A Survey on Completion Process of Masonry Domestic Technology of
Building Forms in Iran’s Cultural Heritage
¹SETAREH YAMINI, ²SHIRIN TAJMEHR, ³NASIM NAJAFGHOLIPOUR, 4FARROKH
ABDOLLAHZADEH BINA, 5AHADOLLAH A'ZAMI
¹,²,³,5 Department of Architecture 4Department of Civil Engineering
¹Islamic Azad University-Sarab Branch, ²Islamic Azad University-Meshkinshahr Branch
³Young Researchers Club of Tabriz, Islamic Azad University-Tabriz Branch,
4Islamic Azad University-Ahar Branch, 5Islamic Azad University-International Jolfa Branch
IRAN
¹[email protected], ² [email protected], ³[email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: - One of the goals of creating building forms from technological and engineering point of view was to fulfill
technological and living needs, but, from the very old ages most of the Iranian buildings were built to fulfill several
goals such as structural, mental, metaphysical and arranging needs. In addition having interest in high buildings (high
columns of Achaemenid Palaces and the glory of Tagh-e-Kasra in Tisfoun) and humbleness which is seen in first
Islamic buildings (such as Tarikkhaneh in Damghan) shows us mental needs of builders in Iran. From the other hand
any division of building form should be as physical identity of building with its mechanical characteristics regarding
the definition of building form. Thus, any simple or composed form of building could have two characteristics: one is
the physical characteristic which is composed of building material and building method and the other is geometrical
identity which shows geometrical form of the building. Building forms of this category has been used as main
elements of building in different historical periods. Some of these forms have originated in their own lands and some
of them are copied and brought from other lands and changed to be compatible with Iran situation. Main object of this
article is to examine the completion process of domestic technology of building form in Iran’s cultural heritage.
Key-Words: - Forms, Masonry Architecture, Building Method, Cultural Heritage
1 Introduction Ancient Iranian never considered physical forms
separate from spiritual phenomenon but rather they saw
any of natural and super-natural form as a part of one
general picture and a model of general being. It was
reached to an extent that with relation to general and
partial being (Mahin and Kahin world) it was considered
that between human and big environmental possibilities
there were relation and form similarities. In after Islam
Iran, the above view appeared as “Mahjan” and
“Kahjan” theory in Islamic thinking ideology.
There is a kind of oneness and close relation between
parts and general being in architectural works, art
collection and technological and scientific works of Iran;
therefore, building form in Iran is an incarnation of
thinking skeleton of Iranian in different historical
periods and it shows life and meta-physical beliefs
which have their root in past periods of lives of these
people. General idea of this article is to study the
initiation, changes, expansion, and completion process
of building forms in Iran and a belief explanation of this
completion process.
2 Effective Criteria on Generation and
Completion of Building Forms in Iran From pre-historic times up to the present the
technological history of Ian has experienced the
initiation and completion of different types of building
forms. Some these form had short life and have
disappeared from history scene after some time, while
some others have completed gently and have gone into
other lands and had effect on the changes of some
factors.
2.1 The Goals of Initiators and Builders In the history of building forms in Iran, the rulers and
worshipers had significant rule. At any ways the creators
(initiators or engineers) of building forms in different
periods of history had their own goals which have had
endless effect on the history of initiation and completion
process of building forms. All remaining of different
buildings, dams and bridges of different historical times
in Iran does show the completion process of building
forms to fulfill technical needs. Different architectural
styles in Achaemenid, Sasanid, Ashkanid and Islamic
times and use of different building methods in these
times are a sign of diversity of completion branches of
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building forms. Fulfilling building needs has not been
the sole goal of initiators and builders in Iran. One of the
most manifesting aspects of the relation of old times
with meta-physics which has appeared in building model
of the Iranian is Zighorat Chighazenbil in Ilam which is
a sign of greatness and higher power than the power of
the world and a vehicle to have meta-physical relation
with higher powers. Symbolic values related to Takht
Jamshid which has been a religious center and Soleyman
Mosque (religious center in Ashkanid and Sasanid
times) which has worshipping aspect and fire-worship
temples of Sasanid times are examples of creating
mosques’ and building forms to fulfill spiritual needs
[1]. Later in Islamic periods the dome shape of the
ceiling fulfilled the meta-physical relations of Iranian.
2.2 Building Materials Realizing building needs during technological history
required selection of special building methods and
building material in its own place. Therefore building
material had significant dominance in creation and
completion of building forms in Iran. Geographical and
weather appropriates were also of effective factors in
historical line of usage and supersede of materials.
Shapeless mud is one of the primitive kinds of
building material. Completion process of soil material
from shapeless mud to glazed bricks and tiles have a
consistent history in Iran as all forms of mud and brick
material has been used in many building forms in Iran.
Due to lack of wood in some area and diversity of brick
material, the builders could construct the structures in
different geometrical forms which had the wanted
beauty [2].
Stone and stone material would bestow stable and
eternal being to building forms from technical and
mental point of view. In Achaemenid buildings, stone
material would be put on each other as big blocks
without using mortar and connected to each other using
wood or iron girths. Initiation and prevalence of
different building mortars such as mud, plaster, lime,
mortar board and cement had outstanding role in
completion process and prevalence of building forms.
From the other hand wood material had their own
special historical process as historical evidences show
the affluence of wood in Iran in ancient and Achaemenid
times. Most of the columns of Susa palace, Takht
Jamshid and Pasarghad and all bars of buildings have
been of wood. By the changes in weather and
disappearance of jungles there was a decrease in use of
wood as a main building material. After all, wood
continued to be used as secondary building material in
Ashkanid, Sasaniod and Islamic times. One of the main
functions of wood in those buildings was its use as
building halter and hank. Metals such as steel were used
as metal girths to connect building pieces and to make
building and machine tools. In Achaemenid and Sasanid
times, lead was also used to strengthen iron connections
and fortify concrete of bridge bases.
2.3 Technical Principles, Tools and Building
Methods Historical evidences in Iran speak of great engineering
work builders’ knowledge to static principles and use of
technical principles in a sensible and qualifying way to
create samples such as Achaemenid palaces, Ashkanid
domes, Sasanid and Islamic mosques. In technical
history of Iran building methods have been different
from a building to another. Building techniques and
different arched, bulkhead and dome forms of building
are considered as inventions and initiatives of Iranian
builders. At the same time environmental factors such as
political, economical, social and religious conditions
shall not be neglected.
3 Initiation and Completion Different
Building Form Different types of buildings and structural forms are
composed of more simple building pieces which can be
called first building material or simple building forms.
Since each building form is a physical entity and has its
own mechanical characteristics, all building form
division should be done from this point of view.
3.1 First Building Form From pre-historic times, building forms were
constructed as shelter and houses by indigenous of Iran
plateau using stone and wooden tools. By getting more
experienced from one hand and increase of needs from
the other hand, regularly the changes in primitive forms
initiated. Non-geometrical forms were slowly changed
by more orderly geometrical forms and building material
was used more mindfully and building methods was also
applied in a more technical ways.
3.2 Box Building Forms Building material had important role in constructing box
forms. Even though construction of first building forms
was done by using box form but the more technical,
engineering and matured building elements can be found
in Achaemenid palaces (Figure 1). Box structures are
structures composed of number of bars (horizontal or
beveled elements) and columns (mostly vertical
elements). Box type buildings bear the shape of imposed
load through “bending” mechanism.
Building bars and beams of Achaemenid buildings
were made of wood and columns which were mainly of
stone, compiled on each other without using mortar and
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connected to one another using iron griths. Stone
columns of Apadana palace in Takh Jamshid was 20
meter high and 2 meter diameter and these two numbers
show the thinness and height of those stone columns
which is very significant from engineering and static
point of view. Weight of the roof was endured by
wooden bars which were put in column capital. There
were pieces in column capitals which were incurved as
cow head and the head of wooden bars were placed
inside of them. From mechanical point of view these
pieces and their placement is of lost of interest from the
view points of stability of building form and spread of
pressed power (Figure 2).
Fig.1: Form of box buildings in Iran (first one thousand
year B.C)
Fig.2: Column forms in Achaemenid times
3.3 Arched Shape Building Forms (Vaults,
Domes and Arches) One of the factors of prevalence of arched building
forms such as domes, vaults and arches and their
composition has been shortage or rarity of wooden and
stone material. From geometrical point of view vault is
achieved through slipping curve in line with straight line
which is vertical to arched plate and it is sometimes
called cradle vault or vault only. The dome shape is
provided through circulation of arched curve round its
axis. Therefore, from the geometric point of view vault
shape forms as more technical and closer to power
curves which are complete curves of building forms and
they are advantageous compared to box shape forms.
3.3.1 Vault
Initiation of vault in Miyanroudan goes back to three
thousand years before Christ. But the structure of arc
shape forms became common in Iran from Ashkanid
time and it reached to a degree of technical completion
in Sasanid times. Annular barrel vaults which were built
in ashkanid and Sasanid timeswere generally of two
kinds: one of them was constructed by the help of stunt
box and it usually had half-circle shape and the other
was the arcs which were constructed using layer-sticking
method without stunt boxes (Figure 3). One of the best
and perfect samples of Sasanid vaults which were built
using this method and without stunt box and is
considered to be the biggest vaulted roof constructed
with unarmed building material is Tagh Kasra in Tisfoun
near Baghdad. After Sasanid times and during different
Islamic periods the vaulted building forms kept to be
common as changed forms and samples of this kind of
building can be seen in mosques, Bazaar and many other
buildings which were built in Islamic periods [3].
3.3.2 Dome
Appearance of building forms in Iran goes back to the
very ancient times around three centuries BC in royal
tomb of OUR located in Miyanroudan. Appearance and
completion of dome shape building forms in Iran has
been due to shortage of wood. In addition to the signs
found in Ashouri cities in periods before Achaemenid
times, stone carvings are found in plate dome and
parabolic shape in mountain; this shows that the people
of that time were familiar with dome building form and
the function of this form to cover roofs.
Fig.3: Karkheh porch; a sample of building system or
phenomenal dome
Dome shape forms were always sign of meta-physics
and heavenly powers and circle shape of sky, moon and
planets strengthened these beliefs. Dome shape forms of
Sasanid times which were circle, oval and parabolic
shape, high domes of Moghol and Teimouri times, onion
and sag domes show diversity of domes which in turn
show consistent attention of Iranian people to these
kinds of structures. One of the related matters to dome
shape building forms whose solution is considered as
one of the biggest finding of engineering world is
placement of moving dome on a four angle base. After
passage of centuries Iranian engineers got to the
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conclusion that for solving this problem means to
change a square base into circular base a third shape is
needed. Therefore, in the beginning small arches were
drawn in the corners of square plan and changed it into
multi-angle shape and continued it till the shape was
close to circle shape [4]. In this way the shape which
appeared in the corners of square got cone shape Figure
4). This shape which was known as labyrinth enabled
the constructors to easily construct circular dome on four
angle base (Figure 5).
Fig.4: Construction method of Iranian dome using
labyrinth system
Fig.5: An Iranian dome constructed on square base using
labyrinth system
Labyrinth system which was described above appeared
in Ashkanid times, gradually completed and got other
forms. The buildings constructed in later times and
Islamic period includes different types of this system. In
Sasanid times four walls was gradually replaced with
four arcs where the load of dome transferred to four
angle columns and these columns were connected to
each other with four arches (Figure 6). As examples of
this kind of four arch building we can name a building
coincident with Firouz Abad palace in Gira valley in
Farash Band which is remaining as a small building and
another example is Niasar fire temple.
One of the outstanding points about dome shape
building forms is their static characteristic. Geometrical
form of these domes is in a shape that the least tensile
stress is created in them. From the completion point of
view dome shape buildings are superior to box type and
even arc type buildings. Samples of Iranian domes with
their own technical and architectural characteristics are
shown below (see Figure 7).
Fig.6: Building shape of dome of one of the rooms in
Sarvestan Palace (Sasanid times)
Fig.7: Some samples of Iranian dome forms
3.3.3 Arch
Even though from geometrical and physical point of
view, arch is one of the main elements of arc and dome
shapes regarding time the appearance and completion of
it has not been before arced and dome form. Generally
base of each dome or arc creates an arch; therefore, what
matters in studying completion process of arches is their
geometrical shape and their behavior which is reflected
in mechanical function of arc and dome created by
circulation or movement of it.
First type of arched forms is found in OUR area in
Mianroudan of Iran (3000 BC) whose geometrical shape
is arched but its behavior is not considered as real arch,
because mechanism of load transfer in it is not through
axis power and creation of side thrust. First step to
completion of the artificial arch toward natural arch was
taken by putting two diagonal and interlacing stones on
the opening. Gradually this method was completed and
arches were constructed through arranging stone or brick
pieces with interlacing lines in one point or points; these
arches are known as Voussior arches (Figure 8). Iranian
arches remain from two centuries BC in Shoush and
later in Sasanid times they were constructed by the help
of formwork of circle shape arches used for capitals
(Figure 9). From mechanical and engineering point of
view sharp point arcs and arches are more stable and
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stronger than circle shape arcs and arches of the same
type [5]. In some old Iranian buildings thick walls were
deleted by invention of flying buttress; half arches which
surrounded main arc or arch from sides. These
inventions became come later in European countries and
the basis of Gothic style was formed. Another method of
absorbing this thrust is through using tensile element
named “Mahar” (halter).
Fig.8: Arch and vault construction system of Ashkanid
time; a sample of which is used in Hetra palace
Fig.9: Building method of one arc with formwork and
through using abutments
4 Other building Form As it was said in the beginning when we say building
forms we do not just mean architectural forms but it
includes different physical forms as well. In a precise
classification of building types and their history in Iran
we can name forms such as trussed, wheel, power
generating machines (wind and water wheels), air
catchers, ships and different kinds of buildings
(aqueduct, walls, castles, brisges, dams and
fortifications) [6].
5 Iranian Building Styles Building styles which are created through use of simple
and complex building forms are very diverse in technical
history of Iran and we will point to it in continuation of
this article.
5.1 High Plate Constructing the building on foundation or high plate
started from seventh and eighth centuries BC in northern
parts of Iran and it reached to its highest glory in
Achaemenid times. Before starting to construct the
building, in this style, a long foundation was constructed
using building material or the natural condition of land
was used as higher base of the building. In any ways the
main building was constructed after creation of high
foundation. This building style preserved its use in other
architectural history of Iran. Samples of this style of
historical buildings can be named as Shoush and Takht-
e-Jamshid (Achaemenid), Ghasr-e-Shirin (Sasanid),
Ghonbade Sorkh in Maragheh (Saljoughi), Ghaffarieh
Dome of Maragheh (Mogholi), Chehel Stoun Palace of
Isfahan (Safavid), Sun palace in Kalat-e-Naderi
(Afsharieh) and tomb of Karim Khan Zand (Zandieh)
[7].
5.2 Apadana One of the styles which has appeared since the first
historical periods in this land and has got different
shapes through centuries is the building style called
Apadana. Generally Apadana is a style which is open
from one side and closed from three other sides and
relates to rooms and saloons through doors. Apadana
building style was used in architecture in Achaemenid
times. Roof of Apadana was put on 36 columns in Takht
Jamshid. In tomb of Darioush and other Hakhamneshid
kings in Naghsh Rostam this style is created in mountain
as dugouts. Use of Apadana style was followed in
different forms in residential and public buildings of Iran
in later periods (see Figure 10).
Fig.10: Apadana in Shoush Palace
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5.3 Porch Characteristics of building style of porch are like
Apadana style with a difference that ceiling of porch is
usually not straight and is composed of arched shape
buildings. Sasanid buildings such as Kasra porch,
Karkheh porch and Gira porch which has got the name
of porch have these characteristics and are samples
where this building style is clearly used in them and are
named after it. Porch building style became completely
common in Iran after Islam and most of the mosques,
houses and public buildings had porches in a way that
connected to building from inside or through internal
parts of building [8].
5.4 Dome on a Multi-angle Base Style of dome on multi-angle base which was created
from Ashkanid and Sasanid time is of Iranian
characteristic. Labyrinth system which is one of the
main characteristics of this style has simple forms in the
beginning of its appearance and invention but gradually
in later times some changes were made to increase its
beauty and for decoration purposes.
5.5 Four-vault Four-vault system is composed of four columns which
are related to each other through four-vault and on them
annular barrel vault is put. Four-vault building style
which has in fact appeared since Ashkanid and Sasanid
times is one of the well developed dome shapes on multi
angle base; generally seen in Sasanid fire temples [9] In
after Islam periods this style was used in building
mosques and sacred places (see Figure 11).
5.6 Four Porch Style Appearance of four porch style dates back to Ashkanid
times. In buildings of this style such a Ashour Palace,
general plan of the building was square shape with four
porches situated in four angles of the square and opened
from outside of the building to inside [10].
Fig.11: Four-vault in Niyasar, (Sassanid times)
7 Conclusion In Iranians’ point of view the world and its elements
were beings of related nature and there was eternal
relation between different scales of different forms.
Building forms and styles of Iran are studies in this
article from Ashkanid, Achaemenid, Sasanid till Islamic
period and in spite of historical evolutions they have
always preserved their characteristics and entity and this
Iranian entity has always embedded in roots of building
styles which are created and developed in this land and
are its cultural heritage. In architectural and technical
works of Iranians technique, art and knowledge never
got separated from each other and fenced separately,
rather these three always gathered and by the efforts of
constructors and engineers a work of high quality and
new characteristic was created. Seeing these weighted
works, to some extent we can understand thinking way
of Iranians about world and the relation of its elements
with each other and the unity of excellent elements and
recognize materialistic forms as incarnation of this
thinking framework.
References:
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Color, Yasavoli Publications, 1987.
[2] Zomorshidi, H., Iran Architecture-Understanding of
Iranian Masonry Construction Materials, Azadeh
Publication, 2006.
[3] Abolghasemi, L., Art and Architecture of Iran,
Urban Rehabilitation & Renovation Organization
Publications, 2005.
[4] Memariyan, Gh., Vault Structures in Iranian Islamic
Architecture, Iranian University of Science and
Technology Publications, 1989.
[5] Khatibi-Shahidi, H., Urartian Civilization, I.C.H.O.
Publications, 2004.
[6] Haeri, M., Qanat in Iran, Cultural Research
Publications, 2008.
[7] Azhand, Y., Islamic Period of Iran Architecture,
Samt Publications, 2003.
[8] Memariyan, Gh., Introduction to the Iranian Islamic
Architecture, Iranian University of Science and
Technology Publications, 2002.
[9] Kiani, M., Islamic Art and Architecture, Samt
Publication, 2001.
[10] Memariyan, Gh., A Survey on Theoretical
Essentials of Iranian Architecture, Sorush-e-Danesh
Publications, 2006.
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