New life for old buildings : construction on the historic environment : case study, Amini house, Qazvin,Iran

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1- Background

Nowadays, there are existing some architectural heritage in all over the world. We could categorize them in three groups, some of them are too important and there are in center of attention, some institution and government support them in order to restoration, modernization and keeping safe them, at the second group we could find some buildings that they continue their normal life as every existing building and people use this places independent of keeping their function or not. But the last group (that this dissertation refer to them) is some abbonded architectural heritage, they are exist but without any attention and with passing the days they will becoming ruins, how such buildings can present an opportunity to create development that adds to urban character and distinctiveness. This is now seen as fundamental to successful and sustainable regeneration.

The intention of this project for regeneration, is to take a closer look at the use of contemporary styles for new additions to historic buildings. In this study a traditional Iranian house in Qazvin-lran will be investigated and designed. Key elements that allows historic buildings and contemporary additions to work cohesively, respecting and promoting each other’s architectural and cultural significance, are carefully examined.

1.2- Scope of study

New architectural styles can actually reinforce the significance and architectural value of historic buildings. By labeling architecture as an old or new style, we are recognizing a timeframe for the use of unique and symbolic details that have value and meaning for a specific group. These symbolic details are the language that helps to illustrate or convey the evolution of our society. The styles expressed on historic buildings represent the language of the past and the new styles will represent our present in the future. For this reason, it is important to create an environment where both can coexist and correlate with each other, building additions to historic buildings using contemporary architecture styles with an honest representation of current social situations, while protecting the historic structure which represents the social situations of our past.

This study consists of these parts; firstly, a field study of geographic and climate of Iran, especially Qazvin, in the second place, studying about Iranian architecture and traditional houses particularly in Qazvin city. Thirdly, design part; analyzing and exploring site of the case study with accuracy, and finally suggesting suitable architectural design and find the best solution for protecting the structure of it.

1.3- Overall research aim

According to the vast number of alternatives, the main focus will be on designing the addition with contemporary architecture in Qazvin city.

Qazvin is an old city in Iran and has rich history and its historic fabric, therefore it have enough challenges and also potential for regeneration and intervention in this mood, now historic area in Iran conserved in the best way, but them used just for tourists and normal life do not exist in these quarters, the importance and necessity of adapting historic buildings to present needs for the benefit of the users and the building’s life, as long as it does not affect the historic fabric.

Therefore the two critical questions of the dissertation are:

1- Find an appropriate model to link contemporary and traditional architecture in historic environment of Qazvin city, design on the traditional house in Qazvin by considering climate and special architecture of the city.

2- Study structure problem and achieve an solution via technology.

1.4- Methodology

In order to find out a way where old and new elements of the built environment will be represented in the future in a balanced way, we should know theories of this work and also will be needed an accurate look at some historic buildings that have contemporary additional and its feedback in the society, then we could have some strategies for our design by considering existing experiments.

For my thesis, we need a careful study and perfect knowing of climate and architect of the place, therefore first Iran and Qazvin climate will be reviewed. Secondly, the architecture of Iran and Qazvin specially the traditional houses as our case study will be studied. And reviewing old Qazvin district and have a fuller understanding of how this neighborhood change.

Finally present my design by adapting to the strategies.

1.5- Structure of the study

The outcome of the thesis has been presented in seven chapters. The First chapter is the introduction to the study which includes the background and the scope of the study as well as the methodology and the structure of the study, chapter Two defines geography and climate of Iran, in chapter three will be a focus on Qazvin as the case study that included; Historical studies, Natural features, Climate features and Identification the human factors. Chapter Four provides the reader with background information about Iranian architecture and precisely the architecture of traditional houses. Chapter Five is a very detailed literature review of the case study, included Historic fabric of the Qazvin city, Review the neighborhood Akhund (Molavi) and Aminiha house.

And in the last chapter, according to the background information, and the methods and strategies design, as result present a design on Aminiha house in Qazvin-lran.