Manifestation of Art in Architecture and Urban Engineering

In Islamic architecture, light has always been regarded as more than a functional element, symbolizing spirituality and the manifestation of the sacred. Iranian religious architecture, through the creative use of natural and artificial light, has succeeded in creating spaces filled with meaning and transcendence, offering individuals a unique experience of presence within sacred places. This study, employing a phenomenological approach, analyzes the role of light in the architecture of Iranian religious spaces and demonstrates how deliberate use of light evokes a sense of sanctity, promotes psychological tranquility, and enhances spatial quality. The findings reveal that light not only organizes spatial composition and highlights architectural elements but also acts as a bridge between human beings and transcendence. A review of traditional Iranian architectural examples shows that past architects, with a deep understanding of cultural and religious values, used light in such a way that it became an integral part of mystical and spiritual experiences. Thus, rethinking the application of light in contemporary architecture can inspire the design of spiritual spaces that, while modern, maintain a profound connection with tradition and religious beliefs.

Creative cities, as new platforms for cultural, social, and economic development, have received increasing attention from urban policymakers and researchers in recent decades. By emphasizing innovation, social participation, and the use of artistic capacities, these cities play a vital role in strengthening cultural identity and enhancing citizens’ quality of life. This research, using a qualitative method and content analysis of urban studies, examines the impact of urban art on cultural identity and sustainable development. The findings indicate that the presence of artistic works in public spaces not only enhances environmental aesthetics and increases social interactions but also fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens social capital. Furthermore, the integration of urban art with sustainable development policies has transformed art into a tool for addressing environmental issues, boosting cultural tourism, and fostering a dynamic urban economy. The article emphasizes that contemporary urban management must adopt a creative and artistic approach to urban design and organization in order to balance modern needs, cultural heritage preservation, and the realization of sustainable cities.

Islamic geometry, as one of the most fundamental components in shaping the identity of Iranian-Islamic architecture, has long held a prominent place in the architectural history of this region. Complex geometric patterns have not only fulfilled aesthetic functions but also contributed to imbuing spaces with meaning, reflecting sacred concepts, and creating harmony between architectural structure and the Islamic worldview. This study, adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, investigates the role of geometry in contemporary Iranian architecture, aiming to clarify the relationship between the continuity of tradition and the necessity of innovation in modern design. The findings suggest that reinterpreting traditional geometric principles can lead to the creation of a new architectural language—one that, while benefiting from modern technologies, simultaneously safeguards cultural and historical roots. Case studies further indicate that Islamic geometry holds significant potential for integration with sustainable architecture approaches, renewable energy usage, and intelligent design. Therefore, it can be argued that rethinking the application of Islamic geometry not only contributes to the preservation of cultural identity but also addresses contemporary challenges such as identity crises, urban architectural uniformity, and the growing need for sustainable spaces.

Today, the existence of deteriorated urban areas is among the realities of medium and large cities in the country. These areas bring with them specific issues, problems, and needs that have captured a significant share of urban planning activities. Therefore, regeneration must be placed among the priorities of action. Accordingly, the main objective of the present study is to apply network analysis through pairwise comparison of the urban districts of Tabriz for weighting purposes and subsequently determine their ranking based on the obtained scores using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) model. In this regard, various theoretical indices were first reviewed, and the measures of this research were identified. Based on these measures and for the purpose of regenerating the deteriorated urban areas in Tabriz metropolis, the ten districts were pairwise compared with the assistance of expert opinions from stakeholders, influencers, participants, and authorities. Finally, it was observed that District 4 of Tabriz, with a very slight difference compared to District 1, possessed a slightly higher weight and, consequently, holds the top priority for urban regeneration actions.

With the rise of urbanization and construction density in metropolitan areas, the phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) has become one of the major challenges in the field of urban climatology. Among the contributing factors, building materials, and particularly urban façades as vertical surfaces exposed to solar radiation, play a significant role in either intensifying or mitigating ambient temperature levels. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of different façade materials on ambient dry temperature in an urban case study. For this purpose, the southern section of Phase 1 of Ekbatan Town in Tehran was selected as the study area. Using Grasshopper software along with the Ladybug and Dragonfly plugins, three different scenarios were modeled and simulated: the current condition (concrete and stone façades), fully glazed façades, and a condition without anthropogenic elements (traffic, population, green spaces). The output data were analyzed through the UWG engine and compared with reference climatic data. The results indicated that highly reflective materials, particularly glass, cause a significant increase in ambient temperature during peak solar radiation hours (09:00–15:00). In the glazed façade scenario, the maximum temperature difference compared to the reference condition exceeded 5.5°C. These findings highlight the importance of considering appropriate material selection in urban façade design in order to reduce the negative impacts of UHI and to enhance outdoor thermal comfort.

In recent years, the urban façade has shifted from being a merely decorative surface to a central element of identity and communication, mediating between private and public spaces as well as between individuals and society. This study seeks to apply Gilles Deleuze’s philosophical concepts of “difference,” “repetition,” and “rhizome” to develop a new approach to the analysis and design of urban façades. The significance of these concepts lies in the fact that “difference,” as a generative and creative force, enables façades to break away from uniformity and embody diversity, while “repetition,” in Deleuze’s sense, represents creative regeneration rather than mechanical duplication, thereby linking unity with multiplicity. Furthermore, the notion of the “rhizome” as a horizontal, networked, and non-linear structure provides the basis for a more democratic understanding of urban spaces and for the fluid interaction between façades and the urban fabric. A comparative study of global architectural examples, such as the works of Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and parametric architecture, alongside an examination of urban façades in Iran, illustrates the potential of a hybrid model that draws upon both tradition and contemporary innovation. The findings reveal that such an approach not only enhances the aesthetic value of façades but also produces broader social consequences, including the strengthening of collective identity, the democratization of space, and a rethinking of the relationship between architecture and the citizen.

This study, aiming to conduct a semiotic analysis of silence in contemporary Iranian women’s fashion design, seeks to examine silence at the level of visual signs through Peirce’s triadic framework of icon, index, and symbol. The theoretical section of the research, drawing on case-based approaches (such as those of Shirin Gild, Araz Fazaili, and Mehrnoush Shah Hosseini) and philosophical perspectives (including the views of Wittgenstein, Derrida, and Barthes), conceptualizes silence and subsequently redefines it within the Peircean semiotic system. The research method is qualitative, employing a visual semiotic analysis approach. The study sample comprises a collection of conceptual and contemporary clothing designs by Iranian designers from the 2010s, which are evaluated in terms of form, color, texture, and spatial structure. Data were collected and interpreted through a combination of visual observation, comparative analysis, and decoding of visual constructs. In the applied analysis section, the works of three prominent contemporary Iranian designers—Shirin Gild, Araz Fazaili, and Mehrnoush Shah Hosseini—were examined semiotically. The findings indicate that these designers, through the use of simple forms, neutral colors, and the elimination of superfluous ornamentation, employ the visual language of silence as a cultural, aesthetic, and even political strategy. In Shirin Gild’s works, minimalism—drawing inspiration from traditional Iranian attire and removing seductive signs—transforms into a language of silence, dignity, and critical engagement. Fazaili’s designs, by reinterpreting rural elements and removing visual extravagance, present silence as cultural resistance and a reflection of feminine identity. Likewise, Mehrnoush Shah Hosseini’s works, by integrating the language of traditional architecture with fashion design, recreate silence not only through elimination but also through geometry, material, and space. This analysis provides a more nuanced understanding of the role of clothing in representing Iranian women’s identity, the social meaning-making systems, and the relationship between design, the body, and culture.

The present study investigates the role of revitalization of lost spaces in urban sustainable development with an emphasis on contemporary approaches in the context of the traditional bazaar of Kerman. The research is applied in nature and exploratory-explanatory in approach, conducted using a mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative) design. The qualitative population consists of experts and specialists in architecture, tourism, and cultural heritage, while the quantitative population includes local (native) residents around the traditional bazaars of Kerman. A purposive snowball sampling method was used to select 12 participants from the first group, and a simple random sampling method was used to select 92 participants from the second group. For data analysis, grounded theory was applied in the qualitative phase, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in the quantitative phase. The findings derived from grounded theory in the qualitative section revealed that information behavior, through seven components—namely recognition of the dimensions of deterioration and the regressive trajectory of lost spaces, as well as identification of regional resources and opportunities—affects the realization of conservation principles and the revitalization process. The realization of conservation principles and the revitalization process, in turn, leads to the physical, economic, and socio-cultural revitalization of lost spaces. Furthermore, government policies—including legislation and implementation—serve as contextual conditions, while contemporary (technological) approaches act as intervening factors influencing the revitalization of lost spaces, ultimately resulting in economic, physical, and socio-historical development. Quantitative findings derived from structural equation modeling also confirmed the qualitative results. Specifically: recognition of the dimensions of deterioration and the regressive trajectory of lost spaces has a significant effect on the realization of conservation principles and the revitalization process; identification of regional resources and opportunities has a significant effect on the realization of conservation principles and the revitalization process; the realization of conservation principles and the revitalization process significantly affects the revitalization of lost spaces; contemporary approaches have a significant effect on the revitalization of lost spaces; government policies have a significant effect on the revitalization of lost spaces; and finally, the revitalization of lost spaces has a significant impact on urban sustainable development.