Neighborhood on the Way of Iran’s Architecture and

Urbanization
Bahareh Golkar* , Mazda Nobary
a
Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Khayyam, Mashhad 9189747178, Iran
b
Department of Elite Relations with Industries, Khorasan Construction Engineering Organization, Mashhad 9185816744,
Iran.

09156146468
[email protected]
 Abstract— It has been years that Iranians have developed the culture to its summit, and the Iranian civilization has
always had something new to mention about it. One of the symbols of culture and civilization is the sedentism
phenomenon, which enjoys vast dimensions including socio-cultural issues, and subsequently, architecture-urban
planning. The evolutionary journey of this trend in Iran is intertwined with the words like possession and
neighborhood; an issue which makes the study of this concept polyphonic and complicated. Even though it is
impossible to take direct advantage of the rules belonging to the past, the purpose of studying this subject is finding
the concepts and relations creating links between people and city, and also tailoring these two together getting help
from architecture. In addition to this, human, firstly as the creator of his own realities, and secondly as a social actor
with a responding mechanism, builds up the space, and the designing career should be justified by a more
transcendental context named “culture”. In this article, a library research has been done with respect to the cultural
sources and the relevant books in this field. This article brought about some results which could be summarized in this
sentence: city is not separated from people’s nature, and it has provided help for people’s spirit through a phenomenon
like “neighborhood”. The neighborhood unifies the humans’ collective reason and makes it homogeneous with the
city.
Keywords— Architecture, city, neighborhood, sedentism
 I. INTRODUCTION equal rights; hence, it is not merely a matter of self-interest,
but of the general interest of the people as the source of

W HEN speaking of Iranian architecture, there is no

other way than to go through today's Iranian
architecture and deal with what is no longer there. It is just
policy. Since the time when human beings chose sedentism,
some concepts have emerged signifying their rights to one
another. The first thing which happened was “solidarity”.
like this anecdote: "What was there, what is there." the Then, as they were taking the possession of land, their
difference between this "was" and that "is," is like the proximity started to define and determine the neighborhood
difference between the earth and the sky, and there exists this so that the three concepts got intertwined with each other.
debate over the very earth and the sky. The problem with The solidarity of a communal asset and that of social one
Iranian architecture is not that it once had arches and it does do not necessarily mean that "I, as an individual, should
not today, but the problem is that the "concepts" have been make profits", but what is important is the collective benefit
forgotten. In the meantime, understanding the past concepts distributed to society [3]. Neighborhood has a social meaning
in Iranian architecture seems necessary because their which signifies “intimacy”, solidarity and dependence with
ignorance encourages us to imitate the architecture of others an emphasis on the community of individuals in an urban
and also imitate it without thinking. Perhaps today's state of space [2]. Neighborhoods are among the most important
the art is due to the insufficient mastery of the concepts in social units which build up and consolidate the public arena
Iranian architecture and urbanism, and that we want to adjust in cities. The public arena is a place providing the
the architecture emerging today to what we are not aware of, opportunity for confrontation and exposure and strengthens
and native architecture is nothing but cultural and the social ties [12]. But what constitutes the interface
environmental interactions in the context of history. The loss between the individual and the community is a home
of social interaction roots in a forgotten spiritual crisis that covering two dimensions; namely, the individual and their
threatens our lives. "Culture" is defined by the land; life, and also the relationship between the humans and the
therefore, when its constituent elements undergo some collective life. The composition of houses, while combining
changes, it experiences transformations as well, and the different ideas and thoughts, must bear solidarity.
collective reason of the cities will implicitly form the Building houses, its approach and the way homes are built
neighborhoods. The importance of the subject is made clear in proximity of each other illuminate the culture of society
considering the fact that collective decisions have always [8]. In traditional Iranian architecture, houses were combined
been the solution to problems, and each individual has never in a number of ways, and they relied on each other to fulfill
thought solely of their personal interests. Consequently, the the needs of proximity and co-existence consciously and
human community constructs the cities, and their lineage responsibly, and cover up what we call social co-operation
determines their rights and obligations. The purpose of this today from within and beyond any interventions resulting
article is to keep the track of the connections of this container from the government officials over cities and villages. The
and its power supply as much as possible. combination of building volumes meant coexistence with
reciprocal responsibilities which was not realized in
II. RESULT AND DISCUSSION accordance with written laws and regulations, but on the
basis of implicit conventions stemming from Iranian
1. sedentism solidarity and urbanization [5].
Culture is a social phenomenon based on the territorial Although solidarity, like the skeleton, strengthens human
coordinates of a person's place of residence taking on a beings and their lives, it also has a difficult task, which is
functional form that is transformed due to changes in its respect for the individual and the collective at the same time.
determinants [6]. Architecture does not merely focus on the While people's mutual understanding seems to complement
individuals and their ideas because the cultural dimension of this network, their city's body and architecture illustrate the
each city, a symbol of the (coherent whole) people who are balance and the equilibrium of the society.
aware of all the cultural and architectural-urban principles, 1.1.Neighborhood
though unwanted and without academic literacy, accounts for Human is a creature which is not able to enjoy a life in
what constitutes the distinction between the old and new isolation from society; therefore, he needs to be present in
urbanism. society [11]. This is not just true about the present time;
Determining the moving direction of humans across cities, human beings have long been aware of their social status and
plains, and skies, so as to determine the extent to which they have been seeking out to promote it. That is why, they
are productive, has a history equal to the sedentism of embraced the neighborhood through solidarity and honored it
humans [5]. sedentism is a type of collective lifestyle to the extent that we, the people, still pen down admiring it.
bringing people together. Each person must consider two Neighborhood has a social meaning both internal and
factors in their decisions: the individual and the community. external. By internal we mean the social characteristics
That is to say, himself (and his interests) and neighbors (and required by human being, and they are also mutually
their interests) in an alliance voicing that all people enjoy committed to observe them, whereas the external is the
corporal and architectural aspect of the city. In other words, on their buildings. They measure the dependent and emergent
when it comes to the inner dimension of neighborhood, it is features of the city with those of other cities, and perceive the
actually what keeps people together, makes them extrinsic value of the city's shaping buildings on a cognitive
interdependent and, of course, responsible, and it also links basis of current criteria among architects and urban planners.
them material, emotionally, and so on. On the other hand, it They see the city as a regular pile of buildings having
is the body that can be described as being equal to the functional and corporal relationships with each other, and
appearance. What is called urbanism and architecture: what their owners can change the shape and size of their buildings
occurs internally will emerge in the face of the city. depending on their economic needs and abilities, they also
The public arena is a place which provides opportunities transform the economic relations dependent on possession
for confrontation and encounter and strengthens social ties. along with the buildings owners’ financial circumstances, the
Neighborhood is the heart of the local community and resists way that the buildings have been transformed and also the
against the demise resulting from privatization [12]. One way corporal context of the city.
to reinforce this notion is to localize the amenities needed by The structure has an abstract aspect and is mixed with its
people, which contributes to an increase in their social environmental spread if it is measured according to spatial
confrontation. This will make neighbors aware of each other, relations which do not offer a tangible and measurable linear
apparently giving rise to two important outcomes: first, they and logical aspect. In terms of organizing the spatial relations
will be more active in social affairs; second, the anomalies of the physical body of historical cities, civic attitudes have
are partially prevented. In order for these factors to occur, been raised that the constructed space has never been
residents need to have a long-term residence and, in order to immediately transferred to a defined and measured
achieve this, they must be satisfied with their neighborhood application.
and neighbors. The continuity of settlement reinforces
neighborly relations, makes them responsible and committed,
2.1.1. Settlement
and most importantly it brings about solidarity. It is now that
one gets aware of the fact that the role he is assigned to is the Urban people, in order to create an environment that can
mirror of a larger social system called “city”. respond to their unity and organization throughout the
Changes in one's behavior may lead to changes in the generations, need to follow deliberate actions in the
social system [10]. When it comes to social adjustment, the collective environment. These actions enjoys a determined
subject is partially reinforced by the fact that the individual order and results in the following consequences:
behavior affects the collective system. Neighborhoods are no - To guarantee the frequent access to the vital resources,
longer mere bodies, but also a communal system of roles and land, rain and light
behaviors inhabited by settlement and continued by justice. - To deploy the city in a situation so that in can be defended
The city is a complex group of human beings, roads and - To enjoy special circumstances where living things life
architectures are intertwined together to the extent that will be possible
thoughts and forms all influence one another. The city can be The cities are perpetually deployed in three corporal scales
called a prominent example of communal life, where on the surface of the earth: “the buildings which are
communion overcomes everything other than it, this is while constructed to meet diverse functions “, “the
the differences are also considered as being important. communicational and navigational networks which depend
on the circumstances of cities’ deployment” and “the special
2. Iranian City
buildings representing where the city is situated.
Two features of the Iranian city are stated here, which .
have been taken from the book “Iranian City” in Global
Measurement: Structured and Organized [9]. 2.1.2. The Structure of the City
The structure of the city reflects ever-changing
2.1. Structuredness
continuities. The city finds its survival in maintaining its
The history of the formation of the city is recognized when structural system. The secrets that lie in the history of the
it recognizes how other cities have communicated throughout city's formation are revealed in the twists and turns of the
their history and deals with the transformations that each of city's physical space. Cities have secrets throughout history
these relationships have made, and there it comes the which are quite generational. In this way, the preservation of
discussion over the structure. The cities which grow the economic abilities of every city is performed by the heads
throughout their history face specific communication of the city; with tact, wealth, indigenous managerial power,
networks. There is no city providing the basic resources and and so forth. All of these relationships represent the
needless of the facilities beyond that dense structure outside domination of the city's management, relying on the city’s
its dense structure of daily living, productive, management corporal structure.
and educational activities.
It has to first be acknowledged that the city cannot survive 2.1.2.1. The Corporal Structure
without citizens' opinions regarding order. There are some Some parts of the entities which make the city workable
people who identify the cities which they want to know based and separate it from other human habitats are physical
structures that have different uses, quantities, and strong social relationships have existed in urban
applications in the city. They determine the structural neighborhoods. Investigating the historical sources in the
prestige of the city. The city is a human-civilized institution contemporary period, from the first Pahlavi period to the
transforming its corporal structures meeting the needs of the present, indicates that almost from the late Qajar and early
unified and organized human beings in an appropriate place Pahlavi periods, there existed major and widespread changes
from the pervasive environment of territorial phenomena. in the social and physical structure of the country's cities that
affected the structure of urban neighborhoods. Changing the
2.2. Organization
corporal structure of the neighborhood and the car emerging
The organization of human beings in a confined space and its facilitated movement around the residential contexts
springs from two types of needs: the need to organize a destroyed the physical space of historic neighborhoods,
permanent place of residence, and the need to ensure especially their centers, and the formation of plaid textures in
inhabitants’ welfare. The main field of meeting the needs is new urban neighborhoods, in which such neighborhood
"co-operation". This social is defined by the spiritual and contexts were greatly weakened and changes in
practical empathy and cooperation, and it observes the neighborhood social structure. By transforming the corporal
criteria t determined by the mutual understanding and structure of the neighborhood and centralized neighborhood
agreement. City people have an active presence in public divisions into a set of decentralized layers and widespread
affairs, and for all of these things, everyone has the power to changes in the urban settlement system, various networks of
actually lead to solidarity. Here the following can be stated: transient social relationships replaced the concentrated social
- Depending on the direct and organized possibility to visit solidarity [1].
the citizens Historical cities of Iran have in the past existed as a whole
- Depending on the possibility of the direct access made up of constituent parts in the form of neighborhoods,
- Depending on the certainty for the distinct classes of and neighborhoods have been part of the city's corporal-
citizens to be present spatial organization as the cells and sustainable constituents
- Investing the urban communicational space ranging from of city dwellers (Figure 1). Each neighborhood had a
the surface of the alleys to installing the floor and the spatially distinct territory that was known to almost all the
facades which represent the uniqueness of the constructed inhabitants, while connecting itself to the city market or
urban space along the main road leading to the market and keeping itself
Solidarity confines the corporal space to formal and away from the vibrant public space. The hierarchy has been
structural criteria. The organization of Iranian cities can be in three forms: accessibility, functionality, and space. The
recognized based on their structure just as the adjacency of hierarchy of accessibility kept the neighborhood safe from
an organization to the structure is called “Iranian city”. The traffic congestion, the functional hierarchy; namely, the
adjacency (neighborhood), which is linked to cooperation, deployment of the public services and functions in
represents the empathy and cooperation, and its criteria are neighborhood centers, appropriately fulfilled the needs of the
distinguished among the people of the city. residents, and the hierarchy of public spaces responded
The structure of cities is evaluated via spatial relations, privately to the privacy and territories of each space [1].
and this process meaning the structure of the city keeps going The centers of the city neighborhoods represented the
on along with the settlement of humans; in fact, the corporal highest number of contacts and gatherings of people in each
structure created the city, and then, the residential spaces neighborhood, and in addition to the open space of each
were organized according to the human needs. It seems neighborhood, buildings such as the mosque and the
inevitable to admit that the phenomenon of solidarity itself Hosainiya located in the center of the neighborhood were
had enjoyed a hierarchical system. This point makes us aware used for gatherings of the residents living in the
of the neighborhoods which were like cells in the city. As a neighborhood. These centers were crowded during Nowruz
result, the concept of neighborhood is also explored. (Iranian New Year Festival). Neighborhood interiors had a
semi-public aspect to the city's public centers, less accessible
3.Neighborhood and Historical Background
to foreigners and thus provided a relatively quiet and semi-
The concept of neighborhood has existed since pre-Islamic private space for its residents to use [4].
urbanization, and socio-economic factors, especially the
different social classes, have largely determined the
demarcation of residential neighborhoods [1]. In pre-Islamic
cities, socio-economic factors determined the demarcation of
neighborhoods and their internal and external relations. After
Islam these relations were transformed [4]. Since the
introduction of Islam into Iran, the concept of neighborhood,
as one of the key elements of the corporal-spatial-social
structure of Iranian cities, has continued to exist since the
first Pahlavi era, and although social solidarity and
homogeneity in the urban community have been weakened,
 Fig.1. Yazd city, a part of residential spaces. Reprinted with
permission from Ref [4].Copyright (1365), Abi Publication.

Neighborhoods and their routes seem to have protected

themselves from the outsiders as much as possible, to the
extent that each neighborhood had a separate route to the
market, and this is thought to be due to the need not to cross
other neighborhoods. The neighborhood center of each
neighborhood that provided a secure, semi-secluded
neighborhood with a sense of community and gathering;
celebrations, rituals, religious and so on were considered to
be the cause of the gathering and increased confrontation,
where other people were strengthened and honored. But what
were the main reasons for people being co-localized?
The concept of neighborhood has existed in Iran very
seriously. Numerous factors such as geography and climate,
defensive-military, culture, history, and economy could have
given rise to the emergence of the accumulation of human
groups in an organized and socially and corporally defined Fig. 2.Neishabour City, the entrance house door belonging to the
space. Such a gathering would allow any family, kinship Mahdianis. Copyright (1398).
group, trade union, or even individuals to seek out the 4. The Definitions of Architecture
response to the needs of their community in one set while
In defining architecture, some give importance to the place
meeting them. Neighborhood relations and the bonding of the
or the space. Bruno Zevi, for example, considers architecture
residents in each neighborhood were mainly shaped by the
as the art of space [7]. Architecture in its broadest sense is
factors of neighborhood formation and crowding. These
any human-made creation that fits into the context of nature
relationships were strengthened by the daily and constant
in accordance with humane needs and dimensions. The
contact and association of the inhabitants and their
arrangement of the built space has as much historical
participation in shaping their common destiny, enhancing
background as the architecture itself. The human being is
their social solidarity against foreign parameters, and each
regularly aware of the discrepancy between the inside and the
district had a semi-independent system of managing their
outside. Architects tend to be disciplined, either in defining
internal affairs and providing their own needs. The internal
sizes or in identifying relationships, in making adjustments,
face of the neighborhood presented a harmonious view, and it
or in the order or sequences in which the order between the
was hardly possible to find a house at the heights separated
components and elements of a building is realized, and it
from other houses, but the entrances were exceptional and
cannot be regarded apart from technique, science and art [8].
reflected the economic position of their inhabitants. This
Organizing the built space is per se a kind of architecture of
difference was also seen in the land surface dimensions of the
greater dimensions. In any case, what seems obvious is the
houses [4].
need to get to know the architectural space.
What can be said concerning the architecture of houses
and their juxtaposition in neighborhoods is their tendency to
4.1. The Architectural Space
remain silent, and the entrance is the only point allowing
There are three types of spaces which are blended
itself to be an indicator (Figure 2). This harmony as a
together: the open space, which can be said to be the
neighborhood-related behavior not only is separate from the
organizer of enclosed spaces, and it accommodates some
essence of the city but also is unique. Traditional
elements such as water and plants. This space, called the
architecture, although supported by our culture, cannot and
courtyard, sometimes tries to render one of its facets in a
should not be used directly. Some concepts must, therefore,
superior color and symmetry. The semi-covered space is
be in company with today’s people such as the fact that cities
visually located in a place providing other spaces with
were made up of neighborhoods and responded to the
privacy. In addition, it acts as an interface space in two ways:
neighbors’ needs. These collaborations also existed among
first to access some spaces that require security; and then to
people, and some unwritten laws that had formed the
exchange temperature between indoor and outdoor space.
solidarity culture in Iran over the years kept governing their
The indoor space protects us and the interior. When looking
circumstances. In this section, it seems that the theoretical
at the cities in Iran, we see the combination of all these three
and abstract aspects of architecture are required to be
spaces having been used for their respective purposes.
examined briefly and theoretically.
Utilizing all the spatial capacity in every way and with
every facilities has helped people achieve their desired
architecture and urbanization. These are the capacities that
still exist, and if we turn to them, they are ready to come to
the aid of human beings and to enrich our social spirit with important that all the municipality plans are said to need
security and respect. In fact, the combination of open, semi- reinvestigation; and this time the humans are prioritized.
open and closed spaces can provide the desired architecture.
Iranian cities have all benefited from this spatial diversity. REFERENCE
‫ه‬OO‫ول ب‬OO‫وم و اص‬OO‫ بررسی تطبیقی مفه‬،‫ بهناز‬،‫ عمید االسالم و امین زاده‬،‫ثقه االسالمی‬ ]1 [
4.2. Architecture and Urbanization ،۱۳ ‫ماره‬O‫ ش‬،۷ ‫ دوره‬،‫هر‬O‫ویت ش‬O‫ ه‬،‫ربی‬O‫کار رفته در محلة ایرانی و واحد همسایگی غ‬
Architecture is thought of as a means of mass ۴۴-۳۳ ،139۲‫بهار‬
‫ه‬O‫ ب‬.‫هد‬O‫هر مش‬O‫ایگی در ش‬OO‫ط همس‬O‫ر رواب‬O‫ا ب‬OO‫ تاثير ويژگى‌هاى فض‬،‫ فاطمه‬،‫رضامنش‬ ]2 [
communication, containing messages, and makes the 1390 ،‫راهنمایی دکتر علی یوسفی و مشاور دکتر حسین بهروان‬
architect to recognize and expand knowledge among the ‫ر‬OO‫هرى ب‬OO‫ تاثير ويژگى‌هاى اجتماعى و كالبدى فضاى ش‬،‫ فائزه‬،‫زمانی خرازی طوس‬ ]3 [
general public as far as this issue is concerned, and to seek ‫غرپور‬OO‫ا اص‬OO‫تر احمدرض‬OO‫ به راهنمایی اقای دک‬.‫انسجام اجتماعى در مجتمع‌هاى مسكونى‬
1393 ،‫ماسوله و مشاور دکتر علی یوسفی‬
their ideas and concepts that offer the highest character, ،‫ران‬OO‫ ته‬،‫ مقدمه‌ای بر تاریخ شهر و شهرنشینی در ایران‬،1365 ،‫ حسین‬،‫سلطان‌زاده‬ ]4 [
social and cultural identity to the corporal space [8]. ‫نشر آبی‬
‫ نشر نقره‬،‫ تهران‬،‫ فارابی و سیر شهروندی در ایران‬،1367 ،‫ محمدمنصور‬،‫فالمکی‬ ]5 [
Architectural space must be recognized through knowing its ‫اری‬OO‫نتی و معم‬OO‫اری س‬OO‫واری‌های معم‬OO‫تگی‌ها و دش‬OO‫ گسس‬،‫ور‬OO‫ محمدمنص‬،‫فالمکی‬ ]6 [
people. It is the people who do architecture and build ١٣٦٧ ،‫ تهران‬،٦‫ شماره‬،‫ مجله ساختمان‬،‫امروزی ايران‬
neighborhoods; a trend always found in urbanization and O‫ نشر فضا‬،‫ تهران‬،‫ ریشه‌ها و گرایش‌های نظری‬،1381 ،‫ محمدمنصور‬،‫فالمکی‬ ]7 [
،‫رب‬OO‫ران و غ‬OO‫ارب ای‬OO‫اری در تج‬OO‫کل‌گیری معم‬OO‫ ش‬،1385 ،‫ور‬OO‫ محمدمنص‬،‫فالمکی‬ ]8 [
urban planning. Architecture must both meet people’s needs ‫ نشر فضا‬،‫تهران‬
and make the movement and direction of the people livelier. ‫ نشر فضا‬،‫ تهران‬،‫ شهر ایرانی در سنجش جهانی‬،۱۳۹۶ ،‫ محمدمنصور‬،‫فالمکی‬ ]9 [
Should we call housing the most elementary architecture, it ،‫اپ نهم‬OO‫ چ‬،‫نی‌فر‬OO‫ برگردان علیرضا عی‬،‫ آفرینش نظریة معماری‬،1395 ،‫ جان‬،‫لنگ‬ ]10[
‫ انتشارات دانشگاه تهران‬،‫تهران‬
includes both these factors. ‫ مطالعه تطبیقی مفهوم و معیار حق حریم خصوصی؛‬،‫ سجاد‬،‫ علی و محمدلو‬،‫] مشهدی‬11[
The process of urbanization has been formed through ‫تان‬OO‫ تابس‬،۲ ‫ماره‬O‫ ش‬،‫تم‬O‫ سال بیس‬،‫ پژوهش‌های حقوق تطبیقی‬،‫رویکرد عرفی و فرهنگی‬
different years, and it has progressed stage by stage so that it ۱۶۶ -۱۲۵ ،1395
‫ایگی در‬OO‫ انسجام در شبکه‌های همس‬،‫ مهال‬،‫ محسن و حجازی‬،‫ علی و نوغانی‬،‫یوسفی‬ ]12[
can be sustainable. The interaction between people and the ۱۶۱ -۱۳۸ ،1388 ‫ بهار‬،۱ ‫ شماره‬،۱۰ ‫ دوره‬،‫ مجله جامعه‌شناسی ایران‬،‫شهر مشهد‬
city is represented in smaller examples; namely,
neighborhoods; the modules having kept people together for
years. This structure results from humans’ nature, and that is
why, it probably has experienced durability. In other words,
is something common to facilitate the people’s life; thus, it is
highly anticipated that it has never sought out anything else,
and also it has accepted simplicity as a practical solution.
The architecture and urban planning, which had come to
conclusion regarding the construction of neighborhood, have
taken advantage of the elements based on knowing the
humans and their spirits, while paving the way ready for
them. Perhaps, finding the accurate and exact architecture of
the neighborhood has taken many years, and that is why it
has persisted for many years as well. It is a process which has
witnessed some changes and insecurities for a little time.

III. CONCLUSION
In this essay, sedentism and neighborhood were firstly
discussed, and then the features belonging to Iranian city;
namely, being structured and organization, were stated, since
it was the presumption for the main discussion, which was
“the formation of neighborhood” and “the formation of the
center of the neighborhood”. Having discussed the
architecture and the architectural space, it was necessary to
investigate all the concepts from the architectural
perspective.
Urban planning has been facing complications for a long
time, and it has been kept away from its final goal to some
extent, which the city’s being possessed by people. Even
though it is impossible to ignore the municipality plans; it is
difficult to confirm them, as it seems that these plans have
imitated the cities whose people are quite irrelevant to
Iranians. That is to say, Iranian people are hardly ever seen in
today’s architecture and urban planning, and this issue is so