CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS IN ARCHITECTURE

Gayatri Arude, Reg: No: 1151630727,

VII Semester, B. Arch, Dr. D Y Patil College of Architecture, Akurdi
Email: gayatri.arude2486@gmail.com

Review (Paper 3)
(Sheida Ettehad, Amir Reza Karimi Azeri, Ghazaleh Kari)The Role of Culture in Promoting
Architectural Identity European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences 2014;No.4 Special
Issue on Architecture, Urbanism, and Civil Engineering ISSN 1805-3602 (3(4)), 410-418.

 Problem Statement:
This article explained about how the position of culture in promoting the architecture
identity.

 Aim/objective of the paper:

This paper aims to relook the definitions of culture, identity, architecture and their interaction
with each other; some Iranian historic buildings in different periods were studied.

 Method of Analysis:

1. Culture:
Culture is a set of beliefs, knowledge, education, customs and values that society has developed them
based on their own beliefs and in the process, it aims to achieve a development defined and explained
to him by its world look. The impact of culture in different areas of life, including art, architecture and
urban planning and development, and ways of life is undeniable.

2. Architecture:
Architecture is scientific- artistic activities to create space and organize it;. Architecture is apart from
a building or building, but also how to build it and not related to construction materials, however, it is
related to the way a house or city is built in order to meet non-material human needs.
Architecture is both formed and has continued to the present time since the old time when building
and trimming were popular, and its variety has been created. The model of the relationship between
culture and architecture can be expressed based on four different definitions

 Data used:

An overlook of Iranian architecture and culture in different historical periods

 Before Islamic Revolution:

The early of Qajar dynasty, Iranian architecture had root continuity and progression.
Development in manufacturing techniques, new materials, and change in employer’s
demands, changes was strengthened based on indivisible principle and properties.
Architectural continuity resulted in cultural continuity in all areas of Iranians
architecture. By this time, culture and architecture of this area transformed through
cultural exchange with surrounding lands.

 Qajar dynasty:
 The continuity of the components of individual and social life of people changed due
to some reasons like international changes, still government officials believe that
development of country was to follow the adoption in west based on social,
economical and cultural areas. Therefore, architectural structures based on traditional
architecture and cultural continuity still evident in the principles of architecture.

 First Pahlavi’s dynasty:

In this period, modern architecture came into picture by avoiding to continue
traditional architecture of Qajar dynasty. This further leads to evolution of modern
architecture. The presence of culture in this period is based on 3 issues:

1. Continuation of traditional styles in the construction and in the design of residential

units.
2. Integration and Composition of European style with the elements of Iranian
architecture such as wishbone arches, Mogharnas, etc.
3. Considering elements from historic period of pre-Islamic era and combining those
with today’s applications.

 Second Pahlavi’s dynasty:

The cultural look towards architecture was still based on tradition. Although in early
period this was dominated by international styles. In this period, in addition to
traditional architecture applying indigenous materials and indication of symbolic form
develop through culture.

There are some factors that can influence the formation of architecture spaces:

• Material factors: material, building science and technology, economy;

• Environmental factors: climate, natural environment, artificial environment;
• Functional factors: behavioural patterns and spatial features of activities, technology, and
biology tools;
• Cultural factors: culture and sustainable patterns, beauty, fashion and taste, innovation and
creativity.
Historical, time, environmental, and cultural factors play an important role among the above
factors and studying cultural factors, and their relationship to architecture issue is significant
(Diba, 1999).

Relationship between culture and architecture

The relation between culture and architecture based on space; Space as well as culture both
has social construction. Space is important factor for strengthening the culture, because
expected behaviour patterns within a particular space reflects the cultural values culture is
the factor or way of human’s relation with an artificial environment and implies on two
categories:
a) Standardized behaviors, thoughts, and feelings;
b) Products that are the result or a continuation of the behavior and thinking of people in a
given society.
Cultural factors affecting the formation of architectural spaces

The main role of culture is to represent concept, basic ideas, by introducing in the concrete
forms.

Culture can affect on the formation of architectural spaces through two following ways:
1. Through the creation of behavioral laws and rules that leads to functional organizing and
spatial hierarchy.
2. Through the creation of memories, beliefs and physical symptoms in the form of symbols,
archetypes and metaphors that lead to creating meaning in the architectural space.

Comparison of cultural indices in different periods and architecture in Iran Persepolis

Cultural indices: Founding Persian power based on religious and national principles
Strong military and advanced rules
Paying attention to the religion and divine inspiration

Architectural indices:
 Establishing a religious centre which was more glorious than political Achaemenid
palaces at Susa;
 Creating great and glorious architecture so that the height of the columns is unique
and openings; applying wood in the roof; placing the architecture on the platform and
separating it from the ground; Manufacturing Achaemenid Hall with columns based
on Urartuish architecture.

 Conclusion:

Studying all above cases states that every architectural aspect is based on cultural values of
that particular region. Cultural indices of the society forms architectural identity. Every
architectural style evolved from different earlier styles having different set of principles,
methods, traditions, etc. Architecture always accompanied with the time and cultures. This
defines that cultural values of every region changes based on that architectural characteristics
and elements also changes.