Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 The Hidden Dimension in Persian Islamic Architecture The Hidden Dimension in Persian Islamic Architecture 5 24 100232 FA Jafar Taheri Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Hadi Nadimi Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University 0000-0001-6978-5262 Journal Article 2016 08 24 Most studies concerning the role of mathematics in formation of Persian architecture have been limited to studying its sacred geometry. In some other studies, new mathematical theories have been employed to explain certain aspects of Persian architecture. Nevertheless, there are some historic manuscripts that actually refer to the symbolism of numbers and are not hitherto seriously studied. By studying such philosophical texts, this paper first explains the traditional method and coding system for conversion of sacred keywords to numbers and vice versa. Then, it demonstrates that the modular system of dimensions employed in traditional Persian architecture also embodies spiritual signification in reference to transcendental concepts. Most studies concerning the role of mathematics in formation of Persian architecture have been limited to studying its sacred geometry. In some other studies, new mathematical theories have been employed to explain certain aspects of Persian architecture. Nevertheless, there are some historic manuscripts that actually refer to the symbolism of numbers and are not hitherto seriously studied. By studying such philosophical texts, this paper first explains the traditional method and coding system for conversion of sacred keywords to numbers and vice versa. Then, it demonstrates that the modular system of dimensions employed in traditional Persian architecture also embodies spiritual signification in reference to transcendental concepts. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100232_051d8bd90d7071505b140a906f2b5bf3.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 The Cool Roof Experimenting with Change of Color to Cool the Roof The Cool Roof Experimenting with Change of Color to Cool the Roof 25 34 100230 FA Farshad Razmgah Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University Journal Article 2015 09 16 In Iran, some 22 percent of the building energy dissipates through the roof. In the hot arid parts of the country, most of this energy is used for cooling rather than heating. There are several methods for reducing this energy loss. Insulation is one popular method throughout the world. A more effective method is to reduce the energy penetrating the building by means of cooling the roof. There are three main techniques for obtaining a “cool roof”. In the first method, heat loads are reduced by lightening the color of the roof, hence increasing its albedo. In the second method, the “green roof”, the roof is suffused with vegetation, which is more expensive and technically complicated. In the third method, the roof is sprinkled with water. In this method, a significant amount of water is wasted, however. Because of its inexpensiveness and simplicity, the first method was chosen for an experiment, in which part of a dark green roof was repainted with brilliant light green. The daily summer temperatures were then measured on an hourly basis and compared with the shaded areas of the roof as well as areas covered by plants. The results indicated that the repainted areas were about 17 percent cooler. In Iran, some 22 percent of the building energy dissipates through the roof. In the hot arid parts of the country, most of this energy is used for cooling rather than heating. There are several methods for reducing this energy loss. Insulation is one popular method throughout the world. A more effective method is to reduce the energy penetrating the building by means of cooling the roof. There are three main techniques for obtaining a “cool roof”. In the first method, heat loads are reduced by lightening the color of the roof, hence increasing its albedo. In the second method, the “green roof”, the roof is suffused with vegetation, which is more expensive and technically complicated. In the third method, the roof is sprinkled with water. In this method, a significant amount of water is wasted, however. Because of its inexpensiveness and simplicity, the first method was chosen for an experiment, in which part of a dark green roof was repainted with brilliant light green. The daily summer temperatures were then measured on an hourly basis and compared with the shaded areas of the roof as well as areas covered by plants. The results indicated that the repainted areas were about 17 percent cooler. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100230_d19bc1f46130f17eb96c9ecc9e710bdf.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 Urban Space and the Handicapped Guidelines for Adapting Urban Spaces to the Handicapped Needs Urban Space and the Handicapped Guidelines for Adapting Urban Spaces to the Handicapped Needs 35 60 100231 FA Seyyedeh Faezeh Sheikholeslami PhD Student, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Iran University of Science and Technology Sadafnaz Deljavan Journal Article 2015 09 16 Social rehabilitation of the handicapped requires that the physical environment accommodates the needs of the physically challenged population. To this end, the standard dimensions and properties of the wheelchair are compared with the current situation of urban streets, services and furniture. This yields a set of key problems encountered in different street widths. Another set of problems include those concerning use of certain urban services such as bus station public telephone, dustbin, postbox, drinking fountain, residential access and parksas well as signage and lighting. A series of recommendations help to eradicate these problems. These recommendations address both the physical properties of the urban space and removal of permanent or temporary obstacles. Another set of recommendations are also presented with regard to the physically challenged, visual disabilities and audibility impairment. Social rehabilitation of the handicapped requires that the physical environment accommodates the needs of the physically challenged population. To this end, the standard dimensions and properties of the wheelchair are compared with the current situation of urban streets, services and furniture. This yields a set of key problems encountered in different street widths. Another set of problems include those concerning use of certain urban services such as bus station public telephone, dustbin, postbox, drinking fountain, residential access and parksas well as signage and lighting. A series of recommendations help to eradicate these problems. These recommendations address both the physical properties of the urban space and removal of permanent or temporary obstacles. Another set of recommendations are also presented with regard to the physically challenged, visual disabilities and audibility impairment. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100231_eb60ed9e558ba6e04c1f09c70f546c23.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 Urban Space Affordance for Diversified Activities A Conceptual Framework Urban Space Affordance for Diversified Activities A Conceptual Framework 61 78 100233 FA Leila Ghaffari Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University Journal Article 2015 09 16 Many urban spaces today serve only the purpose of access, while if urban designers could provide an environment for increasing the presence of people, life would gradually return to urban spaces. This paper presents a critical survey of current literature on this subject to determine those properties, which will (i) cause the affordance of urban space; and (ii) increase the wish to be present in such spaces. The former set includes seven properties such as accessibility, ease of pedestrian traffic, safety and security, environmental comfort, possibility for length of stay; and universality and flexibility. The latter set includes nine properties such as mixed use, the quality of public space, reasons for stay, human scale, sense of time, visual character, legibility, sensual enrichment, and cleanliness of space. Many urban spaces today serve only the purpose of access, while if urban designers could provide an environment for increasing the presence of people, life would gradually return to urban spaces. This paper presents a critical survey of current literature on this subject to determine those properties, which will (i) cause the affordance of urban space; and (ii) increase the wish to be present in such spaces. The former set includes seven properties such as accessibility, ease of pedestrian traffic, safety and security, environmental comfort, possibility for length of stay; and universality and flexibility. The latter set includes nine properties such as mixed use, the quality of public space, reasons for stay, human scale, sense of time, visual character, legibility, sensual enrichment, and cleanliness of space. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100233_da822a69de43ac9ed9d5cf3817362d09.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 Sustainable Livelihoods Framework A Strategy for Household Empowerment in an Informal Settlement, Islamabad Neighborhood, Tehran Sustainable Livelihoods Framework A Strategy for Household Empowerment in an Informal Settlement, Islamabad Neighborhood, Tehran 79 94 100234 FA Mozaffar Sarrafi Assistant Professor, Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University Mostafa Shamsaei Faculty of Earth Science, Shahid Beheshti University Journal Article 2015 09 16 Informal settlements are among serious challenges of urban management, especially in developing countries. The origins and characteristics of each informal settlement vary in different parts of a country—even in different parts of a city. Similarly, the approaches to this problem also vary from neglect, demolition and eviction to upgrading and empowerment. Since mid 1940s, facing this phenomenon, urban management in Iran has also followed these approaches in dealing with informal settlements. The adoption of the National Policy Document on Enabling and Regularizing Informal Settlements in early 2000s, has significantly contributed to establishing a constructive approach to this problem and stimulating upgrading initiatives across the country. Nevertheless, in many cases these initiatives concentrate on the physical aspect rather than addressing socioeconomic issues. With a comprehensive view to the lives of the inhabitants of such poor settlements, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework [SLF] provides a more appropriate approach towards empowerment and socioeconomic improvement of these households. Employing the SLF approach, this paper attempts to assess the assets of the residents of Islamabad Neighborhood in Tehran. All assets including human, financial, physical, natural, and sociopolitical capital are considered. The results of the field survey indicate the inequity in these assets as well as their decrease due to the vulnerability of the resident households. On the same basis, recommendations are proposed for reducing vulnerability and increasing the capital of the residents. Informal settlements are among serious challenges of urban management, especially in developing countries. The origins and characteristics of each informal settlement vary in different parts of a country—even in different parts of a city. Similarly, the approaches to this problem also vary from neglect, demolition and eviction to upgrading and empowerment. Since mid 1940s, facing this phenomenon, urban management in Iran has also followed these approaches in dealing with informal settlements. The adoption of the National Policy Document on Enabling and Regularizing Informal Settlements in early 2000s, has significantly contributed to establishing a constructive approach to this problem and stimulating upgrading initiatives across the country. Nevertheless, in many cases these initiatives concentrate on the physical aspect rather than addressing socioeconomic issues. With a comprehensive view to the lives of the inhabitants of such poor settlements, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework [SLF] provides a more appropriate approach towards empowerment and socioeconomic improvement of these households. Employing the SLF approach, this paper attempts to assess the assets of the residents of Islamabad Neighborhood in Tehran. All assets including human, financial, physical, natural, and sociopolitical capital are considered. The results of the field survey indicate the inequity in these assets as well as their decrease due to the vulnerability of the resident households. On the same basis, recommendations are proposed for reducing vulnerability and increasing the capital of the residents. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100234_f13b82a5fe2b555f989ea96220117179.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 Small Businesses Continuity in a Resilient Urban Design Following the 2003 Bam Earthquake Small Businesses Continuity in a Resilient Urban Design Following the 2003 Bam Earthquake 95 112 100235 FA Alireza Fallahi Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University Solmaz Arzhangi Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University Journal Article 2015 09 16 One of the most significant aspects of a resilient city after disasters is small businesses continuity planning. Pursuant to the 2003 Bam Earthquake, the Bazaar and other key commercial units sustained extensive damages and a number of economical activities were suspended. This paper reviews the process of rehabilitation of the small businesses units and continuation as the first experience of its kind in Iran. In order to develop a conceptual framework, the international experience in this regard is first reviewed and essential physical components of commercial spaces are determined. Then the data from a field study in Bam is analyzed and presented. The paper concludes that a small business continuity plan should be considered in programming and policy making of post-disaster recovery operations towards risk reduction of commercial units. One of the most significant aspects of a resilient city after disasters is small businesses continuity planning. Pursuant to the 2003 Bam Earthquake, the Bazaar and other key commercial units sustained extensive damages and a number of economical activities were suspended. This paper reviews the process of rehabilitation of the small businesses units and continuation as the first experience of its kind in Iran. In order to develop a conceptual framework, the international experience in this regard is first reviewed and essential physical components of commercial spaces are determined. Then the data from a field study in Bam is analyzed and presented. The paper concludes that a small business continuity plan should be considered in programming and policy making of post-disaster recovery operations towards risk reduction of commercial units. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100235_508f085625dce7cb30dbdd5e69f4a672.pdf

Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 24 2 2014 11 22 Passive Defense in Formation of Urban Form The Case of Aqda, Iran Passive Defense in Formation of Urban Form The Case of Aqda, Iran 113 130 100229 FA Seyyed Ehsan Mirhashemi Ruteh Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University Journal Article 2015 09 16 Passive defense includes all measures other than armed means employed for defending a building, site or town. Aqda is a town strategically located on the way to prominent cities in Yazd Province including the capital city Yazd, Ardakan and Meybod. It boasts a long history dating back to the Parthian Period and earlier and was inhabited by Zoroastrians until many years after the Islamic rule. Due to its strategic position, several design techniques have been employed to defend it in cases of piratical raid and military attack. These include the choice of a strategic location; a controlled hierarchy of access routes including change of level, narrow and/or closed alleys and dead-ends; as well as the defensive design of houses which not only protected the house per se, but also provided opportunities for attacking the assaulters. Passive defense includes all measures other than armed means employed for defending a building, site or town. Aqda is a town strategically located on the way to prominent cities in Yazd Province including the capital city Yazd, Ardakan and Meybod. It boasts a long history dating back to the Parthian Period and earlier and was inhabited by Zoroastrians until many years after the Islamic rule. Due to its strategic position, several design techniques have been employed to defend it in cases of piratical raid and military attack. These include the choice of a strategic location; a controlled hierarchy of access routes including change of level, narrow and/or closed alleys and dead-ends; as well as the defensive design of houses which not only protected the house per se, but also provided opportunities for attacking the assaulters. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100229_bda7069a6ac3481b27c9986c9bc51e49.pdf