Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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The present paper is extracted from a purposeful research aiming at pondering on the recondite meaning of persistence in Iranian architecture during Islamic era and comparing it to the concept of sustainability and contemporary sustainable architecture. It seems that the literature is poor in terms of causes and factors of persistence in Iranian architecture. The limited literature in this area mostly includes descriptions of buildings and monuments of various periods of Iranian architecture. Due to closeness of the meanings of persistence and sustainability, no clear-cut border has been drawn between the two terms up to now. The present research aims at not only depicting the essential difference between the two terms of persistence and sustainability in Iranian Architecture, but also finding specifications and principles of persistent architecture and the factors affecting it. Therefore, this research is after finding the source and cause of persistence and perpetuity of Iranian architectural monuments inherited from old times. Iranian architecture has witness use of persistent patters that are being forgotten due to negligence on the part of contemporary Iranian architects as this valuable treasure and their passive acceptance of imported modern architecture. Nowadays, one of the most important issues attracting Iranian architects is the necessity of persistence in contemporary architecture and revival of Iranian architecture. The authors of this paper hold that analysis of persistent and timeless architectural works and monuments for finding their common geometric patterns can help achieving a solution for grafting persistence on to architectural works. These phenomena play a significant role in the society from both cultural-structural and pragmatic aspects. It is noteworthy to say that finding patterns in common in persistent works doesn’t mean merely copying them, but, giving them rebirth in the modern world with due regard to the needs of modern people as many of Iranian architectural works have structural-physical elements that were persistent at their own time but have lost their use today and they are only inheritance for the coming generations and they are no longer live in their use. What needed most in the present era is not blind copying of the features of Iranian architecture, but is pondering on Iranian architecture and attempting to modernize its features. In the present paper, first, the meanings of persistence and sustainability are presented and compared with each other and the viewpoints of scholars on persistence and sustainability are covered. The results of this research shows that living architecture is the cause of persistence and perpetuity of architecture in modern architecture as the case studies ChoghaZanbil Ziggurats, Naqsh -e- Jahan touristic - religious square, Tabriz Bazzar and Azadi Square can be mantioned. In terms of nature, this research is logical inference. Data was collected using library method and questionnaire techniques. The research questions included: What is the principal difference between persistence and sustainability? What is the most important factor in persistence? What are the effective features and factors in persistence architecture? The results of this research suggest that the most important difference between persistence architecture and sustainable architecture is the factor of meaning and spirituality. Furthermore, regarding to culture, and use of persistent archetypes and ability to absorb addressees are among other differences between persistent architecture and sustainable architecture. It is noteworthy that meaning in this research is a factor that inspires value in the setting, engraves memories in addressee’s minds, creates an identity in the space and place and the addressee understands that the interconnectedness of elements and formation of space are incarnations of the values and concepts of a community expressed in an architectural form. Persistence in architecture is a form of timeless state of living and dynamism that is persistent and lasting. Living means physique and sprit together, not only the physique should be live, but also it should be associated with soul. Persistence is held a kind of historical and cultural continuation in a living body. Living body means a connection between past, present and future that forms identity. What making Iranian architecture persistent is regard to spirituality and expression of the people’s beliefs and culture in architecture that develops in the addressee and becomes perpetual. Nowadays, meaning is lost in architecture, as architect instead of paying attention to God, the origin of eternity, and the original needs of human being, as the caliph of God on earth, and cultural patterns that can be expressed in today’s forms with a little modification, views man connected with technology, tools and facilities which are all transient and consumptive in other words, tools have replaced targets. Based on the results of this research, the major difference between persistent architecture and sustainable architecture is disregard to meaning and emergence of spirituality that maintains culture, identity and cultural capital in any community. The things that can be admitted as a base to rely and creat a new architecture.

Keywords: Persistence, Sustainability, Contemporary, Iranian –Islamic architecture

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