International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development Vol.5, No.4, Autumn 2015 Development Urban and Architecture of Journal International The Sustainable Architecture of Bazaars and its Relation with Social, Cultural and Economic Components (Case Study: The Historic Bazaar of Tabriz) 1Arezou Mohammadi Kalan, 2*Eduardo Oliveira 1M.Sc., Independent researcher,Tabriz, Iran 2Postdoctoral researcher, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland. Recieved 08.22.2013; Accepted 09.02.2015 ABSTRACT: Urban commercial quarters such as bazaars can be found all over the world, from Turkey to Egypt, from Tajikistan to Iran. In Iranian cities, bazaars have very specific and unique architectural features and they have played an important role as economic and social engines. In addition, bazaars are an integral part of the cultural geography of Iran and have contributed to the definition of urban development patterns. This paper aims to critically explore sustainable architectural elements in historic bazaars and their relation to social and cultural components. This paper’s theoretical exploration is developed by detailing relevant findings from a case study on the significance of the sustainable architectural elements of the historic Bazaar of Tabriz, and it debates the relationship between those architectural elements and socio-cultural and economic components. A qualitative methodology, specifically in-depth interviews with shop-owners and customers and in loco observation, was employed. Findings show that the Bazaar of Tabriz has preserved its sustainability both in terms of architecture, by rigorous preservation, and in terms of socio- cultural and economic components, by maintaining an exciting daily dynamic and a healthy relationship between shop- owners, customers, local administration and the city of Tabriz. The preservation of unique and authentic sustainable architectural features, together with the maintenance of public spaces, such as mosques and schools, benefits the population of Tabriz and brings visitors every day to the shopping area of the complex, thus maintaining a constant flux and social, cultural and economic dynamics. Keywords: Culture, Historic Bazaars, Socio-Economic, Sustainable Architecture, Tabriz. INTRODUCTION This paper brings together a sustainable architecture and efficient use of energy systems and materials to make approach and the economic and socio-cultural components buildings that are more conducive to human use and comfort, involved in historic bazaars, an under-researched topic in without generating pollutants or borrowing natural and non- academia and praxis. According to Guy & Farmer (2001), renewable resources from future generations (Bennetts et al., sustainable architecture is an approach and an attitude 2004). The design process for buildings which incorporate towards the conception of structures, such as buildings or sustainable features has intensified during the past years commercial complexes like bazaars. According to Ibrahim (Bodart & Edward, 2011). The core idea behind sustainable and Mohamed (2005), the introduction of a more sustainable architecture advocacy is that buildings and infrastructures must approach in architecture reflects the principles of sustainable become producers rather than exclusively consumers of energy. development. Sustainable architecture in a nutshell can Sassi (2006) argues that the relationship between architecture be defined by the dominance of energy efficiency and and social sustainability can help put into practice and even climate adaptation strategies aimed at improving economic encourage a sustainable way of life. Bazaars could be seen performance as well as the efficiency of buildings and infra- as pioneers in applying sustainable features while enhancing structures in general. The notion implies a thoughtful, effective a sense of belonging and attachment to place ( Ashworth & Graham, 2005), as they are spaces where social interactions *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] are dominant, culture is nourished and economic value is 5 generated and hopefully maintained. According to Moosavi of respondents started as a process of convenience sampling (2005), a bazaar is a covered public passageway which is (Neuman, 2011) following the examples of previous studies surrounded by shops on two sides. The architectural features (Maroofi et al., 2014) and continued as snowball sampling. were highly dependent on the climate, culture and economic Interviews and observation were both carried out by the authors power of the city in which it is located. Bazaars are examples at the Bazaar of Tabriz in August 2014. of structures designed with an awareness of sustainable Vol.5, No.4, Autumn 2015 Autumn No.4, Vol.5, architecture. Bazaars also reflect the symbioses between the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION need to create structures for the communities to develop their Historic Bazaars activities, the need for adaptation to the territorial physical The word “bazaar” is related to “Çarşı” in Turkish, “Bazaar” characteristics and the need to create dynamics of spatial in Persian and “Bazzarro” in Italian. Bazaars have always (urban) development (Correia et al., 2009). The bazaar is accommodated a large number of activities and have become a traditional public space and part of the urban fabric of intrinsically linked to the development of cities, architecture several cities in Iran. The bazaar is not only the commercial and a sense of place (Pirnia, 2007). First, the bazaar may be centre of traditional cities in Iran, but also the centre of viewed as a symbol of tradition and as a market which operates social, cultural, political and religious activities, and is hence not only in economic terms. Secondly, it may be viewed as interconnected with economic, social and environmental part of a city’s tangible and intangible heritage. Similar to the International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development Urban and Architecture of Journal International sustainability (Alipoor & Raeesolmohadesin, 2012). This is ‘plaza’ of the preindustrial European cities, bazaars were also the case with the historic Bazaar of Tabriz in northwest Iran. the most popular site for the development of social, political, The architecture of the Bazaar of Tabriz reflects the links cultural and civic activities of people, like the forum or agora between the climate and local culture. In addition, it has been of ancient cities (Edgu et al., 2012). contributing by adding economic value to the city, supporting job creation and maintaining and developing the surrounding The Bazaar in the Islamic Republic of Iran urban area. The language of architecture is more than a form; Bazaars can be found in various cities of the Islamic Republic it evokes the past, prefigures the future and articulates the of Iran, such as in Shiraz, Isfahan and Tabriz. The bazaar is not present for all citizens and communities (Eldemery, 2010), only the commercial centre of traditional cities in Iran, but also and it represents an integral part of the manifestation of a the meeting point for social and cultural interactions. These society or the image of a place. The historic bazaars of Iran cultural and social activities are the result of the sustainable have always been public spaces for commercial activities and dimension regarding the architecture of the bazaars. Climate centres of social, cultural, political and religious activities is one of the main factors that determine the architecture of where the architecture mirrors societal behaviours. By taking buildings including bazaars in Iranian cities (Fig. 1). the historic Bazaar of Tabriz as a case study, this paper aims to critically explore the sustainable architectural elements The Bazaar of Tabriz of historic bazaars and their relation with social and cultural The historic Bazaar of Tabriz (Fig. 2 and 3) is the largest components. traditional covered bazaar in the world with the finest art and sustainable architectural features. Its strategic location on the MATERIALS AND METHODS Silk Road has always contributed to its economic vitality. In conducting this study, a qualitative method of research was Social, religious, communicational, political and cultural employed. Primary data were gathered through observation functions can also be witnessed throughout history. These at the Bazaar of Tabriz and in-depth interviews with 40 shop- elements have been kept alive until today. owners and customers. In-depth interviews were used in order The Bazaar of Tabriz covers an area of over three square to collect information regarding the perceptions of those kilometres and in 2010 it was included on the World Heritage that interact with the Bazaar on a daily basis. The selection List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Fig. 1: Climatic influence on the bazaar structure in four Iranian cities. 6 International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development Urban and Architecture of Journal International Fig. 2: Historic Bazaar of Tabriz. Fig. 3: Historic Bazaar of Tabriz with an emphasis on the roof function. Organization (UNESCO, 2010). The Bazaar was built on the noticeable temperature variation between day and night time. main circulation axis of the city, connecting the east to the In order to face these climate challenges, the Bazaar was built northwest, dividing the Bazaar into two main parallel rasteh: with the aim of providing protection against climatic conditions, The main “rasteh”; thus responding to the natural environmental