Phenomenological investigation in the event of archetype recognition in Islamic-Iranian architecture

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Abstract

In recent years and mostly in the shadow of modernism thinking in architecture and urban fields, some buildings and contexts have been emerged which their developers are, more than anything proud of their Avant-Garde and unique creations and even their whimsical features. Insistence of modernists on creating environments with same standards and different characters for people, has led to bewilderment, chaos, confusion and triviality in modern urban environments. However with passing of the time and clarification of the issues related to developing constructions without paying attention to the culture and history of nations, the necessity of thematic review led to start of new investigation in searching original basis for constructions and environmental elements which could reconnect the people and their local environment. With the rise of discussions in Environmental Psychology, history, native culture and etc., Archetypes were proposed as one of the most important and determinative aspects in designing human-built environments. Archetypes are defined as ‘The Basic, Original and Sustainable Ideas’ which is the result of thousands of years of history, experience and human collective memory which has been stored in human’s unconscious memory. Likewise in the cultural zone of Iran with all the past history, such basic ideas and various archetypes must have existed in order to integrate different social groups in this large and colorful society through relatively coherent set of environmental elements. Therefore this article is an effort to answer to the related questions; can the model and bipolar idea of ‘Up-Down’ be defined as an archetype or basic idea in Iran? Does the possible existence of this idea only belong to the past? Is this idea present at human environments and models of architectural and urban environments in the present time too? For this purpose, besides mentioning the meaning of Subjective/Objective axis of Up-Down and its vital relation with linguistic concepts, worthiness and behavioral patterns and templates of various local architecture environments, the existence of this archetype or basic idea is proved via research in different samples and cases and its application has also been analyzed here. The method used here is Descriptive Analysis, and in particular; Content Analysis and inferential Analysis. Research data have been quantified and analyzed using Cochran formula and the questionnaires have been distributed by random sampling method for each case, and the data has been descriptively analyzed. The results of the surveys show that our perception of traditional and even modern environments is still influenced by linguistic concepts and basic ideas and the Archetype mentioned in this research has an unmistakable presence in our life today.

Keywords


Alexander, Ch. (2008). Pattern Language. Translated by karbalainori, R. Tehran: Planning and Architecture Studies and Research.
Anoshe, H. (the supervisor). (1997). Encyclopedia of Persian literature (encyclopedia of Persian literature, 2). Tehran: Printing and Publishing Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Ardalan, N. & Bakhhtiar, L. (2011). Hes- e Vahdat [A sense of unity]. Tehran: Publications science royal architect.
Arianpour, A. (1986). Pazhuheshi dar Shenakht- e Bagh haa- ye Irani [Study the Iranian gardens]. Tehran: Publication of farhangsara.
Bahar, M. (2009). Pazhuheshi dar Asaatireh Iran [Research on Iranian mythology]. Tehran: Agah.
Barati, N. & Zarringhalam, F. (2012). Remarks on the culture, mind, perception and the built environment. Tehran: Parhamnaghsh.
Barati, N. (1997). Holistic Reading into the Structure of the Built Environment: Case Study of Tehran. Unpublished Ph. D. Thesis., Herriot – Watt University, U. K. Edinburgh College of Arts.
Barati, N. (2002). Cross-language communication and environment: a challenge of modern thinking about the environment. Pajouhesh Journal, (5): 16-24.
Barati, N. (2003). Zabaan,Tafakor va Fazaa [Language thought and space]. Tehran: Shahrdariha.
Barati, N. (2004). Gardens and Construction of the Gardens in the Iranian Culture and Persian Language. Bagh- e Nazar, (2): 3-15.
Barati, N. (2008). Introduction of the role of indigenous languages in reading and understanding the environment and human environment, with emphasis on the Persian language. Bagh- e Nazar, (10): 3-16.
Barati, N. (2014). Varhang, archetypes Iranian unknown – Islamic, Case study: toopkhone squre, naghshe-Jahan Square, lale park and shahzadeh garden. According to unpublished research. International University of Imam Khomeini, Qazvin: The Faculty of Architecture.
Cassirer, E. (2009). Philosophy of symbolic forms, the second volume of mythical thought. Translated to Persian by Movaghen, Y. Tehran: Hermes.
Darmesteter, J. (2003). Codex Zoroaster (Avesta Vandidad). Translated to Persian by Javan, M. Tehran: Donya- ye ketab.
Dehkhoda, A. (1998). Dehkhoda dictionary. 15 Volumes. Tehran: University of Tehran.
Ershad, M. (2007). Gostarehe Oustureh [The scope myths], Second edition. Tehran: Hermes.
Evensen, Th. T. (1987). Archetypes in Architecture. Norway: Norwegian University Press.
Golabchi, M. and Zeynali Farid, A. (2012). Archetyped architecture: sustainable patterns of fundamental. Tehran: University of Tehran.
Harrison, Ch. (2003). Art in theory, 1900 - 2000: an anthology of changing ideas. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishng.
Jung, C. G. (2005). Man and His Symbols Mass Market Paperback. Translated to Persian by Soltanieh, M. A. Tehran: Jami.
Jung, C. G. (2008). Psychology, analytical psychology, collective unconscious. Translated to Persian by Soltanieh, M. A. Tehran: Pezhman.
Krippendorff, K. (2007). Content analysis methodology principles. Translated to Persian by Nayebi, H. Tehran: Ney.
Maduro, R. J. & Wheelwright, J. B. (1992). Archetype and Archetypal Image. In Jungian Literary Criticism, ed. Sugg, R. P. Illinois: Northwestern University Press.
Javadi, M. & Alderman, P. (2002). Shakhsiat, Nazarie va pajuhesh- e Parvin [Character. Parvin theory and research]. Tehran: Pezhman.
Mortazavi, Sh. (1988). Ravan Shenasi- ye Mohiti [Environmental psychology]. Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University Press.
Pahlavan, G. (2009). Culture. Tehran: Payam- e emroz.
Pourdavvod, E. (2008). Avesta. Tehran: Donya- ye ketab.
Sarmad, Z., et al. (2006). Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences. Tehran: Agah.
Satari, J. (1997). Dar Mored- e Farhang [About the culture]. Tehran: Edare kol- e negaresh va farhang va honar.
Shamisaa, S. (2002). Anva- e Adabi [literary types], ninth edition. Tehran: Ferdows.
Taleghani, M. (2002). Ravesh- e Tahqiqeh Nazari [Theoretical Research Method]. Qom: Payame Noor University Press.
Walter Avdanyk, V. (1980). Jung and Politics. Translated to Persian by Tayyeb, A. Tehran: Ney.
Zarshenas, Z. (2001). Change of the Notion of “Far” in Saadi Writings. Farhang journal, (37-38): 389 – 403.