پژوهش های باستان شناسی ایران 2345-5225 16 48 2026 05 22 The Evolution of Semi-Open Spaces in the Architecture of Historical Mosques in Khorasan مطالعۀ سیر تحول فضای نیمه‌باز در معماری مساجد تاریخی خراسان 193 234 6137 10.22084/nb.2025.30768.2764 FA هومن پیگان گروه معماری دانشکدۀ هنر و معماری، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران. سیدمحمدحسین ذاکری گروه معماری دانشکدۀ هنر و معماری، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران (نویسندۀ مسئول). Journal Article 2025 04 09 Abstract Semi-open spaces, which act as transitional elements between open and enclosed spaces, play a central role in the spatial organisation of many Iranian mosques. These spaces are important not only for their climate responsiveness and functional use, but also for their significant impact on the architectural identity and formal expression of mosques. Previous studies have shown that semi-open spaces in mosque architecture help to modulate climatic conditions and increase the flexibility and multifunctionality of the building by creating a spatial hierarchy. However, the historical evolution of these spaces has received little comprehensive study. This study aims to investigate the semi-open spaces used in the architecture of historical mosques in the Khorasan region (within Iran’s contemporary borders) in chronological order. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method based on field and library studies. To ensure the reliability of the findings, all historical mosques of Khorasan registered on the National Heritage List of Iran have been analysed. The sample comprises 151 historical mosques dating from the early Islamic centuries to the Pahlavi era. These mosques are scattered across the three provinces of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan. The findings indicate that the transformation of these spaces occurred either through the gradual modification of earlier forms or through the emergence of new types of semi-open spaces in mosque architecture. From the early Islamic centuries to the Seljuk period, these spaces were mainly manifested as surrounding ravaqs (arcades). A major turning point occurred in the Khwarazmshah period with the replacement of the ravaq by deep, high īwāns, a development that continued into the Timurid and Safavid periods. Notably, the emergence of the satavand during the Timurid period, a feature that persisted until the Pahlavi era, marks another evolutionary stage. From the Safavid period onwards, however, a significant decrease in semi-open spaces is observed, culminating in the Qajar period, when shabestānī mosques with a courtyard became the dominant design. Keywords: Evolution Process, Semi-Open Space, Architecture, Historical Mosques, Khorasan. Introduction Iranian architecture has always reflected the culture, climate, and ideas that defined each historical period. One of its most prominent features is the use of semi-open spaces, which play a crucial role in spatial organization and in mediating between interior and exterior. These spaces, manifested primarily in the form of īwāns and ravaqs, are of particular importance in Iran’s historical mosques, especially in hot and dry climates such as that of Khorasan. Examining them can yield a deeper understanding of traditional architectural principles and their relevance to contemporary design. Previous studies have shown that semi-open spaces in mosque architecture not only help modulate climatic conditions but also lend flexibility and multifunctionality to the building by creating spatial hierarchies. However, the historical evolution of these spaces and the factors that drove their transformation have received less comprehensive attention. This study therefore examines the form, function, and evolution of semi-open spaces in the architecture of Khorasan’s mosques—within the contemporary borders of Iran—from the early Islamic centuries to the Pahlavi period. The central research question is: How did semi-open spaces in the architecture of historical Khorasan mosques evolve from the early Islamic period to the end of the Pahlavi era? The study also seeks to identify the spatial models that emerged during this evolution through the analysis of a sample of mosques and an examination of existing documentary sources. The findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of historical Iranian architectural principles and offer insights for the application of traditional concepts in contemporary architectural design. This article first reviews the research background and theoretical foundations concerning semi-open spaces; it then introduces the scope and the sample of mosques under study, analyzes them, and finally presents the research findings and conclusions. Discussion In the early Islamic centuries, the architecture of Khorasan mosques developed according to a model consisting of a shabestān (columned prayer hall) and a central courtyard surrounded by a ravaq (arcade); the ravaq thus provided the semi-open space. This arrangement remained common until the Seljuk period, when the ravaq was gradually replaced by the īwān. During the Seljuk period, the īwān became established as a semi-open element on the qibla façade (as at the Sangān Mosque), although it did not initially offer direct access to the domed chamber. In the Khwārazmshāh period, the īwān emerged as the principal semi-open element, and its form underwent significant transformations, including an increase in height and depth, the creation of opposing īwāns, and the introduction of a transitional īwān that linked the courtyard to the rear space. This development continued into the Ilkhanid period, with examples such as the Dastgerdān and Merāndiz Jāmeʿ Mosques demonstrating the consolidation of the deep īwān form with independent miḥrābs and a notable expansion of spatial dimensions. In the Timurid period, earlier forms were retained, but new types also appeared, including single-īwān mosques (such as the Qāʾin Jāmeʿ Mosque) and four-īwān mosques (such as the Goharshād Mosque). The satavand likewise appeared for the first time, in the Jāmeʿ Mosque of Azgad, where it was placed along the qibla axis. During the Safavid era, simpler models, such as single-īwān mosques, became widespread, and the satavand acquired a devotional function. The elimination of the semi-open space, which had already begun in the Timurid period, intensified, and half of the surviving mosques from this period lack such a space. Throughout the Afshārid and Zand periods, construction activity was limited by political instability; nonetheless, earlier models were preserved, the removal of semi-open spaces continued, and brick and adobe replaced wood in the building of satavands. In the Qajar period, the tendency to build shabestānī mosques without semi-open spaces reached its peak, and no significant formal innovation occurred. This period can be regarded as the last phase of continuity of the traditional model. During the Pahlavi period, the introduction of modern materials altered the spatial structure, yet in some parts of Khorasan the ravaq, īwān, and satavand continued to be employed on a limited scale. Conclusion In the early Islamic centuries, the architecture of Khorasan mosques developed according to a model consisting of a shabestān (columned prayer hall) and a central courtyard surrounded by a ravaq (arcade); the ravaq thus provided the semi-open space. This arrangement remained common until the Seljuk period, when the ravaq was gradually replaced by the īwān. During the Seljuk period, the īwān became established as a semi-open element on the qibla façade (as at the Sangān Mosque), although it did not initially offer direct access to the domed chamber. In the Khwārazmshāh period, the īwān emerged as the principal semi-open element, and its form underwent significant transformations, including an increase in height and depth, the creation of opposing īwāns, and the introduction of a transitional īwān that linked the courtyard to the rear space. This development continued into the Ilkhanid period, with examples such as the Dastgerdān and Merāndiz Jāmeʿ Mosques demonstrating the consolidation of the deep īwān form with independent miḥrābs and a notable expansion of spatial dimensions. In the Timurid period, earlier forms were retained, but new types also appeared, including single-īwān mosques (such as the Qāʾin Jāmeʿ Mosque) and four-īwān mosques (such as the Goharshād Mosque). The satavand likewise appeared for the first time, in the Jāmeʿ Mosque of Azgad, where it was placed along the qibla axis. During the Safavid era, simpler models, such as single-īwān mosques, became widespread, and the satavand acquired a devotional function. The elimination of the semi-open space, which had already begun in the Timurid period, intensified, and half of the surviving mosques from this period lack such a space. Throughout the Afshārid and Zand periods, construction activity was limited by political instability; nonetheless, earlier models were preserved, the removal of semi-open spaces continued, and brick and adobe replaced wood in the building of satavands. In the Qajar period, the tendency to build shabestānī mosques without semi-open spaces reached its peak, and no significant formal innovation occurred. This period can be regarded as the last phase of continuity of the traditional model. During the Pahlavi period, the introduction of modern materials altered the spatial structure, yet in some parts of Khorasan the ravaq, īwān, and satavand continued to be employed on a limited scale. فضاهای نیمه‌باز به‌عنوان عنصری واسط میان فضاهای باز و بسته، نقشی کلیدی در سازمان‌دهی فضایی بسیاری از مساجد ایران دارند. این فضاها به‌لحاظ اقلیمی و عملکردی حائز اهمیت‌اند و در بیان فرمی و هویت معماری مساجد نیز تأثیر به‌سزایی داشته‌اند. مطالعات صورت‌گرفته نشان می‌دهند که فضاهای نیمه‌باز در معماری مساجد، افزون‌بر نقش مؤثر در تعدیل شرایط اقلیمی، با ایجاد سلسله‌مراتب فضایی، کیفیتی منعطف و چندبعدی به بنا می‌دهند. باوجود این، سیر تحول این فضاها در طول تاریخ کمتر به‌صورت جامع مورد تحلیل قرار گرفته است. این پژوهش با هدف بررسی انواع فضاهای نیمه‌باز به‌کاررفته در معماری مساجد تاریخی خراسان، در چارچوب مرزهای کنونی ایران و براساس توالی تاریخی، انجام شده است. روش تحقیق توصیفی-تحلیلی و مبتنی‌بر مطالعات میدانی و کتابخانه‌ای است. باتوجه به اهمیت موضوع و برای اطمینان از دقت نتایج پژوهش، تمامی مساجد تاریخی ثبت‌شده در سه استان خراسان شمالی، رضوی و جنوبی، مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند که شامل 151 مسجد تاریخی است و از سده‌های نخستین هجری تا دوران پهلوی را دربر می‌گیرد. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان می‌دهد که تحول فضاهای نیمه‌باز در این نمونه‌ها، یا در قالب تکامل فرم‌های پیشین صورت‌گرفته‌ است یا به پیدایش گونه‌های نوینی از این فضاها در معماری مساجد منطقه منجر شده‌ است. بدین‌ترتیب که از نخستین سده‌های هجری تا دورۀ سلجوقی، این فضاها عمدتاً در قالب رواق‌های پیرامونی تعریف می‌شدند. در دورۀ خوارزمشاهی، جایگزینی ایوان‌های عمیق و مرتفع با رواق‌ها، نقطه‌عطفی در تحول این فضاها به‌شمار می‌رود که در دوره‌های بعد، به‌ویژه در تیموری و صفوی، توسعه‌یافته است. در این‌میان، ستاوندها در دورۀ تیموری ظاهر می‌کنند و تا دورۀ پهلوی تداوم می‌یابند. با این‌حال، از دورۀ صفوی به‌بعد، روند حذف فضای نیمه‌باز شدت‌یافته و در دورۀ قاجار به اوج خود می‌رسد، به‌گونه‌ای که مساجد شبستانی، خصوصاً با الگوی حیاط‌دار، به نمونۀ غالب بدل می‌شوند.

https://nbsh.basu.ac.ir/article_6137_8ee0252eafd6865a8bb3623f0ce4d3af.pdf