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Investigating the process of traditional design principles formation in the Iranian-Kurdish urban quarters

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Abstract

The traditional urban quarter is considered here as a materialized form of human thoughts, skills and resources which created functional, meaningful and identifiable spaces in relation to society, time and place. Regarding these leading points, this research focuses on traditional Iranian-Kurdish urban quarters of Qatâr-chyân to investigate its design principles. Various approaches to traditionally built forms were reviewed to pave the way for a methodological inquiry. The data were generated through historical archives, direct observation of the existing built form and interviews with elderly. The findings enable us to discover the shaping design principles which characterize the urban character of the selected quarter as a distinctive traditional urban form especially as compared to other Islamic-Iranian cities. These findings can be recognized as indigenous rules embedded in the structure of traditional quarters which can help designers to reconcile the traditional and modern urban architecture by applying these principles in city conservation plans or new development plans in the city suburb.

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Figure 1

Sources: from Schmidt, (1940). Oblique aerial view of the remnants of Hassan-âwâ qalâ from the period of mound cities which shows its planned structure.

Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Source: Alizadeh and Habibi (2008).

Figure 5

Sources: adapted from Ardalan and Bakhtiar (1973).

Figure 6

Sources: Alizadeh and Habibi (2008).

Figure 7

Source: Alizadeh and Habibi (2008).

Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10

Source: author August 2003. These two centres were the focal points of activities in the quarter where anyone could be there freely.

Figure 11
Figure 12

Source: Alizadeh (2007). The hierarchical movement from the main bazaar to the cluster houses as the main domain of women’s social life: (1) the bazaar complex is mainly in the domain of men’s social life, (2) the Bazaarché as the shared domain, (3) cluster houses which contained the elements of Maidânché, spring and possibility of gathering by the door step (Bar-mâl) are mainly the domain of women’s social interaction.

Figure 13

Sources: right from Alten (1958). (1) The principal route acts as a backbone in merging the stream of pedestrians from other thoroughfares in a relatively hierarchical pattern.

Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16

Sources: Sâzmân-e Mirâs-e Kurdistan.

Figure 17

Sources: Saravand (1992). The plans indicate the simple pattern of organisation and their relationships with the public realm. Both plans were adopted based on climatic conditions of the region so that the main parts are on the west and north sides of the plots. (1) Entrance door, (2) Main parts of the house.

Figure 18

Sources: author August 2003/4, This implies a great deal of social cohesion among neighbours.

Figure 19

Sources: Kurdistan housing and urban planning organization, Sâzmân-e Mirâs-e Kurdistan, Tadbier-shahr’s consulting engineers.

Figure 20

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  1. Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

    Hooshmand Alizadeh & Kayoumars Irandoost

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  1. Hooshmand Alizadeh
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Correspondence to Hooshmand Alizadeh.

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Alizadeh, H., Irandoost, K. Investigating the process of traditional design principles formation in the Iranian-Kurdish urban quarters. Urban Des Int 22, 197–218 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-016-0034-4

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