Iranian garden, the manifestation of sustainable green space

Asian Culture and History, 2010

This article intends to study effective factors on Iranian gardens as similar atmosphere with meaning and environment values. First we try to study cultural roots of ancient Iran and its effect on elements and structure of Iranian gardens; in second chapter similarities among Islamic beliefs in Iranian gardens are studied. Then by accessing to a set of cultural-environmental criterions of Iran as an atmosphere that is binding to Iranian culture and beliefs and Iranian knowledge and techniques as a complementary factor is presented and finally Iranian gardens are presented as perfection and ideal work at its principles. Principles and criterions that are raised as a result of aforesaid factors have ever been developed during history of garden constructing in Iran have been maintained in spite of difference at material and main principles and criterions and surely it will be attention by architects.

IFLA APR CLC International Symposium: Identity of Traditional Asian Landscapes, 2010

It is possible to categorize traditional landscapes of Iran into; Natural landscapes (with human interactions, e.g. Cemeteries, Qanats, canals, dams …), Cultivated landscapes (e.g. fruit gardens and crop fields), Royal gardens (mainly belong to royal families), Private gardens (mainly belong to Governors or Khans), Public open spaces and Courtyards. This paper will firstly try to introduce and present some samples of traditional courtyards and gardens, which still existed in Iran (specially focus on private sector gardens and courtyards. The paper would like to show the importance of studying these gardens as some important sources of knowledge in this field. Studying these gardens may fulfill some gaps for better understanding of garden design in this region. The second part of the paper will give us a list of gardens and availability of information and studies about them. The data clearly shows the potential that exist on studying these gardens.

Persian garden is the practical burst of life in Iranian land and in extended concept it is the art of living and result of the effort of humankind for creating a suitable environment with the natural elements in the scope of that nature. Chahar Bagh, the most stable innovation of Achaemenian turned to the most fundamental element of Persian Gardens and followed successively in different era and affect extensively on various parts of Persian gardens and life. In 11 th century garden established a complex relation with the city and became one part of public places until 16th century that the usage of this scheme has diminished in Iran and imitation of European gardens chiefly French one were established; but, were not considered by Iranian urban inhabitants compared to historical Persian gardens; while, some existing historical Persian gardens are still considered and being actively used. This study examines two of these historical Persian gardens through publics' preferences based on their perceptions of the visual and scenery effects in relation to the characteristics of these gardens to find predominant physical and social aspects of these gardens. In this study, historical Persian Gardens were chosen due to their historical background as first sample of Iranian urban green spaces and public as the large consumer of urban spaces considered to provide positive affects towards a better understanding of these places.

2012

AENSI Journals, 2014

This paper is comparative study and concentrates on a research based on sustainable parameters of four Persian gardens, located on the central plateau of Iran. The lack of green spaces in the vast arid regions in Iran, has forced landscape architects and gardeners to create many innovative solutions to heat and dryness and the design method of Persian garden is one of them. Historical gardens of Iran have had special role to moderate local climates in arid regions and their design methods can be strategies for contemporary landscape architects. The selected case studies of this paper are Chehelsotoun, Fin, Shazde and Dolatabad gardens which are placed in the cities of Isfahan, Kashan, Mahan and Yazd respectively in arid regions of Iran. The research method adopted in this paper consists of descriptiveanalytic and deductive analyses, and by the analysis of sustainable features and characteristics of these selected historical gardens; such as, planting and irrigation systems, and relationship between natural and built elements of Persian gardens ,the authors identify an appropriate approach to create green spaces for present sustainable landscaping in similar climates. Results confirm that the similarities and differences between these selected gardens are because of the different microclimatic regions they are located in. At the conclusion, the authors classify the main characteristics of Persian gardens from sustainability view and present recommendations for sustainable landscape design.

this study was conducted to determine the place of historic gardens in the city of Tabriz vis-a-vis Iranian garden arts. It provides information on the historic gardens of Tabriz, which are no longer in existence, for example, ‘Saheb Abad’ Garden, ‘North’ Garden, ‘Sefa’ Garden, ‘Amir Kabir’ Garden, ‘Saheb Divan’Garden and ‘Fath Abad’ Garden, as well as four historical maps belonging to the Qajar era in the city of Tabriz. In this research, the factors influencing the design of El-Goli Garden were studied, which can be grouped into three major categories: physical, biological and cultural. After a brief study of the above factors in the city of Tabriz and its different microclimates, the types of similarities that exist relating to Iranian garden art were determined.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, 2006

This study will help researchers in coming up with designs that will develop the situation of life of people living in harsh environs also will help designers in coming up with designs that preserve the environment while getting better the life of people at the same time, and people will be capable to realize how culture can promote the environment and revamp barren land to sustain life. These types of gardens try to balance out the structure by complementing it with greenery. The study investigates the ancient Persian garden and the harmony with nature as means to achieve living quality. It is to make this desire a reality that such gardens came into existence, combining the serene beauty with the living space.

American Transactions on Engineering & Applied Sciences, 2012

Sustainable development is a widely accepted strategic framework in city planning and urban green spaces have an important role in it. Beside, increasing empirical evidence indicates that the presence of natural areas contributes to the quality of life in many ways. Also, urban nature provides important social and psychological benefits to human societies, which enrich human life with meanings and emotions. In order to exemplify the importance of urban green spaces for sustainability this paper analyses some historical Persian gardens for environmental sustainability and citizens’ well-being. In this study, historical Persian Gardens were chosen due to their historical background as first sample of Iranian urban green spaces which are still being used successfully. Some results of a survey conducted among visitors of historical gardens in Iran are presented and discussed. The issues investigated people’s motives for visiting gardens and the emotional dimension involved in the experience of nature and its importance for people’s general well-being.

journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient (JACO), 2014

Assistant professor of architecture faculty at the University of Zanjan, Iran m_soltani@znu.ac.ir Iranian Garden can be considered as one of the greatest achievements of Iranian culture and civilization which over the years presented the view of Iranian human towards the world around, and formed a part of its ontology. Iranian garden is genuine product of the interaction of mind and Iranians life in their natural environment (Mansouri, 2005). Iranian human’s perception of Garden is its understanding of nature, and contains its aestheticism taste toward elements of this world and their concepts. Cultural and political interactions that governing human society, has made this unparalleled product to be considered by many governors and artists from other civilizations for centuries. Hence, different levels of effects of such garden-building can be seen in landscaping arts of various ethnicities and civilizations across the world. By conflicts of Timur’s offspring, Timurids government in Iran was declined, but Timur’s descendants formed a new government in India that Europeans called it the Great Mugal (Ansari, 2011). Timur and his successors were interested to the Iranian Garden and Gardens of Samarkand are proof of this claim. Therefore, after dominance of Goorkani dynasty on Indian subcontinent, Iranian garden was entered in India as a perfect product along with new governors. yet, by accepting the fact that Iranian garden is a phenomenon of mixed nature and culture, this issue arises that existence of major differences between the new and former host regarding components such as: worldview, culture, art and particularly continent has led to changes in concept of Iranian garden. Basically, the new host had different perception about Iranian garden and its components. Research trip to India provided an opportunity that researcher investigating different aspects of the constructed Iranian gardens and also to evaluating the domain of changes created in concepts and the shape of the garden by adjustment comparison with domestic samples. Accordingly, instances of Iranian garden existed in India and their components were studied separately in a series of parallel studies, as a result new thinking and perception of garden can be identified. The obtained results from initial research lead to the formation of a general theory, based on this theory the general attitude towards Iranian garden in India considering the Iranian garden not only as Naturalistic landscaping but an architectural construction which regulate and organizes India’s unorganized background. Then, after completion of the studies which are on the basis of written sources, the obtained results would be investigated and analyzed with a single view until clearer aspects about changes in Iranian garden concepts in India’s background achieved.