposed plan’s alteration of cropland use, their biological capacity has dwindled to less than half. As a result, the city will face a greater ecological deficit in this type of land compared to other types. Although in the proposed plan, an attempt has been made to compensate for this ecological deficit by creating a green protection axis in the city limit, due to the increase in population and the conversion of cropland into built-up land, there has been no success in compensating the ecological deficit.Conclusion: The ecological deficit of Boroujerd in 2015 was about -44.3 hectares per person, and if the mentioned plan is implemented, sustainability is expected to slightly decline by 2031, and the ecological deficit will reach -67.3 hectares per person. In the end, two categories of solutions in order to compensate for the ecological deficit and achieve a sustainable situation in Boroujerd will be addressed. The first group is solutions to reduce the ecological footprint aiming to lower demand levels and promote sustainability through education and culture for the optimal consumption of each of the indicators used in the calculation of the footprint. The second set of solutions, commonly adopted in developed societies and seek to increase biological capacity through innovative solutions. In this regard, solutions are proposed to reduce carbon emissions and increase the capacity of environmental resources.

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Original Research Paper

Understanding “the nature of design knowledge” from a constructivist learning perspective

Roya Sadeghi Fereshteh; Omid Dezhdar; Sara Jalalian; Hosein Ardalani

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.222893.1373

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Design is a complex and vital human creative activity, requiring unique capacities and knowledge. Research in design has been around for ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Design is a complex and vital human creative activity, requiring unique capacities and knowledge. Research in design has been around for several decades in ways. While early studies focused on practical design methods, recent research delves into the intricate aspects of design work, problem-solving, and the design process itself. This article aims to explore the nature of design knowledge and to build knowledge within a constructive learning settings through a constructivist lens, using qualitative methods and theoretical analysis. The central questions are: What is the nature of design knowledge from a constructivist learning perspective, and how can one acquire design knowledge in a constructivist learning environment? It seems the knowledge used by designers is compatible with the knowledge production approach from a constructivist perspective, hence attempts are made to investigate the nature of design knowledge from a constructivist learning perspective.Methods: This study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing the Grounded Theory research technique to gain a deep understanding of “nature of design knowledge from a constructivist learning “perspective. Data collection methods included document reviews of articles from credible international journals (e.g., Design Studies, Architectural Research, Architectural Education), as well as Iranian researchers, interviews with esteemed professors in the field of architecture education, and on-site observations during Architectural Design Workshops 2 and 3 over two semesters. MAXQDA software was used for data analysis. The analysis consisted of three coding phases: one for the literature review, one for interview data, and one for field observations. The field study incorporated an observation method, offering a detailed description of design knowledge based on a model by David William Shaffer (2003) derived from the MIT University design workshop (Shaffer, 2003). Findings: Design knowledge is not visible, though it can be seen through conduct, as it manifests itself in design workshops via drawing, handwriting, modeling, etc. Professionals also embody their design knowledge through their work, which grows through experience, repetition, and skill acquisition. In a constructivist learning environment, knowledge develops during teacher-student interactions, allowing students to engage with their personal knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. This approach emphasizes the learning process and the thought processes involved in design, rather than just the final product. In the design process, problems are performed in a process-oriented form. The effective components in constructivism and knowledge building in this style of learning are somewhat similar to the nature of the knowledge applied by designers in their own designs. The constructivist learning approach to knowledge building is very similar to the nature of knowledge, while design training can be very successful for learners based on this approach. Design knowledge is distinct from other bodies of knowledge and can be acquired by specific means. Most of the time, this body of knowledge is unconscious and challenging to articulate. A large part of this body of knowledge is tacit and indescribable. In reality, design is learned through conduct. Because design knowledge is by itself a different body of knowledge, the way knowledge is acquired is obtained by changing the conduct of work. The nature of design knowledge hinges on practical tasks and the individual’s unique capacities, evolving with experience, context, and the stages of its acquisition.Conclusion: The nature of design knowledge, like the pre-determined bodies of knowledge in the education system, is individualized and must be constructed by the learner within the classroom. Thus, each person’s previous knowledge and experience is a prerequisite to building a new body of knowledge. Interaction with peers and dialogue about the design process are essential for building design knowledge. High mental processes in human beings are constructed through social interaction, in which individuals share information and understanding that they have acquired from their previous perspectives, cognition and experiences, thereby helping to raise each other’s knowledge level. In a constructivist approach, the goal of learning is not to transmit knowledge from one source to another. Learning environments avoid imposing restrictions on pre-established knowledge. The constructivist approach to knowledge closely aligns with the essence of design knowledge. Consequently, an improved constructive learning environment can significantly contribute to the development of design knowledge in architectural workshops. An optimal teaching approach for an architectural design workshop involves adopting the constructive method. The activities within these workshops align with the design process, particularly addressing design challenges, where the emphasis lies on the problem-solving journey. Design tasks incorporating constructivist principles should be real and authentic. This entails meeting not only the requirements set by professional designers but also considering the unique abilities of each student. The teacher’s role extends beyond mere knowledge transfer; instead, they act as a mentor and facilitator within the workshop, where the student takes the responsibility of shaping the design process and making solutions. During design process instruction, the teacher can guide students by explaining and interpreting the design, helping them recognize the concepts they have formulated. This is achieved through active dialogue, questioning, and encouragement to reflect on their designs. Consequently, students articulate their plans consciously, with the teacher taking on a supportive role rather than being the primary explainer.

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Original Research Paper

Assessing the relationship between neighborhood types and social interaction patterns in villa complexes and mid-rise apartment; Case study: Sib apartment complex and Saheli villas, Noor city

Seyed Mohsen Moosavi; Rouhollah Rahimi; Sogand Vosooghi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.298884.1754

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: After the industrial revolution, many changes have taken place in the housing system. Residential neighborhoods have become largely obsolete ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: After the industrial revolution, many changes have taken place in the housing system. Residential neighborhoods have become largely obsolete and have been replaced by residential complexes. What is considered in the creation of residential complexes in their design process; often there are big issues such as economic conditions, land value and etc. Thus, such foreign forces affect housing policies and ultimately the quality of human life. Since the house is one of the most important and main places of human presence, it has the most duty in provide the individual and social needs of humans. This study intends to investigate the differences of social interactions in two types of residential complexes, mid-rise apartment and villa complexes, based on Jan Gehl‘s theory. According to this theory, activities that can be performed among residents of residential complexes lead to the creation of social interactions among them. These activities can be categorized into three categories: necessary activities, optional activities, and social activities. Necessary activities which are some kind of activities that residents definitely do, such as entering and leaving the complex. Optional activities are activities that take place if suitable conditions and personal preferences exist, such as children playing or exercising in public spaces of residential complexes. Finally, social activities are activities that depend more than anything else on the presence of other residents in public spaces. Jan Gehl also emphasizes the design process should be: “First life, then spaces, then buildings - the other way around never works.” Therefore, this research discovers the level of social interactions resulting from these activities by examining the possibility of the occurrence of three categories of activities in two types of residential complexes.Methods: Considering the research objective, the desired studies and investigations focus on identifying the factors and activities that lead to social interactions. In this regard, in the first step, through library studies and examining previous research, the activities that lead to the formation of social interaction among individuals were extracted. Then, to investigate the occurrence of these activities with residents of the two residential complexes of “Sib” and “Saheli”, interviews were conducted. To this end, interviews were conducted with 14 residents of the complex, 57% of whom were male and 43% were female. In the next step, the information obtained from the interviews was interpreted using content analysis. In addition to answering the interview questions, the interviewees also expressed their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with interacting with some neighbors. For analysis, the dialogues were carefully examined, and significant points were discovered. Then, the significant points were categorized, and their commonalities were discovered. Findings: The results indicate that the occurrence of social interactions resulting from necessary activities in middle-class apartments is significantly higher than in villa complexes. The reason for this is the greater dependence of residential units on each other. This dependence is due to common spaces and dealing with common affairs and financial issues. It is worth mentioning that the presence of a guard in villa complexes is one influential factor in increasing social interactions. Regarding optional activities, it can be stated that familiarity and acquaintance among individuals in middle-class apartments occur more frequently, which is due to more face-to-face encounters between residents. This is while villa complexes, with wider central spaces and fewer design constraints compared to apartments, can create a more suitable spatial capacity for social interactions. Social activities also occur to a lesser extent in both types of complexes. Finally, it can be said that the most fundamental difference in creating social interactions in the two types of residential complexes, middle-class apartments and villa complexes, is related to necessary activities. Considering these differences, it is possible to take steps towards optimal design and increasing desirable social interactions in residential complexes. Conclusion: The The results show that the main difference between the two types of residential complexes is due to the necessary activities and its incidence rate in mid-rise apartment is higher than villa complexes. However, villa complexes with a wider middle space and less limitations in its design can create a suitable environment to increase social interactions. The results of study can lead designers and planners to eliminate existing deficiencies and users to choose housing tailored to their social needs.

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Original Research Paper

Analogy of thermal comfort with the influence of openings by PMV method in traditional houses and apartments in Shiraz

Zahra Barzegar; Khatereh Sajjadi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.231996.1424

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Humans have always tried to build shelters in nature that are compatible with the climate to provide the best conditions for their survival. ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Humans have always tried to build shelters in nature that are compatible with the climate to provide the best conditions for their survival. Exploiting the climate and weather conditions of each region in architecture is one of the important issues that has attracted the attention of Iranian and foreign researchers in architecture and urban planning research, and it has even influenced the quality of domestic architecture. In addition, in today’s science, it is proven that design will be a very costly process without considering the features and climatic factors. One of the most important factors that is effective in improving the quality of the indoor environment is the concept of thermal comfort. Thermal comfort is a mental condition that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. According to the important role of the openness as an index of control of comfort conditions and air flow in the interior, it will play an important role. Investigating the capabilities and comparing the internal thermal comfort of residents under the influence of construction openings are studied the present research.Methods: The current research method is quantitative and thermal comfort is calculated by PMV method. At first, the thermal comfort of the traditional and modern houses changed under the influence of construction openings in the hot season is investigated, then the Percentage People Dissatisfied (PPD) was compared in both open and closed openings in modern and traditional houses and ultimately the most effective factor in reducing the amount PPD dissatisfaction is estimated. In order to investigate the performance of openings in the semi-hot and dry climate of Shiraz, temperature, humidity and wind were measured by a data logger and, with the help of estimation of dissatisfaction and PPD, PMV was extracted. Therefore, in the process of research, a comparison was made between the internal thermal comfort of a traditional house and a modern apartment, and the analyzes were made under the influence of openness in two different states; The first opening mode is fully open and the second opening mode is closed. Opening windows has a great effect on thermal comfort as well as reducing energy consumption, so its correct evaluation is important and accordingly, the newly developed opening model is designed based on the activity pattern and density of people.Findings: In examining the results of field observations and comparing internal thermal comfort under the influence of openings in a traditional house and a modern apartment in Shiraz through PMV calculation, the effect of each of the factors of temperature, humidity and wind speed on the amount of PMV was analyzed. The results of the research indicate that the predicted percentage of dissatisfaction with the predicted mean vote in open window mode at traditional house is 18% and close mode is 59%. This index in open window at apartment is 61% and close mode is 91%. The opening studied in the traditional house was the five-door opening; therefore, it played a more significant role in creating indoor thermal comfort. Conclusion: The thermal suitability of the indoor environment of the building, in addition to providing comfort for the residents, will save energy, enhance health and productivity and also improve the morale of the residents. In the present research, openness and opening of the most important indicators of comfort conditions in the interior space were investigated and functionally evaluated. Therefore, the five-door of the traditional house played an effective role in creating thermal comfort. The analysis of the research shows that the design of the types of openings, the dimensions and sizes of the openings in traditional buildings are such that the opening of the interior spaces are within the comfort range during most of the hot season. The noteworthy point of the opening dimensions is the approximate equality of the opening area with the total area of transparent surfaces, their frequency and repetition, as well as the optimal fit of the opening dimensions with the dimensions of the interior space. In general, it can be assumed that opening will play an effective role in indoor cooling and ventilation. What is so much considered today in sustainable design is featured in the principles of Iranian architecture, which is known as an amenity in building spaces. Subsequently, the quality of the indoor environment depends on other factors, such as the quality of light, visibility and scenery, in addition to thermal comfort.

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Original Research Paper

Assessing the viewpoints of consulting engineering companies on hard and soft skills for employing new architecture graduates employability

Parastoo Eshrati; Anahita Jam

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.322086.1839

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The demand for employment upon graduation has heightened the significance of essential job market skills more than before. The main skills ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The demand for employment upon graduation has heightened the significance of essential job market skills more than before. The main skills for entering any profession include soft skills and hard skills. Hard skills include the technical and scientific knowledge. Both skills are necessary for the profession. The purpose of this paper is to determine hard and soft skills required for the employment of new architecture graduates and assess the significance of each skill.Methods: The research questions aim to ascertain the significance ratios of these skills, identify the most and least important skills, and establish a correlation between company size (small, medium, and large) and the importance of these skills. Initially, following a comprehensive literature review, soft skills were classified into seven distinct categories. Simultaneously, the requisite hard skills for architecture graduates were extracted from the Ministry of Science and Technology-approved bachelor’s and master’s degree curricula in architecture, resulting in the presentation of a seven-category list of hard skills. Subsequently, a questionnaire based on the identified soft and hard skills was developed and administered to the study’s sample group, comprising managers from small, medium, and large companies. Companies were categorized based on the number of full-time employees, with “small” companies having 7 or fewer employees, “medium” companies having 7 to 12 employees, and “large” companies having 13 to 50 employees. Non-parametric tests were used for hypothesis testing. Given the nature of the hypotheses, which involve the comparison of three independent groups (small, medium, and large companies), the “Kruskal-Wallis test” was chosen to analyze the data collected from the questionnaires. Based on results of papers in the field of statistical analysis of small populations, a minimum sample size of 9 individuals is required to conduct the Kruskal-Wallis test for three groups. However, in this study, data collection exceeded this minimum requirement to the greatest extent possible for the authors. Subsequently, the data was quantitatively analyzed using SPSS software.Findings: The quantitative analysis conducted using SPSS software reveals that, according to company managers, hard skills hold a 44.38% level of importance, while soft skills account for 55.62%. However, the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test indicate that there is no correlation between the company size and the level of importance of hard and soft skills. Regarding the research findings, the hard skills in order of importance are: software, design, work experience, theoretical knowledge, free-hand drawing, legal regulation, and type of degree. In contrast, the order of importance for soft skills is as follows: professional ethics, analysis and problem-solving, self-management, leadership, project management, communication skills, and research. Furthermore, the study’s results demonstrate a significant relationship between a company size and the specific type of soft and hard skills required by that company. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that soft skills are more important than hard skills for hiring fresh architecture graduates but there is no correlation between the company size and the importance level of hard and soft skills in general. When considering hard skills, software is the most important in small companies, while regulation is the least significant. In medium-sized companies, work experience and design rank highest, whereas the type of degree is considered the least important. In larger companies, software stands out as the most crucial, while university rank is perceived as the least important. Among soft skills, in small companies, the most important skills are professional ethics and three skills including research, project management and communication are the least important ones; in medium size companies the most important skill is professional ethics and the least is project management; and in large companies the most important ones is professional ethics and the least is research. Regardless of the level of companies and the division of skills, the most important skill is professional ethics and the least important one is university rank. Analysis of interviews with company managers conducted in a qualitative manner also reveals the necessary changes required in the architecture education system to enhance students’ employability and offered suggestions for students. In light of the study findings, it is advisable to consider incorporating a course focused on developing soft skills into architecture curricula, particularly at the undergraduate level.

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Original Research Paper

Evaluation of quality assessment factors in the physical space of residential complexes based on key environmental psychology concepts

Elham Behbood; Saeed Haghir; Maryam Ekhtiary

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.297234.1749

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Evaluating the suitability of living conditions in urban residential complexes in metropolitan areas is of great importance. Space quality ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Evaluating the suitability of living conditions in urban residential complexes in metropolitan areas is of great importance. Space quality can be investigated by recognizing the quality of life from both mental and physical perspectives. A house serves not just as a place of shelter, but also as an environment where individuals can fulfill their other needs. Given that the housing sector is among the most important development sectors in society, residential building rules and regulations are of utmost importance in all nations. However, construction rules and regulations in most countries involve many limitations for the designers, which leads to problems in creating the necessary quality of and quality of life. Based on numerous studies on the interaction of environmental qualities or the constructed space with the human mind and behavior [Babri Deh-Majnuni, et al., 1400], what is especially important in the definition of space quality is its interaction with the surrounding environment. Space quality is essentially how the environment is manifested and how it is understood. As such, a quality environment cannot be selected and settled-inn by the users, before it is understood. As the variety in metropolitan construction, and the use of stylish elements in the architectural appearance can snatch the thoughts and minds of the general audience during the initial assessment, the evaluation of residential spaces by construction experts and specialists assists users in choosing an appropriate residential environment. Moreover, the evaluation of residential apartments and buildings is considered one of the most complex and fundamental operations in architecture, the quality of which can have numerous drastic effects on the residents and their relationships. Nonetheless, previous studies have neglected the examination of older, more abundant, and less regulated single-block residential apartments, which have had a detrimental impact on the quality of residents’ lives. In contrast to the prescription-based approach to regulation, the performance/productivity-based approach to structure quality control is purpose-oriented, leaving the designers more creative and innovative choices to fulfill the purpose of every structure. Such an assessment needs specialized knowledge regarding open cultural questions and human issues, in contrast to technical expertise. As an up-to-date field of knowledge, concerned with human-environment connection, environmental psychology seeks to achieve quantitative and measurable criteria to evaluate the quality of physical spaces in residential complexes and to achieve desirable productivity in all three scales of residential complexes (i.e., residential units, interstitial and shared spaces, residential complex connection to urban space), with an expert-oriented approach towards cognitive and demonstrable evaluation of physical indices of residential complexes, with an emphasis on environmental psychology concepts and components.Methods: In terms of objective, the present research is a practical study; while in terms of essence and implementation method, it is a descriptive/analytical one. To begin the analysis based on the main research hypothesis, first the Delphi technique as used to extract key qualitative concepts of environmental psychology. An evaluation method based on Pearson and regression correlation coefficients was selected. The data was collected through two methods, namely bibliographic documentation and field research. The statistical population for this research involved 30 experts (architects specializing in environmental psychology) who were selected by the snowball method. In the next stage, several 2nd accredited civil engineers, architects, and city-planers from Shiraz were selected, using the Cochrane sample formula. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used as the criterion to evaluate the reliability of our research questionnaire. Environmental psychology was used based on the simple Delphi technique and elite consensus. After the data was collected, mean, median, and mode were used to analyze the data by SPSS statistical software package. In order to address the research questions and evaluate the research hypothesis, appropriate questionnaires were developed and underwent reliability and validity testing before giving to respondents. The respondents were selected from the overall population using a random cluster sampling method. After data collection and data summary, variable analysis via the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (KS) was performed to check the normal distribution of data regarding physical space quality. Findings: Design knowledge is not visible, though it can be seen through conduct, as it manifests itself in design workshops via drawing, handwriting, modeling, etc. Professionals also embody their design knowledge through their work, which grows through experience, repetition, and skill acquisition. In a constructivist learning environment, knowledge develops during teacher-student interactions, allowing students to engage with their personal knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. This approach emphasizes the learning process and the thought processes involved in design, rather than just the final product. In the design process, problems are performed in a process-oriented form. The effective components in constructivism and knowledge building in this style of learning are somewhat similar to the nature of the knowledge applied by designers in their own designs. The constructivist learning approach to knowledge building is very similar to the nature of knowledge, while design training can be very successful for learners based on this approach. Design knowledge is distinct from other bodies of knowledge and can be acquired by specific means. Most of the time, this body of knowledge is unconscious and challenging to articulate. A large part of this body of knowledge is tacit and indescribable. In reality, design is learned through conduct. Because design knowledge is by itself a different body of knowledge, the way knowledge is acquired is obtained by changing the conduct of work. The nature of design knowledge hinges on practical tasks and the individual’s unique capacities, evolving with experience, context, and the stages of its acquisition.Conclusion: Changes in the quality of physical spaces within residential units can be explained by emphasizing the key concepts of environmental psychology, such as stress, territory, personal space, congestion, and solitude. Based on key concepts of environmental psychology, the order of effectiveness for residential unit physical index variables, from the highest to the lowest, is as follows: 1. stress, 2. personal space, 3. solitude, 4. territory, 5. congestion. For intermediate and shared spaces, the order is as follows: 1. stress, 2. solitude, 3. personal space, 4. congestion, 5. territory. At the highest scale, concerning the link between residential complex space with urban space, the order is as follows: 1. congestion, 2. stress, 3. personal space, 4. territory, 5. solitude. The emphasis of environmental psychology on the personal space component on the scale of residential unit indices is higher than that of the other two scales, while the emphasis on the solitude component is on interstitial and shared space indices. The emphasis on the congestion component was confirmed to be on the link between residential and urban spaces, as established by prior studies. To improve the quality level in these three scales, indices that support and strengthen the emphasized component should receive attention.

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Original Research Paper

Development of environmental components for cognitive-behavioral treatment response to childhood anxiety disorders based on the fundamental principles of Axline’s play therapy

Mahsa Delshad Siyahkali; Marzieh Moghimi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.256818.1572

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Because of their limited capacity for abstract thinking, children struggle to articulate their emotions and sentiments effectively. The ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Because of their limited capacity for abstract thinking, children struggle to articulate their emotions and sentiments effectively. The act of suppressing emotions and lacking the ability to express them poses a potential threat to a child’s mental well-being. Therefore, the implementation of accurate health and mental policies to ensure physical and mental health in childhood is essential. Playing serves as a means for children to communicate their needs, emotions, and thoughts. Establishing a proper connection between children and the world is achieved through social interactions and group activities. According to previous studies in the field of child psychology, play therapy is an approach for addressing emotional stress, and it is of significant importance that the environmental design aligns with the needs of this method. It allows children and adolescents to develop motor skills, test their behavioral (social) skills, simulate different scenarios, and put the various positive and negative consequences of their behaviors in a safe and attractive context. Theories related to social cognition have also suggested that, in addition to individual traits, environmental factors play a role in the behavioral well-being of children. In order to create an integrated process in the development of children with anxiety disorders, therapeutic interventions should be planned with the help of appropriate architectural design, considering the role of environmental variables in meeting the needs of children. Therefore, recognizing the effective playful environmental components and their evaluation and prioritization in architectural design is important. This article aims to describe the significance of environmental design in the context of play therapy and to create environmental components tailored to design spaces that align with the play therapy approach for children dealing with anxiety. The objective is to establish an environment conducive to the cognitive-behavioral therapy process, facilitating the improved growth and development of children with anxiety disorders.Methods: The present study, which was conducted by descriptive-analytical method, in order to achieve the desired goals, first reviews the results of previous research in this field and identifies effective factors in promoting mental health in children with anxiety disorders based on play therapy techniques, relying on bibliographic studies and open interviews with psychologists in counseling centers. Accordingly, related game-centered spatial attributes were explained based on the principles of Axline game therapy. To validate the important link between spatial principles and the analysis of psychologists’ questionnaire, we utilized the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP is a versatile quantitative decision-making method commonly used to tackle complex multi-criteria problems across various domains. It helps select options and criteria by assessing their relative effectiveness concerning one or more criteria. A pair-wise comparison matrix was distributed among 12 psychologists and occupational therapists for this purpose. In the subsequent phase, the substantial correlation between each principle and the environmental capacity priority identified in the earlier stage was investigated. Additionally, the influence of playful spatial elements were ranked. To achieve this, we analyzed data collected from a questionnaire administered to a sample of 120 individuals using SPSS 21 software. This questionnaire, comprising 21 questions based on components and indicators derived from the initial study phase, explores the relationship between the independent variable (playful environmental capabilities) and the dependent variable (Axline’s play therapy principles).Findings: Based on the research results, the key factors for improving children’s anxiety disorders, following Axline’s eight principles, were identified as part of an efficient child-centered play therapy process within a proposed hierarchical model consisting of eight criteria: a sense of belonging, participation, openness, adaptability, liberty, security, clarity, and safety. The priority of environmental capabilities linked to each of these eight principles was established using a hierarchical analysis method and further substantiated through statistical significance tests validating these associations. Conclusion: Based on the extracted results, creating a sense of belonging to the place, feeling of freedom in the environment, mental security and creating a safe environment for the physical comfort of the child are the most important influencing factors, followed by factors such as readability, participation, permeability and flexibility. This research is in line with the results of previous studies and the results of the present study show the confirmation of the proposed playful environment capabilities and how the play environment and children’s social-cognitive behavior are related in accordance with related study sources.

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Original Research Paper

A theoretical framework for determining the optimal threshold of change, continuity and constancy of collective memory in the historical center of Tehran

Mostafa Hosseini Koumleh; Mehran Alalhesabi; Seyed Abdolhadi Daneshpour

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.300209.1759

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Change of values, intellectual customs, lifestyles and human relationship with the universe and nature, distortion of long-standing physical, ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Change of values, intellectual customs, lifestyles and human relationship with the universe and nature, distortion of long-standing physical, socio-cultural cohesion are among the challenges of contemporary Iranian cities that have led to forgetting collective memories and changing the concept of the city. The research problem begins with the general concept of “collective memory” in Iranian cities. In order to observe the indigenous originality of the research, the research has been defined based on a “problem- oriented” research with a comparative evaluation of existing challenges of collective memory in Iranian cities and identifying the concept of “change” as the key issue of collective memory in Iranian cities. Therefore, while delimiting the scope of the study, the aim of the research is to study change, continuity and constancy of the concept of city and collective memory and determine its optimal threshold in Tehran historical center as a symbol of change in Iranian cities.Methods: The research uses a qualitative method and a phenomenological strategy (descriptive phenomenology). In this article, while reviewing the literature of collective memory, change, continuity and constancy, a theoretical framework for phenomenological study has been developed and accordingly, an in-depth semi-structured interview with 41 residents of the historical center of Tehran (people born in different decades and among various social groups) has been conducted. Findings: The results of this research encompass not only the categorization of collective memories (home and neighborhood memories such as the culture of acquaintance and neighborhood, courtyard, children’s games in the alley, socio-cultural memories such as the nicknames of people, storytelling, ritual of Pahlavani and peaceful coexistence of religions, religious memories including home prayers, Muharrams and Mid-Sha’ban celebrations, national-political memories such as the coup of August 19, 1953, the Islamic Revolution and the Imposed War, natural memories like the organic relationship of human with nature at home and neighborhood, water supply system and Qanats, and harmony with nature through summer migration to Shemiran and urban memories such as new streets building in Reza Shah reign and the construction of modern urban buildings and facilities such as Plasco Building and electric buses), but also include the theoretical formulation of the concepts of “change”, “continuity” and “constancy” in the historical center of Tehran. In order to explain and analyze the concept of “change” in the historical center of Tehran, the theory of “continuous change” has been proposed, which introduces a kind of repetitive and continuous patterns of radical change in the city. According to this theory, the historical center of Tehran in the contemporary period, after encountering modernity, faces four syndromes including “continuous change syndrome”, “syndrome of leaving the paternal neighborhood”, “Empty Nest Syndrome” and “continuous forgetfulness syndrome”. Also, the analysis of the concept of continuity shows that the “continuity of the identity structure” of the historical center of Tehran in some physical dimension (through the presence of historical buildings and architectural traditions), functional dimension (continuity of religious sites, the continuity of residence in some neighborhoods and functional continuance of Tehran Bazaar) and meaning-memory dimension (continuity of local character of some places and neighborhoods) are relatively still established. However, in terms of ecological structure, this continuity has been distorted over time and therefore needs to be revived by restoring the role of wooded yards in creating a balance between private and public green spaces. Persistence of some historical buildings and urban spaces (such as Golestan Palace, 30th Tir Street), some religious rituals, historical bazaars and some natural elements (such as the continuous shadow of Alborz and the old plane tree of Imamzadeh Yahya) also indicate the constancy of physical, behavioral, subjective and natural anchors of memory in the historical center of Tehran.Conclusion: Based on the theoretical framework of the research, it can be concluded that the optimal threshold of change, continuity and constancy in the historical center of Tehran is achieved when the “continuous change” of the area stops. This should be reached by continuing the identity structure through dominance of restoration culture over culture of demolition and new construction, preserving the character of the historical center, original lifestyles and permanent dwelling, which entails “stopping leaving the paternal neighborhood” and “returning to empty nests”. Also, the anchors of memory should be stabilized by preserving or finding physical clues (historical buildings), social clues (social context) and cultural clues (stories, proverbs and the sweet language of Tehran), which in turn leads to cessation of “continuous forgetfulness” and preservation of collective memory.

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Original Research Paper

Form finding and construction of 2d and 3d adaptive free-form scissor-like structure

Yaser Shahbazi; Hanieh Kouchaki

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.278337.1671

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the design, construction, and control of adaptive free-form shading structures that can react to changes ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the design, construction, and control of adaptive free-form shading structures that can react to changes in light levels. The focus is on developing a transformable scissor-like structure capable of changing geometry to achieve controlled forms. The key objective is to create an adaptive shading device for a specific courtyard, considering factors such as human interaction, relaxation, and optimal shading conditions.Methods: The study employed a parametric design approach, utilizing digital tools such as Rhino software and Grasshopper plugin. The design process involved identifying influential environmental factors, defining control objectives, and simulating daylight receiving conditions using the Ladybug plugin. Different forms with varying support points were proposed and evaluated based on aesthetics, shading levels, and site constraints. In this method, the desired free-form surface is initially drawn. Then, the Iso-curves of the surface are extracted along the horizontal and vertical directions to obtain a mesh network of the surface. This mesh network is transformed into a three-dimensional spatial mesh structure, and finally, all the lines of this network are converted into scissor-like modules. It is worth noting that besides using horizontal and vertical Iso-curves, it is also possible to extract inclined, triangular, pentagonal, and multi-sided networks from the free-form surface. Through this approach, various double-layer networks with diverse multi-sided modules can be transformed into scissor-like structures. In the next step, special connections, including rod connections within each scissor-like unit and connections between neighboring units, were designed and labeled for laser cut wood. Control connections were introduced to enable deformation within the fixed span of the structure. The modified scissor-like element model by Akgun was utilized, allowing individual substructures to change independently. Arduino, a microcomputer chip, has gained considerable interest in architecture because of its user-friendly nature and its ability to work seamlessly with a range of sensors and controllers. It facilitates the creation of smart devices by taking input from sensors and switches and producing diverse responses, like modifying light levels, adjusting motor speeds, and controlling other outputs. Arduino can function autonomously or be linked to a computer, and it can be programmed using software such as Arduino’s own IDE or the Grasshopper plugin in Rhino. In terms of controllers, there are various options available, including pneumatic jacks, shape-changing smart materials like shape memory alloys, piezoelectric elements, and electromechanical motors. Servo motors, in particular, are commonly used controllers, especially in small-scale model-making, as they can create rotational motion based on the input voltage received from microcontrollers. Findings: Through simulations and analysis, it was found that among the alternatives mentioned in this article, a three-support-point canopy offered the most favorable inactive option, delivering the desired shading conditions for more hours throughout the year. This finding validated the effectiveness of the proposed design approach and highlighted the potential for achieving passive shading without relying heavily on active control. The laboratory-scale prototype demonstrated the feasibility of the adaptive shading model. Sixteen servo motors were connected to eight corrective units, allowing for changes in the angle between rods and structural deformation. Light sensors, Arduino kits, and a closed-loop control system facilitated the processing of sensor data and commanded the servo motors. The prototype successfully achieved controlled structural deformation in response to the presence or absence of sunlight.Conclusion: The study presented a comprehensive framework for the design, simulation, and construction of adaptive and controllable free-form scissor-like structures. The research showcased the potential of digital architecture and embedded systems in creating dynamic and responsive solutions. By combining sensors, central processing units, and controllers, the suggested design for a shading system allowed for the adjustment of its shape in response to environmental conditions, particularly the movement of sunlight. The findings underscored the significance of considering both passive and active design strategies. While passive geometry and form optimization played a crucial role in achieving desired shading, active control mechanisms provided flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions. The study emphasized the importance of carefully selecting the form, placement of corrective modules, and incorporating various sensors to enhance the capabilities of such structures. In conclusion, this research contributes to the growing field of digital architecture by providing insights into the design and implementation of adaptive shading device. The proposed framework and the laboratory-scale prototype demonstrate the potential for creating adaptive and responsive architectural solutions that seamlessly integrate with their surrounding environment. Future research can explore additional sensors, materials, and control strategies to further enhance the adaptability and functionality of such structures in diverse architectural contexts.

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Original Research Paper

Public spaces in religious buildings and their functions from the perspective of third-place theory and design strategies; Case study: The forecourt of Jameh Mosque in Qazvin

Sahra Rahmani; Shadi Pakzad

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.270487.1625

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Contemporary public spaces often do not adequately meet all human needs, resulting in a deficiency in their social dynamics. They tend to ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: Contemporary public spaces often do not adequately meet all human needs, resulting in a deficiency in their social dynamics. They tend to be reduced to mere origin-destination places. While previous research has identified this issue to some extent, it has not yielded clear solutions. This study aims to identify the key factors for enhancing the functionality of these spaces, drawing inspiration from architectural and urban planning principles and thoughts. It prioritizes these factors within the context of religious public spaces, specifically focusing on the forecourt of Jame’ Mosque in Qazvin, using the third-place theory. The study seeks to establish a strategic framework to transform the forecourt space into a true third-place, proposing solutions to enhance its role within the forecourt of Jameh Mosque in Qazvin.Methods: The study adapts a combination of approaches, starting with quantitative factors and subsequently incorporating qualitative reasoning to offer design recommendations. In order to translate these qualitative factors into quantifiable aspects and ensure their impact on the design process, a questionnaire was developed. This questionnaire was designed based on theoretical findings related to the spatial aspects of the forecourt and the conceptual framework of the third-place. During the initial phase, the most significant components and indicators were gathered from a pool of 24 influential factors identified through the Delphi method, involving 20 experts. After analyzing the questionnaire using SPSS software, the top 14 factors with the most design influence were extracted in the second phase. Following this, by identifying the key components and indicators for evaluating a place according to the third-place concept, the study evaluated the study area (the forecourt of Jameh Mosque in Qazvin). Ultimately, the research offers design solutions aimed at incorporating the qualities of the third-place into the shared entrance area of Jameh Mosque. Findings: To create a gradual change from one place to another, based on the qualities, criteria and indicators identified in the theory of “third-place” and their prioritization from the architecture and urban design experts’ view, the most important criteria to achieve the quality and nature of the third-place in public places in the theoretical field were defined. These criteria were prioritized for other studies in the field of urban design and architecture. In order to make the forecourt act as a joint according to the theory of the “third-place”, complications arise in ensuring the functionally of the joint, which may result in either chaotic or monotonous designs. In this way, according to the investigations, there are effective indicators which determine the creation and sustenance of a place classified as a “third-place.” Incorporating these characteristics is essential for the continued existence of such spaces within today’s urban public areas.Conclusion: After analyzing the third-place theory and examining the indicators, design priorities were presented to improve the quality of social life in the forecourt of Jameh Mosque in Qazvin. The results can be generalized to other public spaces with a similar spatial nature. Readability, invitingness, proper access, social interactions and maintaining the place efficiency are the requirements of “third-place” according to this research. To enhance the readability within these areas, it is advisable to reduce the density compared to the nearby blocks. This will make it easier to perceive information. Following this, the invitingness will also become more effective. However, the key factor in reinforcing the invitingness within interface spaces lies in the utilization of various elements. Furthermore, indications of the adjacent spaces are present to serve as an initial welcome for users to engage with. In order to achieve a space for establishing social interactions, it is better to use a suitable space for pausing and having a conversation, which is suitable through the selection of urban furniture. Finally, design solutions were introduced in the case study.

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Original Research Paper

A model for assessing the creativity level of the architectural works based on SAPPhIRE method; Case study: Selected commercial buildings in Tabriz city

Hamze Pirbabaei; Minou Gharehbaglou; Mohammadali Kaynejad

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.306430.1791

Abstract

Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Creativity has been a constant concern of artists and architects in different periods of history. Contemporary challenges and problems ... Read More Extended Abstract Background and Objectives: Creativity has been a constant concern of artists and architects in different periods of history. Contemporary challenges and problems require new solutions that fit the requirements of current period. Knowing that the ultimate goal of architecture is to create a place for people to live, creativity in this field should also be directed towards enhancing the quality of human existence and addressing the evolving challenges of each period. Therefore, achieving a systematic model that allows assessing the creativity of the architectural works that introduces the influential components of this field, can solve many problems related to both human society and the environment. Such a model can also contribute significantly to the design of innovative and valuable architectural creations. In this study, a model for evaluating the creativity of architectural designs has been introduced, utilizing the SAPPhIRE method, adapting it to architectural contexts, and considering the authentic human environmental needs. This model takes into account multiple facets of architectural creativity and its compatibility with human well-being, ultimately quantifying the creativity level of each building with a specific numerical value. The model was applied to assess the creativity of LalehPark, Atlas, and Setarehbaran Commercial Buildings in Tabriz city, and the findings have been deliberated upon.Methods: In this research, two research strategies have been used. At first, with the aim of providing a model to assess the creativity of architectural work, the Delphi research method has been used. The Delphi technique provides a convenient way for experts to reach consensus on a topic without face-to-face interaction. According to this method, in order to adapt and interpret the SAPPhIRE creativity assessment method with the architectural space, an open interview was conducted with architectural elites in the first stage. Next, every participant in the Delphi panel received a questionnaire and ranked and assigned scores to the summarized points derived from the initial phase. By specifying the desired components of the elite panel, the architectural creativity assessment model was completed. Then, with the aim of assessing the level of creativity of selected commercial buildings in Tabriz city, a survey strategy has been used with a quantitative approach. To achieve this objective, the approach involved distributing questionnaires to individuals who had firsthand experience residing in the designated areas, as well as conducting interviews with architects and experts in the field of architecture within the city. Finally, in the present research, after collecting information based on bibliographic studies and understanding the concepts and components of architectural creativity and establishing a logical connection between these components through the Delphi technique and using the opinions of experts, a model was provided for assessing the creativity of architectural works. The authors utilized the provided model to evaluate the creativity levels of LalehPark, Atlas, and Setarehbaran Commercial Buildings in Tabriz city. This assessment involved the completion of questionnaires and conducting interviews, and the subsequent compilation and presentation of the results. Findings: In most definitions of creativity, two main elements have been introduced for an architectural work to be recognized as creative, innovative and useful. The main benefit and purpose of architecture is to create a suitable environment for human life; therefore, the creativity of architectural works should also be realized in line with attention to human beings and their quality of life. It is not possible to provide human living environment without considering human needs. This is when architecture becomes important – it helps meet those needs in the environment. On the other hand, architectural creativity is valuable when it serves human life and responds to human needs. As a result, architectural creativity should focus on finding fresh and innovative ways to meet human needs in the environment. In this article, we introduced a model to assess the creativity of architectural designs by evaluating their ability to meet human needs within the environment (the benefit of architecture) and measuring the uniqueness of these solutions (architectural innovation). This model was used to assess the creativity of three commercial complexes: LalehPark, Atlas, and Setarehbaran Commercial Buildings. Our findings indicated that LalehPark scored 0.77 in terms of benefit, Atlas scored 0.71, and Setarehbaran scored 0.67. Regarding creativity, LalehPark scored 0.36, Atlas scored 0.35, and Setarehbaran scored 0.30. Consequently, the overall creativity ratings were as follows: LalehPark at 0.28, Atlas at 0.25, and Setarehbaran at 0.20.Conclusion: Based on the test results, the foremost priority for users of commercial complexes is addressing their physical requirements. In these buildings, spiritual needs hold the least significance for users. Over the past decade, especially during the shopping mall trend in Tabriz city, designers and builders have taken these preferences of the public into account. By incorporating elements like spacious lobbies, enhanced spatial transparency, establishing visual connections between levels, and ensuring clear visibility of vertical access points from main areas, they have successfully created an environment contributing to creativity and meeting the physical needs of visitors. Simultaneously, the introduction of diverse amenities such as cinemas, food courts, amusement parks, and coffee shops has attracted a wide range of people from various age groups and societal backgrounds, leading to the prosperity of these complexes.

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Original Research Paper

Symptoms and Causes of Sick Building Syndrome(SBS) in Student Dormitories (Case Study: The Dormitories of Shahroud University of Technology)

Matin Bastanfard

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 14 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.267066.1614

Abstract

Background and Objective: Sick Building Syndrome is a disease in which occupants suffer physically and mentally after spending time within some buildings. University dormitories are ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Physical and environmental factors affecting the students' stress reduction in educational spaces from the point of view of experts

Fatemeh Imani; Khosro Movahed; hamid reza azemati; bahram salehsedghpoor

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 17 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.255525.1559

Abstract

Psychologists consider architecture and the physical space of the school as a living and dynamic factor in the quality of students' educational activities. In addition, high school ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

The Concept of Technology in Architecture and Explaining Its Components Using Delphi Method

Sonya Silvayeh; abbas ghaffari; Maziar Asefi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 14 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.262413.1595

Abstract

Paying attention to the increasing importance of technology in the progress and development of every society, as well as the need to have a proper understanding of its meaning and concept ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Conceptualization and presentation of the proposed model of implementation of urban development plans in the world literature

amirhousein bakhshi; ahmad khalili

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 June 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.396311.2040

Abstract

The issue of implementation and realization of city development plans is one of the most important issues investigated in the modern literature of global urban planning. Because if ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Correlation analysis of physical satisfaction and job satisfaction of control room staff & prioritization of open space design parameters in gas power plants (Case study: gas power plants in Kermanshah province)

Sadegh Koulivandi; Mahdi Zandieh; Karim Afshar; Naser Barati

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 July 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.259599.1586

Abstract

One of the challenges of designing industrial areas is neglecting to achieve the optimal design for industrial units in order to promote employee job satisfaction. This study shows ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Meta-analysis of pathology articles of urban development plans in Iran

hojat kolivand; Morteza Talachian; Hamid Majedi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 23 July 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.292516.1729

Abstract

Urban development plans as the most comprehensive document of urban development in terms of content, methodology and implementation have gone through different periods, which on the ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Evaluating the environmental features of contemporary commercial spaces through Youth`s perspective (case study: Isfahan City Center Complex)

sara sadeghi; Bahram Shahedi; Bahador Zamani; Samar haghighi boroojeni

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 17 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.288825.1715

Abstract

Nowadays, contemporary commercial spaces are considered Quasi-public spaces that are not limited to the commercial function and with a cultural turn have converted to recreations and ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

An Explanation the Collaborative Education Model in Architectural Basic Design Studios (Action Research in Basic Design Studio3)

Arezo Zandimoheb; Omid Derjdar; Gholamreza Talischi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 July 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.236717.1608

Abstract

Professional and educational activities are formed in the architectural design studio with the collaboration, exploration, and discussion of students and teachers. The need to design ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Reducing noise pollution through the building openings (Preventing inward airflow noise through opening design)

Amir Kalantarifard; Seyed Abbas Agha Yazdanfar; Mohsen Faizi

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 23 August 2022

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2022.246232.1505

Abstract

Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In today’s densely populated cities, it is often not possible to use natural ventilation through windows due to the noise pollution ... Read More Extended AbstractBackground and Objectives: In today’s densely populated cities, it is often not possible to use natural ventilation through windows due to the noise pollution and the airflow into the building, while natural ventilation is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to achieve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. This study aims to achieve a solution that can prevent noise pollution while benefitting from natural ventilation and the natural airflow from the environment into the building.Methods: In order to achieve this goal, passive natural ventilation systems were first inspected, and their performance and weaknesses were analyzed according to today’s urban conditions. The passive and active sound control systems were also studied. A prototype of an opening was designed and built by integrating these systems features with a porous geometry, inspired by the functional mechanical system of the silencer. The designed opening was tested in a laboratory that is furnished like a small classroom during non-office hours with no ambient noise pollution. While the airflow passed through the opening, different waves with frequencies of 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz and intensities of 35, 45, and 55 DB were produced for 5 seconds each outside of the opening, and they were recorded by a microphone inside.Findings: The system’s operation has been tested at 35, 45, and 55 dB at all frequencies. On average, the system can reduce the sound intensity of inward airflow by 9 decibels. The intensity reduction rate is lower at higher frequencies than at higher frequencies, meaning that the system is more efficient at lower frequencies. The decrease in sound intensity depends on the frequency of the input sound, but the sound intensity of the input sound does not affect the system’s performance. At 400 Hz, the system can only reduce the sound intensity by 5 decibels. If the best performance is related to the frequency of 125 Hz, the sound intensity was reduced by 12 decibels. At 35 decibels, the difference between the decrease in sound intensity at frequencies of 1000 and 200 Hz (1.8 dB) is greater than the decrease in the coefficient of intensity at frequencies of 2000 at 400 Hz (5. dB). At 45 decibels, this factor is for frequencies 1000 to 2000 Hz (1.4 dB) and 2000 to 4000 Hz (dB 9.). Also, at 55 dB, this factor is for frequencies 1000 to 2000 Hz (dB 1) and 2000 to 4000 Hz (dB 1.4). As predicted, the effect of system performance depends on both the frequency and intensity of the reference sound (sound produced). The system’s performance is not known exactly due to the amplitude of frequencies in the environment, the intensity of these sounds, and their synchronicity. Still, the results show a significant reduction in sound intensity after passing through the porous cavities.Conclusion: The effect of system performance on reducing sound intensity for frequencies (125, 250, 500, 750, 1K, 2K, 4K) Hz at reference sound intensities (produced sound) of 35, 45, and 55 dB in the laboratory was investigated. Using a system of porous cylinders effectively reduces the volume of inward airflow sound. One of the main advantages of this project is that it is not dedicated to a specific climate and can adapt to different environmental conditions. Due to the operation of the opening (using the difference between cold and hot air pressure), air compensation is created regardless of wind. By using architectural climate design solutions, this opening can be used in suitable climates. The system performs best at low frequencies and poorly at high frequencies, so it can be concluded that the higher the reference sound frequency, the poorer the system’s performance in reducing noise and vice versa. From the data analysis, it can be seen that at high sound intensities, the higher the frequency of the waves, the more the system performance decreases. On average, the system reduces the sound intensity of the inward airflow by 9 decibels. It performs well against different frequencies of the natural environment that are produced at different intensities. It is possible to use the designed opening and conventional windows simultaneously to provide proper light and view without restrictions and benefit from natural ventilation without noise and dust pollution through the openings. Unlike ANC systems, the designed system is static, and this shutter operates without energy consumption.

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Original Research Paper

analizing the air flow pattern inside the cattle farms of Selmas city through intervention in architecture with the aim of improving the ventilation situation

omid rahaei; Mehri barahoon

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 18 September 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.368528.2003

Abstract

Abstract: Observations show that most of the cattle farms built in Iran are in the form of sheds, and in their design process, not much attention is paid to the condition of ventilation ... Read More

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Original Research Paper

Developing mechanisms for improving the distribution and access to neighborhood commercial services in Tehran

Zahra Azad Takcho Olia; Mohammad Saeid Izadi; Kourosh Asefvaziri

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 06 August 2023

https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2023.365017.1997

Abstract

Commercial services constitute a significant part of the daily services of the residents of the neighborhoods. However, what is examined in the development plans of the city of Tehran ... Read More Commercial services constitute a significant part of the daily services of the residents of the neighborhoods. However, what is examined in the development plans of the city of Tehran under local services is only limited to the services that are directly provided by public and government institutions. This has caused the inappropriate distribution of neighborhood commercial services in some neighborhoods. Based on this, it is necessary for municipality to interfere in the process of distribution and access to neighborhood commercial services. Thus, this research aims to develop a strategic plan for the appropriate distribution of neighborhood commercial services.This research, which is included under applied research, carried out using a mixed approach with the predominance of qualitative method. Documentary research, secondary data, non-participatory observation, in-depth interview and questionnaire have been used to collect data. Data analysis has also been done using statistical analysis, qualitative content analysis and comparative analysis. The studies show that improving the distribution of pedestrian-based neighborhood services requires the formulation and implementation of programs in short-term, medium-term and long-term periods. In the short term, it is necessary to approve and communicate guidelines related to the distribution of neighborhood commercial services, access to neighborhood commercial services, and the neighborhood development program of Tehran. Considering that currently the municipality has no intervention in the process of issuing licenses to commercial services, medium-term plans and measures to promote the distribution of neighborhood services based on the definition of the position of the municipality in the process of distributing neighborhood services (through the issuance of a license to acquire or provide space the requirement of this service) is considered. Long-term plans and measures also rely on the change of the laws in order to establish the municipality as one of the authorities for issuing business licenses.

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