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2016 | Buch

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Urban Structure in Hot Arid Environments

Strategies for Sustainable Development

verfasst von: Mahmoud Tavassoli

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buchreihe : The Urban Book Series

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This essential reference guide to strategies and solutions for urban planning in hot arid environments reflects the journey toward many cities, towns and villages in Iran, which are documented and presented in the form of case studies and comparative analysis. It is the outcome of extensive research on the influence of historical, cultural and climatic factors on urban spatial forms and rural complexes in Iran’s Hot Arid Zone.

The environment of the Hot Arid Zone offers valuable insights into how to overcome historical difficulties, how to endure harsh climatic conditions, how to be innovative and creative in responding to problems in new ways, and how to utilize natural energy sources. Considerable attention is given to the recognition of values, current problems and the renewal of traditional fabrics, urban blocks and traditional buildings. Important aspects in both academic education and in the urban design profession include traditional urban structures and traditional approaches to using natural energy as a creative process that is continuously changing and renews itself over time – a dynamic characteristic from which we can glean many lessons for the future.

This book is based on a book previously published by the author in Persian. This version is an extensively revised version.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Influence of Historical Factors

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Ancient City Structure and Its Transformation in Islamic Period

Abstract

The four interrelated chapters of part I deal with the influence of historical factors on the historic town structure, considering socioeconomic and cultural aspects. This chapter discusses the ancient city structure and its transformation in Islamic period. It identifies that origin of urban forms is not confined to one culture. This leads to some comparative studies in all chapters. Altogether, because of the shortage of information, result of wars, invasions, and natural disasters, scholars usually are reluctant to give a clear image of ancient city form. Information clarifies that although we have a limited knowledge about the physical aspects of ancient city form as a whole, we understand the role of power and centrality in shaping urban form.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 2. Urban Structure in Islamic Territories

Abstract

In this chapter of the historical part, part I identifies socio-spatial and cultural aspects of the historic towns. It considers historic towns as a collection of homogenous neighborhoods including structural and functional elements typical of Islamic towns inside and outside Iran. Integrated neighborhoods were bounded together by ties of climate, culture, custom and beliefs, and art. The comparative study in this chapter shows structural similarity between some African, Asian, and Iranian cities, but as shown in Chaps. 3 and 4, Iranian cities in the hot arid environment, because of clarity and character of desert life, demonstrate a legible structure.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 3. Iranian Cities in Islamic Period, the Middle Ages

Abstract

In this chapter, the basic elemental structure as independent parts but interrelated elements has been discussed. As we can see among three factors, climate, religious beliefs, and power, those have a decisive role in shaping urban structure, harsh climatic condition is of prime importance. The study of this chapter is based on exhaustive field research. The research also considers the symbolic interpretation and artistic aspect of perception of inner meaning behind the sustainable forms, sustainable urban fabrics integrated with nature, and discovers the secret of beauty of Persian garden.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 4. Typical Historical Cities

Abstract

This chapter shows how integration of the elemental structure discussed in Chap. 3 and comprises a unified whole: a city. An exhaustive field research has been conducted during several years, interviewing local architects, elders of neighborhoods, and heads of old families. One distinctive aspect in field studies was a comparison between the information of an old historical document: Tarikh-i Yazd, (History of Yazd), from fifteenth century with the existing old fabric, places and spaces of the historic city of Yazd. The same method and findings were applied in other cities such as Nain, Zaware, and Kashan. As we shall see, it can be concluded that traditional towns and cities in the hot arid environment of Iran have a common spatial characteristics based on their interconnected parts: neighborhoods and neighborhood centers, and city center, through the main passageways as connected elements.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Influence of Climatic Factors

Frontmatter

Chapter 5. Urban Form and Architecture in the Hot Environment Zone of Iran

Abstract

The four interrelated chapters of part II deal with the influence of climatic factors on the historic town structure. This chapter identifies factors such as solar radiation, glaring sun, and large diurnal temperature. Through centuries, people in similar climatic zones, in spite of differences in culture and society, have reached independently to similar solutions to similar climatic problems, although different in appearance, but similar in function and meaning. Sustainable climatic responsive urban form is considered as a creative process, changing, continuing, and renewing over time, a dynamic characteristic which can teach us lessons for the future.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 6. Organic Unity Between Urban and Architectural Elements: Urban Blocks, Courtyard Houses, Ivans, Domes, and Wind Catchers

Abstract

This chapter shows illustratively form and function of urban and architectural elements: urban blocks, courtyard houses, ivans, domes, and wind catchers. It identifies how these elements function independently with others. The study includes detailed analysis of double domes as an excellent solution to the problem of intense radiation and shows how closed and compact urban structure breathed through wind catchers. The study is based on exhaustive field research conducted during several years.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 7. Similarities Around the World

Abstract

This chapter includes a short comparison between urban forms inside and outside Iran. In spite of different historical and sociocultural background, we find similarities in the meaning behind forms, although different in outward appearance. Examples include different types of courtyard houses, wind catchers, and compact urban forms in different parts of the world.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Chapter 8. Uniting the Parts

Abstract

In this completely illustrated chapter, we can see how sustainable energy, sun and wind, and the essence of issues discussed in two previous chapters have been manifested into a whole complex: a house. It includes typical houses from hot arid environments of Iran; some of them have been destroyed in 1979 and 2003 earthquakes. In the process of potential for change in the new developments, lesson has been drawn from the past experience (Chap. 9, Case study).

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Guidance Through Case Studies

Frontmatter

Chapter 9. Scale of the Problems and Solutions: Case Studies

Abstract

This chapter includes 4 case studies extracted from different projects. It considers the problems of spatial structure at three levels: the whole structure of traditional city, the neighborhood system, and the urban block as the principle urban unit. It is not intended to repeat the ideas and views of the scholars that have been referred to in the first two parts of the present book. But it intends to consider several basic problems and solutions of the hot arid zone cities. Four case studies include the following:

Urban design in the inner core of the historic city of Yazd,
Urban design Kargar Street, Tehran,
Redesign of Hasan Abad Square, Tehran,
Experimentation of new forms of urban block.

Mahmoud Tavassoli

Backmatter

Titel: Urban Structure in Hot Arid Environments
verfasst von: Mahmoud Tavassoli
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-39098-7
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39097-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39098-7