Realization of historical Persian ornamental and geometric patterns as architectural components in innovative reciprocal frame barrel vaults

Barrel vaults are one of the most widely used forms in Persian architecture. While they are mainly built with heavy and compressive materials such as brick, today’s advances in construction techniques has led the architectural industry to utilize lightweight structural systems including reciprocal frame structures (RF). The purpose of this paper is to generate a barrel vault form using RFs through a revival of historical Persian ornamental and geometric patterns known as girih. This research was carried out in three phases. After extracting the essential criteria necessary to produce reciprocal configuration, four geometric girih that were compatible with those criteria were selected. The selected patterns were then modified to localize their reciprocal configurations following the Persian ornamental and geometric patterns. A structural analysis was performed using the Karamba Plugin in order to make a structural comparison between a barrel vault constructed with RFs and one made with bricks. The results showed that the use of RFs can significantly reduce the structural weight while using a minimum of material in covering the specified span. In addition, it was concluded that the vault with Hasht-e-moraba and Chahar-lenge ghenas patterns behaved in a more optimal way for the transmission of axial forces with less displacement and deformation.

Climatic Design Principles of Underground Spaces Using CFD Simulation

Iranians used wind catchers to achieve harmony between a structure and the environment and guarantee the environmental comfort of the indoor areas. Wind catchers were the symbols of Persian architecture and with introduction of modern technologies, these traditional elements became obsolete. Rapid population and traffic lead to use underground spaces in cities. This paper proves the ability of wind-catchers to provide natural ventilation in underground spaces based on climatic parameters. Simulation was conducted in complete computational fluid dynamics package to simulate wind in underground space. Results demonstrate that in specific climate condition, wind-catchers could provide natural ventilation for underground space.

The Shirazi Civilisation and its Impact on the East African Coast

The relations between Iran and East Africa are captured well by depicting the impact of the Shirazi (Persian) civilisation on the East African coast. But some influential scholars claim that historians tend to dismiss or trivialise the role played by the Shirazis in East Africa. The demonstrable impact of Shirazi civilisation in East Africa is evident in the expansion of trade between the East African coast and the Persian Gulf region with the expansion of Islam. The Persian language has bequeathed to the Kiswahili language many lexicons that are presently still accessible in the region. Persian poets influenced Kiswahili literature through their classic works. The influence of Persian architecture is seen in Shirazi building styles throughout cities including Zanzibar, Kilwa and Manda. Thus Shirazis brought Persian traditions and customs to East Africa, and some Shirazis intermarried with the Arabs and local communities. As compiled here from other sources, there is enough enduring historical evidence to demonstrate incontrovertibly the impact of the Shirazis in social, economic and political aspects of East African life. This legacy arguably justifies greater contemporary cooperation between East African nation states and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Vault

Vaults are curved masonry surfaces for roofs and ceilings, able to give shelter and protection. Fireproof and very durable, they were the only massive constructions available for such purposes before modern reinforced concrete was invented. Vaulted ceilings have often been a major issue in the creation of architectural space—as dominating elements with sculptural quality, and as fascinating constructions, often elegant, sometimes astonishing or even daring, always artful, and requiring and demonstrating great expertise and skill in their design and building. In early stone architecture, vaults built with horizontal circular courses can already be characterized as spatial structures. Since the early Great Civilizations, vaults were constructed with blocks arranged in radial bed joints—they could be built with great economy, with complex shape and adapting to irregular plans, as they are still in modern vernacular architecture, such as in Central Asia or in northern Africa. In Late Antiquity, vaults made with dressed stone show great ability in the geometric design—this art was later resumed both in the Middle East and in European Renaissance architecture. In Imperial Rome, vaults made of concrete reached enormous spans, were robust enough to last many centuries, and could be built virtually in any shape. Vaults of brick or stone masonry or of dressed stonework are among the greatest masterpieces of architecture, including the marvelous vaults in Persian architecture, the high vaults of Gothic cathedrals perfectly balanced upon slender pillars, the magnificent spatial inventions of Baroque vaulting, the great domes, and finally the creation of modern shell structures. By principle, vaults are stable by their shape. Their equilibrium demands curvature, regularly resulting in shapes with complex geometry. Therefore, they are very demanding in design, planning, and construction. Systems of anchoring or abutment have to be devised to contain the lateral thrust, and a shape must be created that enables the stability by counterbalancing the heavy components within the vault. Moreover, the building of the curved shape requires form control during bricklaying, geometric design of the temporary support structure, and, in case of stone structures, the formulation of precise specification for producing the single building elements. Therefore, beyond symbolic values, ideas of space in architecture, and the expertise and virtuosity of planners and builders, vaulted ceilings also reflect the historical development of applied geometry and mechanics. Their study gives an insight to the knowledge society that created the buildings.

Geometric design of a masonry lattice space dome titled KARBANDI in Persian architecture

Studies of historical buildings in Persian architecture have resulted in knowing a kind of masonry structure with a harmonic lattice geometry, which has been titled “Karbandi.” The most important and highly acclaimed feature of Karbandi is the correlation and coordination between its architectural and structural functions, which results in creating esthetic and meaningful spaces. The use of this structure is highly demanded in contemporary Persian architecture, but very little information about historical techniques survives to the present day and accordingly, there are ambiguities about its drawing and geometric design. Therefore, this research aims at discovering geometric relationships and principles of Karbandi to regulate and facilitate its design process in contemporary architecture. Toward this end, its historical samples were analyzed and their geometric features were found. As a consequence, the connection distance of dividing points on the circle is an important parameter for creating various types of Karbandi on a base. For instance, the height of a Karbandi and its elaboration are directly related to the connection distance. In addition, it was clarified that the height of a Karbandi and the size of its Shamseh are in an inverse relationship. Finally, a comprehensive classification was presented based on found geometric features.