The Effect of Introversive Spatial Structure on the Behavioral and Cultural Qualities Ranging from Protection of Personal Privacy to Expansion of Social Relations

Abstract

Throughout history, the Iranian architecture and urban planning have been brimming with values and patterns that emerged and evolved over time under different circumstances. In the contemporary era, however, the transition from tradition to modernity has broken the inherent architectural values and patterns, where many of the implicit qualities have been gradually forgotten. One of such patterns in the Iranian architecture and urban planning involves introversion influenced by climatic-environmental and behavioral-functional factors. Introversion in architecture is a concept concentrating on the inner physics of the architecture, while highlighting the human intrinsic identity, where the architectural space revolves around protecting the individual privacy. Since the physical form of a space directly affects the qualities of human relationships as well as the societal culture, it is highly essential to examine the qualities of such pattern. The physical form of the space involves semantics, aesthetics and design context. So long as the form is consistent with the values and norms of its target society, it can create incentives for the development of social and neighborly relations. Hence, this study mainly attempted to identify and evaluate the implicit qualities within the introversiveive architecture and urban planning from the traditional perspective. In this regard, a comparative case study was conducted on a few samples given the qualitative aspects of human relationships, as well as the diversity of neighborly relations, especially in the context of introversion. Moreover, a historical descriptive-analytical research was carried out. Finally, there were several suggestions and solutions proposed to revive the genuine pattern of architecture and urban planning as well as the restoration of introversive architectural and urban planning in accordance with the Iranian centralist ideology.