Beyond an Earthly Garden: Iranian Garden Architecture and Its Potential Influence on Urban Green Space Design

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M. A. in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful, Iran.

Abstract

With the increase of the world’s population and the densification of urban spaces, urban residents are getting disconnected from natural green spaces. Association with natural and green spaces, one of the basic needs of people, is directly related to health benefits (e.g. physiological and mental). However, health researchers argue that the health benefits of urban green spaces are associated with people’s constant exposure to such spaces. Therefore, designers must identify and employ the factors that encourage people to use these places more frequently. Hence, traditional garden architecture, which is a legacy reflecting the cultural values of each country in organizing the natural environment, can be a good source for extracting the types of designs that create the context for individuals’ constant communication with such places. In this regard, to answer the question of “whether the architecture of Iranian gardens can serve as a guide for designing urban green space or not”, we used aesthetic analysis and identified the factors that create a sense of beauty in Iranian gardens. Semiotic analysis assisted us in evaluating the used symbols and signs in the garden architecture. To understand the concept of garden architecture, which makes the Iranian garden a distinct place, we used a phenomenological analysis method.

Keywords


  • Abbas, M. Y., Nafisi, N. & Nafisi, S. (2016). Persian Garden, Cultural Sustainability and Environmental Design Case Study Shazdeh Garden. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, (222), 510–17.
  • Alavian Sadr, M., Vakil, H. A, & Talebian, M. H. (2010). “The Persian Garden.” UNESCO World Heritage Center. Retrieved October 2, 2021, From https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1372.pdf
  • Aliyas, Z. & Masoudi Nezhad, S. (2019). The Role of Historical Persian Gardens as Urban Green Spaces: Psychological, Physical, and Social Aspects. Environmental Justice 12 (3), 132–139.
  • Ansari, M., Taghvaee, A. A. & Mahmoudi Nejad, H. (2008). Cultural Beliefs Regarding Persian Gardens with the Emphasis on Water and Trees. African and Asian Studies, 7 (1), 101–24.
  • Ardalan, N. Bakhtiar, L. (1973). The Sense of Unity: The Sufi Tradition in Persian Architecture. University of Chicago Press.
  • Barati, N. & Kakavand. E. (2016). Phenomenological Investigation in the Event of Archetype Recognition in Islamic-Iranian Architecture (Cases Study: Toopkhane Square, Laleh Park, Shahzade Garden, Naqhsh-e Jahan Square). Bagh-e Nazer, 13 (42), 5–18.
  • Irani Behbahani, H. & Khosravi, F. (2006). A Place of Coexistence: Case Study: Tehran Gardens in 19th Century. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, (12), 79–88.
  • Irani Behbahani, H. & Khosravi, F. (2010). Persian Garden between Permanence and Innovation from Ancient to Contemporary Period. TUBAKED, 8 (1), 249-261.
  • Irani Behbahani, H. I., & Khosravi, F. (2012). Persian garden between permanence and innovation from ancient to contemporary period. ICOMOS2010, ICOMOS.
  • Beizaeijouybari, B. & Gungor, B. S. (2016). The Effect of Islam on the Design of Iranian Gardens. Islamic Heritage Architecture and Art, (1), 97–106.
  • Bemanian, M. R. & Saleh, E. (2012). Conceptual Study of Iranian Garden Design Form the Stand Point of Phenomenology in Landscape Architecture, Genealogy and Index Logy. Urban Management, 9 (28), 61–80.
  • Bognar, B. (1985). A Phenomenological Approach to Architecture and Its Teaching in the Design Studio. Dwelling. Place and Environment, (1), 183–97.
  • Carpenter, M. (2013). From ‘healthful Exercise’ to ‘Nature on Prescription’: The Politics of Urban Green Spaces and Walking for Health. Landscape and Urban Planning, (118), 120–27.
  • Dadvand, P., Bartoll, X., Basagaña, X., Dalmau-Bueno, A., Martinez, D., Ambros, A., ... & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. (2016). Green spaces and general health: roles of mental health status, social support, and physical activity. Environment international, (91), 161-167.
  • Farahani, L., Motamed, B. & Jamei, E. (2016). Persian Gardens: Meanings, Symbolism, and Design. Landscape Online, 46 (1), 1–19.
  • Ghodrat, M. (2009). Semiotics of Architecture, an Introduction to Physical Basis Detecting of Persian Garden (Memorial Garden Design). Unpublished Master Thesis in Architecture, Department of Architecture Faculty of Art & Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
  • Gorji, F. E., Rezaee, M., & Gorji, A. E. (2014). Influence of Persian Garden as Urban Green Spaces on Promotion of Social Interactions Citizens; Case Study: Garden Chehel Sotun (Mellat Park) of Behshahr City, Iran.
  • Heydarnattaj, V. & Mansouri, S. A. (2009). A Critical Study on the Chaharbagh Theory in Creation of the Persian Gardens. Bagh-e Nazer, (12), 17–30.
  • Javaherian, F. (2010). Kohan-Olgu-ye Gomshodeh Bazdid-i az Bagh-e Irani [The Lost Archetype, a Visit to the Iranian Garden]. Tourism Magazine, (26), 60–67.
  • Karnama, E., Masoudi, A. & Rafati, R. (2016). Investigating the Concept of Place Phenomenology; An Examination of the Phenomenological Views of Christine Nurberg Schultz and Johann Plasma. In Fourth International Conference on New Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Planning, Tehran.
  • Kazemi, E. & Darskhan, R. (2014). Investigating Aesthetics Manifestations in Persian Gardens and Their Comparison with Western Gardens. European Online. Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 3 (4), 218–27.
  • Khademi, E., Kabiri, F. & Khan, T. H. (2013). Iranian garden, the manifestation of sustainable green space. International Journal of Humanities and Management Sciences, 1(1), 63-68.
  • Liu, H., Li, F., Li, J. & Zhang, Y. (2017). The relationships between urban parks, residents’ physical activity, and mental health benefits: A case study from Beijing, China. Journal of environmental management, 190, 223-230.
  • Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S. & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation? Journal of epidemiology & community health, 60(7), 587-592.
  • Mansouri, S. A. (2005). An Introduction to the Aesthetics of Iranian Garden. Bagh-e Nazer, 2 (3), 58–63.

Mansouri, S. A. (2016). Phenomenology of the Surrounding Wall In Persian Garden. Manzar, (33), 6–11.

  • Masnavi, M. R., Mohseni Moghadam, M. & Mansouri, S. R. (2019). Effects of Persian Garden’s Aesthetics in Social Sustainability of Contemporary Urban Parks in Tehran. Manzar, 10 (45), 6–17.
  • Mirfenderski, M. A. (2004). What Is Iranian Garden? Where Is Iranian Garden?. In Summary of the first conference of the Iranian garden. Tehran: Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourist Organization.
  • Mirrazavi, F. (2011). Persian Gardens on World Heritage List, Iranian Sites on the World Heritage. Retrieved October 2, 2021, From http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Persian_Gardens_on_World_Heritage_List.htm.
  • Mitchell, R. (2013). Is Physical Activity in Natural Environments Better for Mental Health than Physical Activity in Other Environments? Social Science & Medicine, (91), 130–34.
  • Mohammadzadeh Kive, S. (2012). The Other Space of Persian Garden. Polymath: An Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Journal, 2 (3), 85–96.
  • Norberg-Schulz, C. (1975). Meaning in western architecture. Praeger Publishers.
  • Ojaghlou, M. & Khakzand, M. (2019). Thermal Comfort Characteristic of 5 Patterns of a Persian Garden in a Hot-Arid Climate of Shiraz, Iran. Journal of Landscape Ecology, 12(3), 1-33.
  • Perry, S. (2013). “Aesthetics in the Landscape | Architecture AU.” Architecture AU, Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved June 11, 2017, From https://architectureau.com/articles/understanding-aesthetics/
  • Pietilä, M., Neuvonen, M., Borodulin, K., Korpela, K., Sievänen, T. & Tyrväinen, L. (2015). Relationships between exposure to urban green spaces, physical activity and self-rated health. Journal of outdoor recreation and tourism, 10, 44-54.
  • Pirnia, K. (1994). Bagh-e Irani [Iranian Garden]. Abadi 4 (15), 1–11.
  • Rahaei, O. (2015). Analyzing the Geometry of Iranian Islamic Gardens Based on the Quran’s Characteristics of Paradise. Journal of Research in Islamic Architecture, (7), 96–115.
  • Rahnama, M. R., & Pouremad, M. 2013. “Indicators of Iranian-Islamic Gardens on Reclamation of Timeworn Structures.” International Journal of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Science, 1 (8), 1151–60.
  • Rezaei, M. & Shahcheraghi, A. (2021). Effect of Planting System of Iranian Garden on Thermal Comfort of Open Spaces; Case Study: Jahan Nama Shiraz Garden. Naqsh-e Jahan, 11 (2), 1–10.
  • Richardson, E. A., Pearce, j., Mitchell, R. & Kingham, S. (2013). Role of Physical Activity in the Relationship between Urban Green Space and Health. Public Health, 127 (4), 318–24.
  • Roberts, J. (1996). The Gardens of Dunroamin: History and Cultural Values with Specific Reference to the Gardens of the Inter-War Semi1. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 1 (4), 229–237.
  • Sabzalian, A. (2013). Persian Gardens, Paradise, Persian Style. The Parliament’s Library. Retrieved June 11, 2017, From http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Persian_Gardens_on_World_Heritage_List.htm
  • Shahcheraghi, A. (2010). Analysing the Perception Process of Persian Garden’s Environment, According to the Ecologic Psychological Theory. Hoviat-e Shahr 3 (5), 71–84.
  • Sheibani, M. & Motallebi, R. (2015). The Sound of Persian Garden Existence. Art and Civilization of the ORIENT, 2 (6), 1–9.
  • Sojoodi, F. (2005). Semiotics of Layer and Its Application in Semiotic Analysis of Art Works. Academy of Arts Publications, (1), 59–75.
  • Taghvaei, S. H., Tahbaz, M. & Mottaghi Pishe, S. (2015). The Role Of Shade In Persian Garden, The Study Of Thermal Comfort Conditions In Jahannama And Delgosha Gardens. Journal Of Architecture Studies,4 (7), 35–56.
  • Toosi, M., & Emamifar, N. (2011). Semiotics and Symbolic logic of Iranian Garden features using designed features in Kahsan Fin Garden. Negareh, 6 (17), 59–71.
  • Triguero-Mas, M. et al. (2015). Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: Relationships and mechanisms, Environment International, (77), 35–41.
  • UN report. (2014). UN News - More than Half of World’s Population Now Living in Urban Areas, UN Survey Finds. Retrieved November 5, 2017, From http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48240#.Wj-tp1WnG1s
  • Uwajeh, C. P. & Ezennia, I. E. (2018). The Socio-Cultural and Ecological Perspectives on Landscape and Gardening in Urban Environment: A Narrative Review. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 2 (2), 78–89.
  • Van den Berg, A, E., Maas, J., Verheij, R, A. & Groenewegen, P, P., (2010). Green Space as a Buffer between Stressful Life Events and Health. Social Science & Medicine, 70 (8), 1203–1210.
  • Van den Berg, M. M., Van Poppel, M., Van Kamp, I., Ruijsbroek, A., Triguero-Mas, M., Gidlow, C., ... & Maas, J. (2019). Do physical activity, social cohesion, and loneliness mediate the association between time spent visiting green space and mental health? Environment and Behavior, 51(2), 144-166.
  • Van den Berg, M., Wendel-Vos, W., van Poppel, M., Kemper, H., van Mechelen, W., & Maas, J. (2015). Health benefits of green spaces in the living environment: A systematic review of epidemiological studies. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 14(4), 806-816.
  • Zarghami, E., Mahdi Nezhad, J. & Fatourehchi, D. (2015). The Symbolic Role of Water in Iranian-Islamic Architecture Based on Spirituality. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 3 (3), 121–27.