IJBPAS, October, 2015, 4(10), Special Issue: 625-635 ISSN: 2277–4998

THE REASONS OF DECLINING TREND OF ISLAMIC- ALIREZA KARIMI KOLOOR *1, HAMIDE FAZELI MANESH2, NAZANIN SADEGHI3 1 Graduate student of architecture, architecture department, Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Damghan, , [email protected] 2 M.A student of architecture, architecture department, Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Damghan, Iran ABSTRACT Iran holds great architecturak legacy. It has been nearly 1250 years B.C. from the time Choghazanbil Zigurat, the most ancient architectural constuction was founded and there is more than a period of 3000 years behind us untill the threshold of the contemporary era. During all this long period, a powerful and significant activity has been existed constantly and continuously in the coyuntry and a number of valuable art works have been created at any parts of this land. These remarkable works have been played great roles in forming and promoting the global architecture in various historical periods of time. The history of Iran architecture is basically divided into two main parts incluidng the architecture before and after Islam. Islam which was settled roughly about 1400 years ago in Iran affect architectural works of after islam of iran based on its specific worldview and gives new quality to it, therefore a firm link has been created between these two parts of the architecture of Iran. Although the architecture of Iran couldn’t maintain its outstanding location in the architecture of the globe after Safavid era, namely around 400 years ago, it has in fact a declining process in this angle. However, in spite of this declining process, a number of valuable architectural artworks have been created in these years until the beginning of the contemporary architecture of Iran. The objective of this issue is not to mention the repetitive points, but also it is about revision and submission of new horizons in the field of bases of contermporary architecture design. The approach of the writing has been qualitative and data collection method was library studies and the historical interpretative strategy has been

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considered. Moreover, the changes of the next eras after the Safavid have been studied due to importance of the issue in this research. In addition, the works of Seyyed Hadi Mir Miran have been studied as case study due to their significance. The conclusion has been made by arranging the key factors next to each other and induction. The final section of the article includes certain proposals in order to achieve the form origin in the contemporary architectur eof Iran. Keywords: Architecture, Islamic Iranian, Decline reasons, Contemporary INTRODUCTION Iran holds great architecturak legacy. From to it therefore a firm link has been created the time of building Choghazanbil Zigurat, between these two parts of the architecture the most ancient architectural constuction of Iran. was founded and there is more than a Both parts of Iran architecture, whether for period of 3000 years behind us untill the before the Islam including two long golden threshold of the contemporary era. During times of Achaemenid and Sasanid or after all this long period, a powerful and Islam which has at least a continous significant activity has been existed evolution of thousand years until the constantly and continuously in the coyuntry Safavid era are known as the most and a number of valuable art works have remarkable sections of the architecture been created at any parts of this land. These history. remarkable works have been played great Although the architecture of Iran has been roles in forming and promoting the global able to maintain its place in the architecture architecture in various historical periods of of the globe after the Safavid Era, namely time. around four hundred years ago and it has The history of Iran architecture is basically actually a declining process, a number of divided into two main parts incluidng the valuable architectural artworks have been architecture before and after Islam. created through these years until the The history of Iran architecture is basically beginning of contemporary architecture of divided into two main parts incluidng the Iran. architecture before and after Islam. Islamic Evolution in the History of Iran worldview which was settled roughly about Contemporary Architecture: 1400 years ago in Iran affect architectural Usually, in the west, especially in Europe, works of after islam of iran based on its certain periods of the second parts of the specific worldview and gives new quality eigthteen century ( beginning of Industrial

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Revolution) by the early decades of the It is not possible to separate the architect twntieth century have been studied. Since from the society by this time, the architect then, it is considered the advent of has been one of the society memebers. Contemporary Architecture or Modern In the following, we could adhere to the Architecture in which modern movement typical method of art history to the modern takes global form.( the main reasons of architecture advent in which the main Modern Architecture creation are issues rae formal values considering mainly considered taste change, constructutional the quality and forms relations. On the developments in terms of science or other hand, from the mid Qajar era, the techniques as well as in the theories and relationship between architecture and new attitudes to the world). society has been gradually changed and Now, the process of the abovde mentioned reached to its highest level at Pahlavi era. study regarding Iran Contemporary Here, it is possible to study various forms Architecture was equal to the early twelfth the architecture in the passed eras and century, namely the Afsharid era, but by discuss various artists or specific styles by knowing our country history, nothing was these forms changes and evolution, but they heard of Industrial Revolution in this period all form a small section of architectural of time. events and contemporary culture because in In rsearch to choose a date and origin for addition of the social changes and this issue, we find the architecture has been evolutions, new issues are raised apart from understandable and analytical as a unified the old customs which are placed at the first colllection. Outlinde and implementation of level of importance. the buildings used to change by the Thus, we should extend the studies domain, employers and architects by various time the changes can be considered in various and place conditions, but rthe whole economic, social and technical fields and working process suggests a balance their effects on architecture can be between society and architecture and only evaluated. These factors have not tangible the details have been changed based on the effect on architecture, by raising new taste of the architects or employers. materialistic and spiritual requirements, Changes or differences have been at level new tools, a type of new architecture is of architecture explanation. raised as different from past architecture.

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Regarding Iranian contemporary returned to Iran in 1941 as engineer, doctor architecture, we can consider one sample and Teachers. and three time sections. The constructional and urban features of The samples with a turning point in the city at that time were: changes of Iran architecture and building of - The fence of Shah Tahmasebi with Karim Khan Zand Shirazi Divankhane, we four gates remained and the city didn’t can refer to three features not existing in need any development. Iranian architecture on that time: - The major materials of buildings First, stone masonry of walls, second were dried mud, brick and stone, the gilding in the ceiling and third, as important coverage was dome in specific and than two other features with the importance religious and public areas and also wooden of technical and executive changes in beam was used. practice, Shirvani coverage as prevalent in - Doors and windows are fully made Iranian architecture can be considered. of wood. The three period of time are as below, - Joinery works generally include respectively: plastering with decoration and painting on 1- The initial evolutions in Qajar era. it. 2- The evolutions of Nassereddin - Construction of nobles houses as Shah’s era. Andaruni or Biruni. 3- Reza Shah’s era. 1- Second, The Evolutions of The Initial Evolutions of Qajar Era: Nassereddin Shah’s Era Tehran of Shah Tahmasb is delegated to At that period, due to development of Aghamohammad Khan and he considers communications, some changes were made Tehran as the capital of Iran and then in all fields and architecture is also Fatalishah continued his kingdom. The considered. form relations with foreign countries and One of the first works of these changes is foreign trips were started. These relations development of Darolkhelafe to control led into the establishment of foreign Tehran city, determination of new domain, embassies with the architectural style of the establishment of squares, markets and new countries as effective on the changes of type of architecture, as motel. Also, we can Iranian architecture. The first group of refer to some factories in Tehran. Although students was sent to London and this group the buildings were established by the order of Shah, also the court authorities and

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merchants had major role. This growth semi-circle as repeated in Kolah Farhangi required more materials but the major house of Eshratabad. Other buildings in materials were soil as used like dried mud semi-European styles were the buildings and brick in building construction. From located in eastern angle of Topkhane square building techniques, this period had no called King bank. Except thes government difference with the previous period. The buildings, the general trend of building coverage of ceiling was dome and wooden construction was common also in different beam. In finishing, baked gypsum was commercial, religious buildings and the used. The only technical progress in this era important examples are school and was lime in the foundation of buildings. Sepahsalar as established by Due to building activity growth, the Moshiroldole in his personal house and it shortcomings were seen in skillful force. was also used to held the first parliament. This created non-skillful artists and also it - Other famous buildings in this era led into low quality of construction even in are establishment of Darolfonun by Amir public and royal buildings. The decoration Kabir. The government place was of building was coverage for these constructed in eastern angle of Golestan shortcomings and also dying the brick was palace. The government place was common. presented by French engineers. US The main conducted projects in this period embassy was also established in this era. of time: - After the assassination of - Golestan Palace. Naseroldinshah to the constitutionalism - Narenjestan building, Museum Hall order, all activities in architecture were - Essential changes in windcatcher with relative stagnation and this stagnation mason and Diamond Hall continued to the early Pahlavi era. - Abiz Palace In general, colclusion of the characteristics - Harem House and Nasseri of the buildings of this era could be Dormitory summarized briefly as below: - Shamsolemareh pavilion which was - Direct effect of some European made under the effect of europian buildings criteira in the buildings of this era and its initial outline was prepared by - Using decorations and color French and Austrian engineering. inside and outside building namely as - The European architecture in this painting building is observed by turning arch to

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- New spatial compositions in the Iran after Islam were combined with general form of building European architecture elements. Except - Greater size of spaces some limited works as Iran Museum, - Reduced precision in building Maxim Syro and Andre Godar works were construction not valuable. Third, Reza Khan’s era: Based on the increase of the relationship The start of contemporary architecture in between the government and west, more Iran is imagined since 1300. The view of students were dispatched to abroad and Iranian cities was changed and required some students were dispatched to learn buildings were created for new life as architecture in Bozar school of France. offices, factories, banks, railway, university - Tehran University was established and etc. and new residential units were in 1934 and fine arts Univeristy in 1940. created in cities. Despite the buildings - Formation of new Municipality in before contemporary era as designed by 1932 and towers of Tehran city were traditional architects, were designed destroyed to establish streets and squares. gradually by educated architects. They - The city area in 1929 was 24km2, were non –Iranian architects and then six times more than Fatalishah era in 1934, gradually, the architects graduated from after five years to 46km2 and 11 times abroad and with the establishmetn of the more than Fatalishah era. first architecture school in Iran during - Another is Compax Company to 1320, Iranian graduated architects were complete Railway. added. On that time, contemporary - Santab company performing Meta architecture of Iran, past architecture was bridge design in Ahvaz during 1927 to also considered and this consideration was 1931. emerged as different forms in various Beam and cement were used as importing periods. During 1300 to 1320 in first since 1932 in construction. Before than, Pahlavi, important architecture works were Mossiou Markov applied beam in the post created by government and foreign and Lintel, old railway or oil pipes were architects. Special attention was given to used in building construction. On that time, past architecture namely in pre-Islam A Swiss Lecturer of materials resistance of periods, Akhamanid and Sassanid era and Tehran University to use metal composite other architectural works were created in beam. which some elements of past architecture of

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- In 1932, Shahi sugar factory was architecture as based on modern established with a combination of brick and architecture in the world and then this concrete. architecture was used in different - In 1933, the first pre-stressed residential, commercial and administrative concrete bridge, Versak bridge in the north and we observe the results now. and Municipality building in the north of The next era started since 1941 and the Topkhane square was built and at the same second pahlavi era was started and it year, Ray cement factory was established. continued to the late 40s and important - The design principles were based on architecture works were built by some two views: imitating the past or adaptation Iranian architects as Mohsen Forughi, of architecture with new life Hushang Sihun and Abdolaziz - The set of buildings around Farmanfarmayin. In this era, the past Dameshgh square is based on the first architecture was taken into attention and it view: Telegraph building (imitating had better quality compared to the previous European neo-classicism), justice building era and architecture geometry and models (imitation of the past architecture), Bank were used. Bualisina shrine in Hamedan by Meli building (based on Akhamanid Hushang Seihun is one of the major works. architecture), post building, Foreign affairs Another era started in the late 40s and ministry (based on Kaba building in continued to Islamic revolution and it is at Akhamanid era), Shahrebani palace (based the same time with modern architects of on Akhamanid architecture elements), final years. Some Iranian architects Total registeration building and national attempted to associate architecture with the library are other examples of this approach. past style of Iran. Some of the good Also, ancient Iran musueme by Andre examples are the efforts of work Godar as in its design, Taq Kasra was management education center as Nader modelled. Firooz Bahram highschool. Ardalan and contemporary arts museum of Anushirvan Dadgar high school and a part Kamran Diba. of Kalleg high school are architectures of Islamic revolution was with postmodern this era. movements in the world and two issues The design of girls art school by Vartan created new era of architecture in Iran. Hovansian as an educated young architect First, architects attempted to direct from France and it won in 1935. This plan architecture to architecture with was a new movement in Iranian independent identity based on pass legacy,

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second postmodern architecture raised views, this movement is not defined and its serious attention to past architecture of theoretical basics are not regulated. countries. Based on these two issues, the At first, regarding architecture, we should works in Iran and their postmodern refer to the important point that architecture architecture and style were based on past in various countries and at different times architecture elements (namely after Islam). was not separated and in a deep analysis of Thus, their dealing with past architecture unified lines, all architecture works are was not so deep and many postmodern associated in all countries. All works with architecture cliché elements were used in architecture value as viewed at the same these works. time have two major features: Two major points of contemporary First, architecture in the world has architecture of Iran with specific attention evolutionary trend and all elements are to past architecture are as: considered as the components of this 1- Iranian contemporary architecture had evolutionary trend and the feature is the concern of Iranian architecture history evolutionary trend of public movement of and made some efforts to associate with the architecture works to the general movement past architecture. of the world. 2- Consideration of Iran contemporary Second, in all architecture works, there is a architecture to the past architecture was common aspect and it is creativity of these apparent and deep attention to the general works. Creativity in architecture is based soul and its basics and using these on two forms: One theoretical creativity, principles were not used. second spatial creativity as its architecture The link with the past and lack of basic section. Any architecture work without achievement in an architecture movement creativity has no position in architecture as continuing the valuable architecture history. Two mentioned features history of Iran and has a share in established great link among the contemporary architecture in the world architecture works in different countries caused that in recent decade, some and times and gave world quality in architects rely on past architects and architecture. In the framework of this wide created new attempts in start of movement of architecture, the components contemporary architecture movement. were occurred in different times and Unfortunately, due to lack of association of countries and could get the taste of their these architects and lack of exchange of country. Thus, architecture work has both

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world quality (timeless and placeless) and Based on the analysis in elements and also it has definite time and country quality. models of Iranian architecture, we can say Strict border time segmentation like strict the mentioned elements were created in a styles and borders of countries is not definite period of architecture history and correct like architecture traditions. The by continuous presence in next periods globalization of architecture as unified is were evolved and had independent identity rejected. Here, we can perceive a deep of time and had emotional image. Some association between Egypt Deyrolbahari works are designed in which old temple and Kofman Write house and architectural models are used with new Lathurt temple with Seljuki mosque in Iran. interpretation and some of the examples By this introduction, we can avoid false are: image of traditional architecture belonging Three plans presented to culture center of to a country separated from other countries Iran by Mirmiran, Ali Akbar Saremi and and we can establish a link between Darab Diba, sport center of Rafsanjan by architecture works of various countries and Mirmiran, two plans presented for great protect country features. We should museum of Khorasan hisotry by consider this architecture movement Mohammad Amin Mirfendarski and belonging to Iran and in evolutionary trend common work of Mozhgan Solati and of past of Iran and don’t imagine it outside Mohammad Hassan Momeni and visual of general movement of current arts art center of Karaj by Ali Akbar architecture. The theoretical basics of the Saremi. first works in this movement were: In the next plans of this movement, not Architecture analysis in Iran shows that only the architecture principles of Iran and despite the variety and complexity of models were considered, Iranian culture buildings, basics and models over time are was also including Myths, concepts and used by various forms in this architecture cultural aspects focused on art as poetry and it is shown that Iranian architecture and literature and they were used as evolution is mostly based on the excellence creativity content of architecture work. We of these principles and models. These should consider that cultural concepts models and principles can be used in shouldn’t be used directly in spatial current architecture of Iran and past creativity and be turned into architecture architecture principles are used as basis. work and in thought creativity, they should pass abstract stage and be turned into

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architecture ideas and then spatial creativity on two points, if we consider some works fulfills this architectural idea. of this movement, we can find the general The major works in this trend are three soul of Iran and the initial concepts and it is plans presented to National library of Iran not restricted to a definite country or a by Mirmiran, work of Kamran Safamanesh definite concept and we can feel its and Farhad Ahmadi, Terminal of association with other countries and Imam Khomeini airport by Bahram concepts and the works can be global. Shirdel., Shiraz Jahan Nama garden by CONCLUSIONS Mohammad Reza Nasrin, National museum If we discuss about the past, deprivation of Iran water by Mirmiran and Bahram and regret can be observed namely about SHirdel, Defa Moghadas Museum in the issues referred in the process of paper: Isfahan by Hossein Sheikh Zeinoldin and Is it true? The reason of repetition of past other plans. works at this short time and taking Finally, we should add two major points for examples and presenting recommendations this type of architecture: and new way to improve Islamic Iranian First, concepts, myths and other thought architecture can be considered but it has productions have high common concepts in been declining in the recent years. By various cultures and they are unified investigation of ascending and descending concepts as expressed in various countries. growth and its reasons and issues in these If architecture is used for visualization, years, we can achieve considerable architecture work can have the quality methods to save Islamic architecture in the beyond definite country and it can be country and Iranian architecture of this global, namely if the concepts are unsuitable condition. associated to general items of world. Some recommendations are presented in Second, architecture forms and spaces at this regard: first are created for visualization of definite - The investigation of the history of sample concepts and due to specific reason in form projects as designed, its success or failures, and space, namely the part of spatial its stability and instability can be achieved creativity outside of control and awareness by the study of their history. of designer, is declined to other concepts. - Before building construction forms, we Based on experience, the higher the spatial can consider their development in future and form power of architect, the more the and based on changes in society and ability to present various concepts. Based

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population in these years, we can 8- Acquainted with the monuments, 2010, investigate them. Myrdansh,M. School publications, 113 and Mentioned models were created at definite 114 periods but correlated presence in next 9- Zeimaran, M., the architecture of today periods was evolved and had identity has no philosophical background, 2001 independent from time and it was used to Reuters direct current works. 10- Wisdom of Islamic Art, 2008, For modern construction, we don’t need Rahnavard, Z., University of the Arts, 35 imitation from West and by investigation of 11- Architecture in the capital of Nazareth, history of architecture; we can establish 2009, Qobadian, V., publications local sustainability and accessibility of Pashootan, 17 and 18 modern technology and specific attention to 12-Mir Findiriski, M, Modern architecture creativity, modern Iranian architecture and traditions, in 1965, modern style. We hope to find the true way of architecture, No. 2,4 architecture. 13- Modern architectural heritage, 2011, REFERENCES Mokhtari Taleghani, A., Publications of 1- Mirmiran, S.H,Etesam, I. (2009), Cultural Research Office, 137 contemporary architecture of Iran, Tehran, 14- Architectural Style of Iran, 2010, design and publishing company of Sima Pirnia, M., University of Science and message Technology publications, 230 2. Nabizadeh, S., Concept, 2011, 15-Overview in the art and architecture of Ketabkadeh Kasra Publishing Iran, 2010, Yavari, H., Simayeh Danesh 3- Thinking of contemporary architects, 126 2011, the Association of Iranian 16- Architecture and urbanism in Islamic architectural figures, 15 countries, 2010, philosophy, M., Soroush 4- Iranian architecture, 2011, A, GH, Publications, 187 Soroush Danesh Publications, 250 17- Intelligent materials and new 5. Islamic architecture,2011, Pirnia, K, technologies, 2011, Eddington, Mitchell, University of Science and Technology Askvdk, Daniel, translation by Roshan Publications, 37 Zamir, Sh., soil publication, 3 6- Pirnia, M, Present of Iran architecture to the world, dome, 1962

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