Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Ayatollah Boroujerdi University, Lorestan, Iran.
2
Master’s Student, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
Abstract
The historic city of Hamedan has always provided a setting for the formation of houses with diverse spatial structures throughout different historical periods. This study aims to evaluate the degree of spatial integration in selected houses from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. The main research question is whether the cultural, social, and architectural changes that occurred during these two periods led to differences in spatial structure and the degree of spatial integration. The objective of this study is to examine the differences in the spatial structures of houses from these two periods and to investigate their effects on spatial quality. The findings may provide a basis for reinterpreting the spatial values of traditional architecture and for informing contemporary architectural design. Using the Space Syntax method and a comparative approach, this study investigates spatial integration in selected houses in Hamedan from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. It is based on the assumption that the organization of spaces and the degree of their interrelationships reflect the cultural, social, and residential patterns of each period. Accordingly, the spatial layouts of each house were prepared and analyzed using Depth map software to identify differences in the spatial structures of the two periods. Six houses from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods in Hamedan were selected as case studies based on their physical integrity and the availability of accurate historical plans. The results indicate that Qajar houses, characterized by an introverted spatial organization and a strong emphasis on spatial hierarchy, exhibit higher levels of spatial integration in their central spaces. In contrast, Pahlavi houses, with a more extroverted spatial structure, demonstrate higher integration in certain transitional spaces, such as the outer courtyard; however, their overall spatial coherence differs from that of the Qajar houses. The findings suggest that the transition from traditional Qajar architecture to modern Pahlavi architecture was accompanied by significant changes in spatial relationships and house organization patterns. During the Qajar period, spatial hierarchy, privacy, and spatial coherence were more prominent, whereas Pahlavi architecture showed greater simplicity and freedom in spatial relationships, reflecting the cultural and social changes of modern Iran.
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