Persian Architects’ Mastery over Geometry to Build Discontinuous Double-Skin Domes in Nain Style

Authors

1 Assistant Prof; Architectural Restoration Faculty; Esfahan university of

2 Phd Student of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty Of Architecture, Shahr-e-Kord Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Kord, Iran ; Faculty member of Sepehr Higher Educational Centre of Isfahan

3 Phd Student of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art, Architecture & Urban Planning, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Since centuries ago and due to time and necessity, Iranian architectural roofs have been built in various forms and evolved in the course of time. The Iranian Architectural roofs can be divided into two general forms: flat and curved. Domes are of curved roofs among which discontinuous double-skin ones have salient features. In terms of architectural form, structural characteristics and geometric proportions, double-skin domes are among the important elements of Islamic architecture and need to be investigated extensively. Close structural analysis of double-skin domes may offer approaches to restore them more effectively. The present research aimed to show that there has been a direct relationship between form and size of the domes, and between the traditional architects’ mastery and creativity as well as techniques to build the domes. The structure of double-skin domes in Nain Style was examined as closely as possible. To do so, the primary data were collected through library sources, field studies and recordings and conducting interviews with restoration experts and architects. Then, geometric proportions and structural characteristics were modeled digitally by 3-D soft wares. Finally, the results were analyzed and compared descriptively. The main focus was on studying the architects’ mastery on geometry with respect to applying creative techniques to build double-skin domes in Nain Style. The results indicated that the material used, available sources as well as the architectural mastery and capabilities of local architects who, themselves, were inspired by architects of the past generations all have had a great impact on forming double-skin domes in Nain Style.  Dome has been contrived as a response to a need for elimination of columns from nave-like spaces and to create a vast space with a dominant view. Iranian domes, being constructed over time by such materials as mud-bricks, bricks and stone, have taken various forms derived from “form geometry” as well as from architect’s abilities. Iranians used it due to its ability to cover a vast space more than any other kind of covering element. Where they made correctly, domes might endure for much longer periods of time. Being an important architectural element within the frame of Iranian architecture history, as is evidenced from sample bullae discovered at susa, domes have an unexpected rather short history in western world; as we have just found one case of double shell – discrete dome from 16th century ; and some people even believe that the dome of sant marco church in venezia (14th century) ,with its inner bricked shell and the outer wooden one, has been derived from the so-called Iranian dome of Soltaniye. Among astonishing architectural elements, domes have their own high stature and some scholars refer their invention to earlier Iranian architects. Of oldest Iranian domes mentioned in written documents one can mention Bazeye-hur (of char taghi type), Ghaleye Dokhtar in Fars,as well as Firuzabad and Niyasar fire temples of Arsacids and Sassanid periods This architectural element became in intense use in post Islamic architecture and in religious buildings in particular. One sees in available domes some similar structural technology with minor differences, corroborating our hypothesis of local architects’ creativities and affecting of structural shapes.  Everyone interested in cultural affairs should try to permeate the respect for artistic monuments in the society. The mystery behind learning artistic experience, as well as protection and conservation of those pieces of art, is to know how to hear, to read and to comprehend their specific features (Brandi).

Keywords

Main Subjects


- بزنوال، رولان، 1379، فن‌آوری تاق در خاور کهن، ترجمه‌ی محسن حبیبی، چاپ یکم، جلد 1 و 2، تهران: سازمان میراث‌فرهنگی کشور.
- پیرنیا، محمدکریم، 1387، سبک‌شناسی معماری ایران، تهران: سروش دانش.
- پیرنیا، محمدکریم، 1351، «ارمغان‌های ایران به جهان معماری گنبد»، هنر و مردم، سال ۱۲، شماره‌ی ۱۴، صص: ۶-۲.
- پیرنیا، محمدکریم، 1366، «چفدها و تاق‌ها»، اثر، شماره‌ی 24، صص: 1-221.
- پیرنیا، محمدکریم، 1370، «گنبد در معماری ایران»، اثر، شماره‌ی 20، صص: 1-156.
- تهرانی، فرهاد و راسخی، مجید، 1388، «تاق و قوس»، نشریه بولتن مهندسین فلورانس، شماره‌ی 6، صص: 12-31.
- تهرانی، فرهاد، 1371، «ورای هندسه‌ی تاق و گنبد»، صفه، سال دوم، شماره‌ی 6 تا 8، صص: 58-73.
- حجازی، مهرداد و میرقادری، رسول، 1386، «تحلیل لرزه‌ای گنبدهای ایرانی»، نشریه دانشکده فنی، جلد 38، شماره‌ی 6، صص: 747-757.
- حجازی، مهرداد، 1387، «اصفهان شهر سازه‌­های سنتی»، دانش‌­نما، سال شانزدهم، شماره‌های پیاپی 162-161 (3)، صص 27-52.
- دیتریش، هوف، 1375، گنبدها در معماری اسلامی، ترجمه‌ی کرامت‌الله افسر، تهران: انتشارات جهاد دانشگاهی.
- رفیعی‌سرشکی، بیژن، رفیع‌زاده، ندا و رنجبرکرمانی، علی‌محمد، 1382، فرهنگ مهرازی( معماری) ایران، تهران: مرکز تحقیقات ساختمان و مسکن.
- زمرشیدی، حسین، 1389، گنبد و عناصر تاقی ایران، تهران: زمان.
- سجادی نایینی، سید مهدی، 1387، معماران و مرمت‌کاران سنتی اصفهان، اصفهان: سازمان فرهنگی تفریحی شهرداری اصفهان، مرکز اصفهان‌شناسی و خانه‌ی ملل.
- شوازی، اگوست، 1386، تاریخ معماری، ترجمه‌ی لطیف ابوالقاسمی، ج 2، تهران: مؤسسه انتشارات و چاپ دانشگاه تهران.
- کاشانی، غیاث‌الدین جمشید، 1366، رساله‌ی تاق و ازج، ترجمه‌ی علی‌رضا جزبی، تهران: سروش.
- گالدیری، اوژن، 1378، «مرمت گنبد آجری، تجربه‌ای از ایران»، ترجمه‌ی فرهاد فخاری، تهران: صفه، شماره‌ی 28، صص: 9- 24.
- گدار، آندره، 1367، آثار ایران، ترجمه‌ی ابوالحسن سرو مقدم، جلد سوم، مشهد: آستان قدس رضوی بنیاد پژوهش‌های اسلامی.
- گدار، آندره، 1369، تاق‌های ایرانی، ترجمه‌ی کرامت‌الله افسر، تهران؛ فرهنگسرا.
- معماریان، غلامحسین، 1367، نیارش سازه های تاقی در معماری اسلامی ایران، چاپ اول، تهران: جهاد دانشگاهی دانشگاه علم و صنعت ایران.
- معماریان، غلامحسین، 1391، معماری ایران نیارش، ج 1 و 2، تهران: نغمه نواندیش.
- ویلبر، دونالد و گلمبک، لیزا، 1374، معماری تیموری در ایران و توران، ترجمه‌ی کرامت‌الله افسر و محمدیوسف کیانی، تهران: سازمان میراث‌فرهنگی کشور.
 
- Amiet, P., 1972, Glytique susienne, des orgines a lepoque des perses achemenides, Mdafi Tome XLIII, Paris.
- Besenval, R., 1984, Technologie De La Voute, Paris: Editions Recherche sur les civilisations.
- Bier, L., 1986, Sarvestan, Acollection of the Architecture of Iran from Its Existence to the Appearance of Islam.
- Curtis, J., 1946, Ancient Persia, Trustees of the Britidc Museum.
- Escrig, F., 1998, Towers & Domes. Publisher, Copmputational Mechanics Publications.
- Godard, A., 1936, Athar É- Iran, JOH, Enschede En Zonen, Haarlem, Tome III, V.
- Golombek, L. & Wilber, D., 1988, The Timurid Architecture of Iran & Turan. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University press. v.1.
- Grube, E. J. & Dickie, J., 1995, Architecture of the Islamic world, its history & social meaning, George (EDT) Michell. Publisher, William Morrow, NY.
- Hugi, H., 1977, Ghala - Dokhtar - Atechkade: Monuments Sasanides près Firouzabad, Iran; Rapport Préliminaires des Projets de Consilidation ET Restauration, Publisher, Organisation Nationale pour la Conservation des Monuments Historiques en Iran.
- Mohamadianmansoor, Saheb., S. Sina. Faramarzi. S. Akbari, Meysam. Hatamimajd, Faeze. 2012, “Karbandi: The ground of applying Dome on different contexts in Iranian architecture”, Congress, Domes in the World, 1-13.
- Okane, B., 1984, Timurid Architecture in Khurasan, Costa Mesa, Calf. Publisher, Mazda Pub.
- Papadopoulo,a & Hishmat Jazanī. 1989. Islamic architecture. Publisher Markaz-i nashr-i farhangi-i Raj.
- Pope, A. 1981. A survey of Persian art, from prehistoric times to the present. Ashiya, SoPA.
- Saeidian, A. 2012. Geometrics & architectural structure of our chin domes in Iran. Elixir International Journal. ARC. 43:6714-6723.
- Safaeipour, H. zargar, A.h. e. Goudarzi, S. 2012. Typology of khashkhashis (stiffeners) in discontinuous double- shell domes. Domes in the World. International Scientific Congress, Florence, 1-19.
- South, Nanette & Habib Sadid. 2005. A Finite Element Analysis of the Monolighic Dom. Publisher, Idaho state university.