Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Islamic Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan. Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan. Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Extended Abstract
Background and Objectives: Finding a phenomenon’s origin and initial formation process has always been one of the basic questions raised in all science branches, and urban morphology is a branch based on this motivation. Research on the origin of an unplanned urban area is not as easy as planned ones. Before the establishment of modern urbanism in Iran, most residential tissues had been formed during unplanned processes. Due to the lack of a comprehensive real estate registration system, there is no precise information about the division of urban lands and the construction of passages and buildings in residential alleys. In simpler terms, the origin of its formation is unknown. In the present study, a part of the intermediate urban form of Gorgan city is selected to identify the origin of a spontaneous residential tissue. It is attempted to discover all the events affecting its urban morphology from 1921 to 1974. Since this intermediate urban form is located between the historic tissue and the contemporary urban tissue, in terms of time, it is located between two different generations from the date of formation of the city (1921 to 1971). Consequently, it is cognate with the historic tissue patterns based on traditional society and its gradual development. Likewise, historically, it is more closely related to the research time, and it is easier to follow the developments and transformations in the samples than in the historical tissue. Thus, it facilitates receiving collective awareness of the formation process. Like any other urban tissue, the physical elements forming urban morphology in the intermediate urban form include roads, lots, and buildings. Nonetheless, the combination of these elements creates a comparatively discrete identity from the planned tissues. In the intermediate urban form, which is typically spontaneous, there are intertwined relationships between roads, lots, and buildings; as such, to separate these elements from each other is not as easy as a contemporary planned tissue. Accordingly, the present study aims to study the factors affecting the formation and deformation of each urban morphology element and their combination with each other to explain the entity and complexity of urban morphology in spontaneous tissues.
Methods: The research method of this paper is based on a qualitative approach. It is a combination of grounded theory reading (Systematic) and a comparative diachronical morphology. Hence, the data were extracted both from structured interviews and with the help of morphological development analysis techniques to compensate for the lack of written data by deriving oral data from the knowledge of the early residents of the tissue.
Findings: The city of Astarabad, now known as Gorgan, could be a good case for sampling in this study because Gorgan has never been the center of a caliphate or monarchy despite its long history of habitation. Thus, unlike a typical capital city, it did not face fast and unexpected transformations due to the establishment of military and administrative centers or large-scale migrations and maintained its natural growth rate over the years. Since the beginning of the present century, the city has been a regional-scale nucleus and has played an economic role in surrounding micro-settlements. The findings reveal that urban morphology factors act as a matrix pattern, and their effectiveness does not correspond to a linear process. The components of this matrix consist of three areas: actors, action/interaction, and conditions, each of which includes a set of influential categories and has its types and dimensions. Individuals, families, and the local community are considered the most effective actors. Regarding action/interaction, property rights to land division, the agreement between the rights holders and the legal system are recognized as the most effective factors. The most important underlying conditions are climate, land economy, and household, respectively.
Conclusion: As a result, the urban form is shaped by conscious individual/family choices, social interactions, and the legal system; That is, the will and ownership choice in the formation and development of the urban fabric has played a more prominent role than laws and regulations. So that from the micro-level (individual) to the macro-level (legal system), the degree of effectiveness is gradually reduced and, in turn, prevents the formation of a top-down linear pattern. Moreover, the existing terrain, in an artificial or a natural form, plays a key role in urban morphology. Generalizing the results of this paper requires adopting a phenomenological approach to the analysis of each category obtained at the level of dimensions and characteristics, which requires another study. However, the generalizability of the results to other cities in Iran requires more comparative research, so there is a need to study more and more diverse examples from different cities along with this research.

Graphical Abstract

Explanatory analysis of factors affecting urban morphology in a spontaneous tissue; A case study of Ziadlou neighborhood, Gorgan

Highlights

- Spontaneous urban morphology is formed through individual/family conscious choices, social interactions, and the legal system. In other words, the owner’s will and choice in the formation and evolution of the urban fabric have played a more prominent role than laws and regulations. So, the influence level gradually decreases from the micro level (individual) to the macro level (legal system). In return, it prevents the formation of a linear model from top to bottom.
- In the spontaneous fabric, as opposed to the designed fabric, the agreement between the locals and stakeholders is significant in forming the urban morphology. In other words, planning is fulfilled through the agreement of the residents and respecting each other’s rights and interests.
- The endowment factor has played a minor role in the formation and evolution of the spontaneous physical form.

Keywords

این مقاله برگرفته از رساله دکتری نویسنده نخست با عنوان «شکل‌گیری الگوی ریخت‌شهری در بافت‌میانی: چارچوب تبیینی در مورد فرایند و عوامل شکل‌دهنده بافت‌میانی شهر گرگان» می‌باشد که به راهنمایی نویسنده دوم و مشاوره نویسنده سوم در دانشگاه هنر اصفهان، انجام گرفته است.

This article is derived from the first author`s Doctoral thesis entitled “Pattern Formation in Inner City: A Quest in the Process and Factors of Groan’s Inner city Urban Form”, supervised by the second author and advised by the third, at Art University of Isfahan.

  1. Alexander, C. (1964) Notes on a Synthesis of Form, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press
  2. Alexander, C. (1966) ‘A City is not a Tree’, Design 206, pp. 46-55
  3. Alexander, C. Ishikawa, S. Silverstein, M. Jacobson, M. Fiksdahl-King, I. Angel, S. (1977) A Pattern Language, New York: Oxford University Press
  4. Ashraf, A. (1976). Historical features of urbanization in Islamic Iran. Social Science Letter.
  5. Ashraf, A. (1981). Urbanization from the perspective of historical sociology. Arash, 94-106.
  6. Babaei Salaghouch, A. Massoud, M. Mohammadi, M. (2014) Explain a conceptual framework for "Islamic city". Methodology of Humanities, Fall 20, 2014, No. 80
  7. Batty, M. (2001). "Exploring isovist fields: space and shape in architectural and urban morphology." Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 28(1): 123-150.
  8. Batty, M. Longley, P. (1997) ‘The Fractal City’, AD Architectural Design (129), pp. 46-49
  9. Beinart, J. (2013) City form and Process. Series Lecture. MIT open source
  10. Caniggia, G., Maffei, G. L. (1979 [2001]) Architectural Composition and Building Typology: Interpreting Basic Buildings, Florence: Alinea
  11. Charmaz, K. (2000), “Grounded theory: Objectivist and constructivist methods”, In Norman. Denzin & Lincoln, Yvonna (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research, 2nd ed. (pp. 509–536). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  12. Charmaz, K. (2006), Constructing grounded theory, Sage, London.
  13. Christen, M. (2009) ‘Patterns in the Brain: Neuroscientific Notes on the Pattern Concept’, (ed.) A. Gleiniger and G. Vrachliotis, Basel: Brikhauser
  14. Clarke, A. E.; Friese, C., & Washburn, R. (Eds.). (2015), Situational analysis in practice: Mapping research with grounded theory, (Vol. 1), Left Coast Press.
  15. Clarke, Adele E (2007), “Grounded theory: Critiques, debates, and situational analysis”, The Sage handbook of social science methodology, 423-442.
  16. Conzen, M. R. G. (1960). Alnwick, Northumberland: A Study in Town-Plan Analysis . Publication No. 27. London: Institute of British Geographers. Conzen, R. G. and M. P.
  17. Conzen, M.P (2004). Thinking about Urban Form: Papers on Urban Morphology,1932-1998.
  18. Falahat, S. (2011). Construction of the concept of "Islamic city". Third Iranian Islamic City Quarterly: 35-44.
  19. Flick, A. (2014) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Translated by Jalil, H. Tehran, Ney Publishing.
  20. Gauthier, P. a. G., Jason (2006). "Mapping urban morphology: a classification scheme for interpreting contributions to the study of urban form." Urban Morphology 10(1).
  21. Glaser, B. G. (1992), Emergence versus forcing: Basics of grounded theory analysis, Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
  22. Glaser, Barney G. (1998), Doing grounded theory: Issues and discussions, Sociology Press.
  23. Glaser, Barney G. (2001). The grounded theory perspective: Conceptualization contrasted with descrip-tion, Sociology Press.
  24. Glaser, Barney G. (2007). Doing formal grounded theory: A proposal, Sociology Press.
  25. Gianfranco Caniggia, G. M. (2001). Interpreting Basic Building. Firenze, Alinea.
  26. Goldkuhl, Göran, & Cronholm, Stefan. (2010). Adding theoretical grounding to grounded theory:  Toward  multi-grounded theory. International journal of qualitative methods, 9(2), 187-205.
  27. Habraken, N. J. (1985) The Appearance of Form, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Awater Press
  28. Habraken, N. J. (1988) ‘Type as a Social Agreement’, Seoul, Korea: Third Asian Congress of Architects
  29. Habraken, N. J. (2000) The Structure of the Ordinary: Form and Control in the Built Environment, Cambridge: The MIT Press
  30. Haeri, M. (2009). Home, Culture, Nature: A Study of the Architecture of Historical and Contemporary Homes. Tehran, Urban Planning and Architecture Research Center.
  31. Hakim, B. (2008). "Mediterranean urban and building codes: origins, content, impact, and  lessons." Urban Design International 13(1): 21-40.
  32. Helli, H. (1989) Commentary of the learned on the rules of religion. Tehran: Faqih Publications.
  33. Hesamian,F. Etemad, G; And Haeri, M. (1363). Urbanization in Iran. Tehran, Agah Publications.
  34. Kostof, S. (1991) The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings Through History. London: Thames and Hudson.
  35. Kropf, K. (1996). "Urban tissue and  the character of towns." Urban Design International 1(3): 247-263.
  36. Kropf, K. S. (2011). "Morphological Investigations: Cutting into the Substance of urban form." Built Environment 37(4): 392-408.
  37. Kropf, K. S. (2014). "Ambiguity in the definition of built form." Urban Morphology 18(1).
  38. Lampton, A.K.S. (1339) Owner and farmer in Iran. Translator: Manouchehr Amiri. Tehran. Book translation and publishing company.
  39. Larkham, P. (2005). "Understanding Urban Form?" Urban Design quarterly(93): 22-24.
  40. Larkham, P. and Jones A.N. (1991) A Glossary of Urban Form. Historical Geogeraphy Research Series No.26. London: Institiute of British Geographics.
  41. Marshall, A.. (2015). Cities, design and evolution. Translator: Ameneh Bakhtiar and Hossein Bahreini. Tehran, University of Tehran
  42. Marshall,S.(2011). "A Joint Framework for Urban Morphology and  Design." Built Environment 37(4): 409-426.
  43. Matoofi,A. (1374) Astarabad and Gorgan. Mashhad, Derakhsh Publications.
  44. Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2011), http://www.merriam-webster.com/, accessed in May 2011.
  45. Mokhtari Taleghani, A. (2011) The Heritage of Modern Iranian Architecture. Tehran: Cultural Research Office.
  46. Moudon, A. V. (1986) Built for Change: Neighborhood Architecture in San Francisco, The MIT Press: Cambridge
  47. Moudon, A.V. (1994) ‘Getting to Know the Built Landscape: Typomorphology’ in (eds) Ordering Space: Types in Architecture and Design, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold pp. 289-311
  48. Moudon, A.V. (1997) ‘Urban Morphology as an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field’, Urban Morphology 1, pp. 3-10.
  49. Mugavin, D. (1999). "A Philosophical Base for Urban Morphology." Urban Morphology 3(2): 95 - 99.
  50. Pakzad, J. (2010). History of the city and urbanization in Iran: from the beginning to the Qajar period. Tehran.
  51. Pakzad, J. (2012). History of the city and urbanization in Iran: Qajar and Pahlavi period. Tehran.
  52. Part Consulting Engineers (2013) Gorgan city master plan. Project Studies Report, Volume One.
  53. Pinho, P. and Oliveira, V. (2009) Different approaches in the study of urban form. Journal of UrbanismVol. 2, No. 2, July, 103–125
  54. Rapaport, A. (2013) Anthropology of Housing. Translator: Afzalian, Kh. Tehran: Artist Profession Publications.
  55. Remy, A. (2009). Urban morphology: Geography, planning and urban architecture. Translator: Ashrafi, A. Tehran, University of Arts.
  56. S.Kropf, K. (1993). An inquiry into the Definition of built form in urban morphology. Ph.D. Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Birmingham.
  57. Schatzman, L. (1991), Dimensional analysis: Notes on an alternative approach to the grounding of theory in qualitative research. Social organization and social process: Essays in honor of Anselm Strauss, 303-314.
  58. Scheer, B. C., (2010) The Evolution of Urban Form: Typology for Planners and Architect, Chicago.
  59. Schultz, K. N (2005) The concept of habitation towards allegorical architecture. Translator: Amir Yarahmadi, M. Tehran, Ad Publishing.
  60. Strauss, A.; And Corbin, c. (2015) Basics of qualitative research: techniques and stages of production of grounded theory. Translator: Afshar, A. Tehran, Ney Publishing.
  61. Strauss, Anselm & Corbin, Joliet (1990), The basics of qualitative analysis: Grounded theory procedures
  62. Strauss, Anselm (1993), Continual permutations of action, AldineTransaction.
  63. Sultanzadeh, H. (2011). A brief history of the city and urbanization in Iran. Tehran: Chahartagh.
  64. Tavassoli, M. (2002) Construction of the city and architecture in hot and dry climate. Tehran: Payam Publications.
  65. Thornberg, Robert (2012), Informed grounded theory, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 56(3), 243-259.
  66. Whitehand, J.W.R. (2001) ‘British Urban Morphology: Conzenian Tradition’, Urban Morphology 5(2), pp. 103-109.