An Inquiry into Cultural Continuity and Change in Housing: An Iranian Perspective

Rafooneh Mokhtarshahi Sani,Payam Mahasti

doi:10.4236/sm.2013.33031

Abstract

The arrival of modernization has had an adverse effect on current Iranian housing architecture; as such, that it is now finds itself in a difficult predicament. Therefore, various national architectural conferences, in addition to individual investigations, have been focused on the renewal of Iranian housing architecture over recent decades. Whilst these examples have not culminated or resulted in defining a clear Iranian trend and style in housing with recognizable characteristics, it would be useful to explore some of the more successful examples in order to obtain an overview of what has been done in Iran in this respect during recent years. Accordingly, the study has focused on identifying the architectural characteristics of Iranian houses, which have been modified and used in the present designs. In this study, through a comparative typological analysis of the different traditional Iranian housing types, their main characteristics have been categorized. The categorization later applied for the analysis of the contemporary houses designs. The results of this investigation have shown that, in contemporary samples, although the idea of Iranian traditional houses has remained; the concept of traditional houses has been altered and changed.

Highlights

In the field of architecture, housing has always played an important role in respect of defining cultural values, providing a sense of belonging and in the issue of self-esteem
Typological analysis of traditional and contemporary houses in Iran is used as method of study
Samples have been selected from the two main types of Iranian houses: introverted and eccentric types

Summary

Introduction

In the field of architecture, housing has always played an important role in respect of defining cultural values, providing a sense of belonging and in the issue of self-esteem. The concept of regional identity has always had positive implications, partly because of the implicit assumption that it connects and brings people and places together, and provides people with shared “regional values” and improved “self-confidence” (Passi, 2002). Those considerations are especially important in the current housing arena since, as Rapaport (2007) states, identity, social relations, status and the like, have become more varied, flexible, and dynamic

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Conclusion