The role Sustainable Architecture in Iranian Traditional Architecture

Vol-7, Special Issue-Number5-July, 2016, pp1335-1343 http://www.bipublication.com Review Article

The role Sustainable

Architecture in Iranian Traditional Architecture

Shabnam Azadi1 and Mehdi Haghighatbin2

1_{MA in Architecture, Kamalolmolk}

Institute of Higher Education, Noshahr, Mazandaran, Iran 2

Faculty member of Tarbiat modares University, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanization Tehran, Iran

Email: Azadishabnam67@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Using local and continental materials, Sustainable architecture aims to design sustainable buildings, decrease its damages to the environment, sources of energy and nature. A deeper thought on the principles of traditional architecture indicates that the idea of constancy has its origins back in ancient human norms. On the one hand, solving the environmental, cultural-social and economic problems, and the intense integrity of such issues, direct us toward traditional architecture and constancy in comparison and evaluation in order to extract the required lessons for today’s architectural design. On the other hand, the historical architectural and urbanization evidence reveals that in the past, architecture and urbanization have taken place in line with the environment, traditional architecture with a tendency to environmental and social constancy and with respect to natural resources and preserving them for the future generations. Nowadays, unlimited destruction of the environment which is due to the malicious attitude toward nature in the recent centuries, threatens human life. The sudden stop in the creative process of past architecture, and the faster and easier solutions by modern architects have made forget the methods which were appropriate with the environment. In this article, traditional Iranian houses were studied in this sense in order to have looked at the traditional architecture with open eyes and to use its intellectual background in today’s architecture and building techniques. Finally, in this research the reasons for constancy of Iranian traditional houses were investigated with a descriptive-analytic approach and strategies are suggested with respect to new technology with the purpose of preserving traditional local architecture which causes sustainable development of the houses.

Keywords: architecture, sustainable architecture, traditional architecture, Iran

1. INTRODUCTION

The ancient history of Iranian architecture has some constant values which have been obtained through gradual evolution and gathering of historical multi-thousand year experience. Inspired with these principles and values, together with continuous use of new scientific experiences of the world, we can get to the real meaning of Iranian sustainable architecture In the new world of today’s architecture, the concept of “tradition” has not been explained well, and not understanding it properly has caused improper interpretations of it. “You that wander in the deserts far from your conscience, return to

toward ecological and social constancy rather than tendencies which claim to sustain the present architecture in order to preserve a particular style and insert environmental sensitivities in the appearance of the design or environmental applications. Therefore, in this study, we define constancy as an attitude in which not only the building is in interaction with the environment and causes to save energy and manage the building in the best way, but also constancy is observed in relationship with the design process and is defined as an entity which forms a relation between the constructed object and culture, society, symbol, and environment. This approach to constancy as a process is something more than a complete product. [18]In a general look at the architecture of traditional houses in Iran, we can consider the practical needs of environmental conditions and the effects of constructing a particular kind of residential architecture as the fundamental conditions with which a thoughtful return to residential architecture and traditional urbanization of Iran can be used in order to create a new way in residential architecture with new technology and modern requirements

2. SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

“sustainable” means continuity, integrity, duration and saving for future. “architecture” means a designing activity which sustains the environment and whatever needs to be sustainable. The new paradigm of human development is based on coordination with nature, emphasizes the human being as a part of nature. Human is a only a small part of the nature and his activity is a small part of the dynamic socio-economic subsystems. Nature has shown very significant reactions to human actions and is no longer considered to be lifeless and ineffective. Generally, when the trend of used renewable resources in the economic circle, exceeds the renewal and restoration rate of these resources, it will lead to decrease in efficiency of the resources and the possibility of its extinction increases. It was in such a situation that using new energies has received a new place. It was in 1980s

response which places human life and preserving them in the first order of importance and homogeneous and local materials are used in its structure. This architecture is the cause of human life development and physically and mentally, improves the level of life comfort. [13] The world traditional architecture is a rich source which has a considerable potential in helping us understand, design, and construct in a sustainable manner. Local buildings have been made by available local materials, local application, and renewable sources of energy and accept those kinds of construction activities that pay attention to recycling and respect the nature. [3]Ken Yeang defines sustainable architecture as ecological design and states “ in fact, sustainable architecture can be viewed as a kind of architecture during whose life cycle is in accordance with the ecological systems of the Earth”. [17]

3. PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE

ARCHITECTURE

A building must be designed in such a way that the use of new resources is the minimum and at the end of the efficient life of the building, it can be used as a resource for constructing other structures. Although this principle mostly has to do with new buildings, we should keep in mind that repairing and restoring the condition of current buildings in order to decrease environmental effects, is important as much as the way new buildings are constructed is. The second use can be formed in using recycled material or recycled spaces. Moreover, change in old buildings for new applications, is another way to decrease using new resources. Whereas this accompanies costs and difficulties, the benefits of using re-using such big buildings beside each other and inside the urban area can help in overcoming these costs and difficulties. Modernization of the existing buildings in big and small cities, also, can lead to keeping the used resources in order to repair the building and thus to avoid destruction of the community. [13]

The principles that must be observed so that a structure is considered as a sustainable architecture, are as follows:

Table 1

Principle considerations

Preserving energy

A structure must be built in such a way that makes the need of the building to fossil fuels minimum. Accordance

with climate

Structures must be designed in such a way that is in accordance with the climate and existing energy resources

at the building site and work with it. Decrease in

using new resources of

material

Buildings must be designed in such a way that it decreases the rate of using new resources as much as possible and at the end of the efficient life of

the building, it can be used as the new resource to build a new

structure. satisfying the

needs of the residents

In sustainable architecture, satisfying the physical and mental needs of the

residents is of considerable importance. Accordance

with the site

The structure must be smoothly placed in its site and it must be in

accordance with the surrounding area.

Holisticism All the principles of sustainable architecture must be actualized in a

complete process which results in creating a healthy environment.

Nowadays, the purpose of sustainable architecture is creating sustainable and organized balance among nature, living creatures, and

the built environment and in so doing, the whole architecture process, i.e. thinking and studying,

designing and building, using and destroying the building are

considered.

Art and beauty is realized in all aspects of human life from the house of safety and comfort to temple and mosque of prayers, from trade market to working on the farm, in such a way that the involvement of art is more than that of philosophy and mysticism. Traditional architecture is a highly precious support in spiritual life for the intellectuals and an invaluable opportunity for reminding divine facts. [14]The art of architecture has an ancient history in Iran.

In Iranian traditional architecture, the structures have been formed with respect to Iranian and ethnic culture and the contexture and architecture of the structure have never been against the cultural, religious, and ethnic beliefs of that particular area.

In these structures, in order to preserve cultural identities in construction, five principles have been always observed, people-wiseness, avoiding inefficiency, introspection, structure of building, using local materials. [6] therefore, with the use of the existing materials in the environment and tactful use of land and area, the construction of these buildings has taken place in great accuracy and attention and as far as the religious and cultural beliefs are concerned in avoiding dissipation, attempts were made not to impose extra costs and work on the employer.

It must be noted here that most of the principles which are proposed in the sustainable architecture of the present century, were observed in Iranian traditional architecture which confirms the true effect of culture, religion, and Iranian peoples traditions on how construction and architecture in previous centuries.

These are the principles which are forgotten in the current era. Thus we can say that one of the symbols of sustainable is Iranian traditional architecture which has been responsible to ecological issues and energy efficiency both due to low initial costs, and because of the current and used cost of the building. Through re-creating these principles, in line with contemporary architecture, we can develop a new approach in contemporary architecture of Iran.There is no

exact and particular definition in explaining traditional architecture; However, three features of traditional architecture are as follows:

1.Traditional architecture is a product of traditional approach to design and construction.

2. traditional architecture is a symbol of society’s culture, which has been continuous in the course of time

3. traditional architecture is related to holy action and to a kind of valuable and meaningful architecture. [11] and basically focuses on the following:

- Attitude toward nature and the realization of its holiness

- the stages of design and human design -stability of the building [2]

5. POSITION OF IRANIAN (TRADITIONAL)

ARCHITECTURE IN SUSTAINABLE

ARCHITECTURE

skillfully used long ago and with applying certain techniques and principles in efficient use of energies and natural resources, esp. the sun and wind and coordination with climate and nowadays, this has been destroyed and forgotten.

6.COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE

PRINCIPLES OF IRANIAN TRADITIONAL

ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE

ARCHITECTURE

The past architecture consisted of a never-ending treseaure of the architects’ facilities that each architect could benefit from with respect to his creativity, knowledge, and scientific experience. In sum, the artists in the past knew how much to use what ad where. And in this way the continuity

of architectural culture would be preserved and the national chain would not disconnect [10] and through using such methods they took measure with the minimum use of non-renewable fossil energies in order to keep the environment clean. Any kind of frugality in energy consumption with inactive methods, whether in design or in building the structures, whether in using active or inactive installment, change in habit and behavior of the consumers can lead to significant figure in preserving country’s resources, on the one hand, and preventing environment pollution and human wastes, on the other hand.[4] with regard to these principles, we adjust the Iranian architecture with architectural principles:

Table 2: adjusting the principles of architecture [5]

Principle of Iranian architecture

Principle of sustainable architecture

People-wiseness Improving the quality of life, physical and mental comfort of human and socio-economic justice

Avoiding inefficiency

Designing based on the needs and using multi-functions flexibility of the space to avoid wasting space, resources, and energy material

Self satisfaction Satisfying human needs without seizing future resources with a local attitude

Introspection Accordance with nature, using its energies and decreasing consumption of non-renewable resources

Structure of building

Using a modular system in designing and application of the structure and sustainable and recyclable material.

7.SUSTAINABLE INDICES IN IRANIAN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE These indices are as follows:

Table 3

Indices of sustainability

in Iranian architecture Application

1 introspection Using elements such as central yard, pool act like a hole

objectivism

1. visual and physical connection with the space outside the house

2. extension in height and spatial organization with respect to another space

orientation

1. The condition of establishment typically toward qibla 2. Attention the wind direction to use the useful wind and

avoid the harmful wind

3. Lead to creating summer and winter spaces

4 Inactive solar-vestibule

equipment and systems Preventing the wind from entering the building

5 Inactive solar-yard equipment and systems

1. creating and possibility of using more draught with placing in the center

2. possibility of the spaces being one layer

toward the yard from one side and the windows toward the alley from another side

4. sequential placing of full and empty spaces with different proprieties, makes it possible to produce breeze using the quality of shadow and sun

5. confining the central yard causes this open space to act as a ventilator for the settlers inside and causes the hot air to exit

6

Inactive solar equipment and systems-going deep

inside soil

Using the temporal potential of the soil in different seasons of the year

7 Inactive solar-windward equipment and systems

1. creating natural cold using wind 2. creating natural ventilation

8 Inactive solar equipment and systems- garden hole

1. Providing the required soil for making the bricks used in building

2. Possibility of access to flume water

9 Inactive solar equipment and systems- harim

1. Creating air circulation

2. Creating the cold area using delayed phenomena of the seasons in the ground

3. Using temporal potential of the soil

10 Inactive solar equipment and systems-mini garden

Mini garden was a kind of small garden built beside the building which created a summer space near the building

11 Inactive solar equipment and systems- terrace

1. It was used in spring and summer, all day long, and in summer, at nights

2. Depending on its place, it was used at times the surrounding walls would create shadow on it

12 Inactive solar equipment and systems- stool

This space was placed in the winter space in order to provide the required heat in the winter

13 Inactive solar equipment and systems-shoal

1. The place to have access to flume water 2. Using this place as a refrigerator to keep food 3. Sometimes it was used as a place to sleep at midday.

14 Inactive solar equipment and systems- cellar

1. Creating natural cold air

2. Using the temporal potential of the soil

15 Inactive solar equipment and systems-springhouse

1. used as summer space

2. Causing the area to get cold with water passing through the pool

16 Inactive solar equipment and systems-bedchamber

This is the same as basement or cellar which is common in dry regions

17 Inactive solar equipment and systems-taromi

An open but roofed area on the floors around which is covered with wood window shades and straw shades. This place which is exposed to permanent air draught and is colder than other places of building, causes appealing wind to enter the inside the building spaces.

18 Inactive solar equipment and systems-water space

Those summer buildings which are built in the pool or lake or to use the moisture and view of the water

19 Inactive solar equipment and systems-carved

The space which is carved in the ground. In many houses in mountainous areas, the back areas are dug like closet in the ground that creates appropriate climatic quality in winter and summer which sometimes is used as stool.

20

Inactive solar equipment and systems- porch and

shade

1. Creating shadow and possibility of direct connection 2. Preventing direct sunshine inside the building

21

Inactive solar equipment and systems-material

with appropriate temporal capacity

22 Inactive solar equipment and systems-roof

Making the roofs double-layered whether flat, curve or slanting besides making them lighter, helps control the received heat from the sun through creating a coverage by trapped air between the two layers

23 Inactive solar equipment and systems-window

Reticulated windows with colored glass, are some ways to control depth and rate of sun shine inside the building in the summer and winter which is according to the needs of the settlers

24 Inactive solar equipment and systems-wall

1. Creating coverage with the thickness of the wall 2. Preventing heat and cold to get out of the building

and vice versa

25 Inactive solar equipment and systems-shenashir

A semi-open space like a balcony, connected to the external wall of the building and from one side is in a closed space and its back area protects itself from sunshine. From the other side, because of the shade it makes on the external areas of the building, causes the temperature of this wall to decrease.

26

Inactive solar equipment and systems- four-season

houses

1. Summer space: a room in the south of the yard against the sun, used I the summer

2. A room in the north area of the yard which is sunny and was used in the past un the summer.

27 Plant coverage

1. Proving shadow

2. Creating view and visual beauty 3. Compensating the area moisture

4. With attracting shined beams, preventing reflection of beams and increasing temperature

5. Windbreak

28

Material with respect to substance (mud, brick,

stone, wood)

Using existing proper material in the region, has no reason except the proper application of these materials against the climate in the region. Besides, using available materials in each climate to decrease the transportation costs which is energy consuming and it availability is of great importance

29 Building materials with respect to color

Selecting the proper color of materaials besides thickness and substance, is a complete coverage against regional climatic factors

30

Inactive solar equipment and systems- material

with proper temporal capacity

According to the climate, material with low temporal capacity or material with high temporal capacity are used.

8.SUMMARIZING AND COORDINATING CONCEPTS AND FEATURES OF IRANIAN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Table 4. Coordinating the concepts[5]

Features off Iranian architecture Features of sustainable architecture

Using local natural resources, materials, and facilities (self-sufficiency)

Providing human needs without seizure of the future people’s needs and resources

Synchronizing with nature and climate using regional elements and materials

Coordination with environment and preventing from its pollution and destruction

Using traditional architecture and urbanization methods based on natural

energy

Maximum use of renewable energies and preserving non-renewable resources

Applying compact contexture in cities, villages, and traditional buildings of

Iran

Applying local methods, elements, and

materials Using local patterns in architecture Extensive use of local materials such as

adobe, brick, mud and thatch

Using substances and materials which are in line with climate and nature and recyclable

Using croft, garden, pool, tree, flower and plant in buildings

Using the elements of nature and integrating buildings with nature and green space

Using elements such as yard, vestibule, windward, sash

Maximum use of the sun, wind, and moisture energies in architecture

8. CONCLUSION

Paying attention to sustainable architecture and the mechanism for formulating such an approach in architecture design are required to get a deeper understanding of sustainable purposes and advice. Sustainable architecture is something comprehensive whose main issue is related to the environment and uses all the tendencies that apply the issue of decreasing materials and energy. Sustainable architecture uses local and regional materials whose purpose is to design sustainable buildings, decrease its harms on environment and energy resources and nature. In the past, traditional Iranian architecture, despite lack of (limited) access to facilities, provided the best comfort for the human life, whereas nowadays, it is with the help of new technology that we can provide life comfort. More thought on the principles of traditional architecture indicates that the concept of sustainable has its origins mostly in old and ancient norms of mankind. On the one hand, solving environmental, socio-cultural, and economic problems and high intensity of such issues, leads us toward traditional architecture and sustainable approach in comparing and measuring them against each other to extract the lessons for today’s architectural design. On the other hand, historical architecture and urbanization evidence shows that in the past, architecture and urbanization were formed parallel to the environment while traditional architecture is formed with attention to sustainable social ecology and with respect to natural resources and preserving them for the future people. Nowadays, excessive destruction of environment which is the result of human’s sick attitude toward nature in

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