Recognition of the nature of Sabat in historical contexts (Case study of Sabats of the neighborhoods of Naein historical context)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• mitra azad ¹
• mahdi soltani mohamadi ²
• khatereh talebi ³

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Restoration, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

² Graduated MSc, from Shahid Beheshti University, M.Sc.Tehran, Iran

³ Graduated MSc, from Shahid Beheshti University, M.Sc.Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Passages have been considered as one of the main elements of the structure of historical cities, in which the main network of transportation and urban communication took place and, neighborhoods and different urban areas were connected in all areas of the city (Tavassoli 2012, 69). Sabbat is one of the architectural elements of Iranian urban spaces, which is still found in the passages of many historic cities such as Naein.

 Naein's historical context consists of seven neighborhoods, which are connected to the city's bazaars and gates by main thoroughfares and passages. Sub-passages also play a major role in providing communication between different points within a neighborhood (Sultanzadeh 2011, 98).

A primary assessment of the study (architecture, urban planning) that referred to the subject of Sabat shows that different and sometimes contradictory definitions of Sabat have been presented and most of these studies are within the framework of physical descriptive studies; and Sabat's main situation in Iran's past architecture and urban planning has not been determined. However, Sabat has had many functional values ​​in the climatic, structural, social and even defense fields. This research claims that new analytical frameworks appropriate to each space can be designed and produced at any time in order to analyze the sabats of historical contexts of Naein, considering the gradual evolution of concepts and methods of analysis in design knowledge. Such research requires a variety of aspects such as climate, culture, historical and social background, etc., as well as the use of appropriate and up-to-date methods to understand the nature of Sabat. Therefore, based on the nature of the sabats of Naein's historical context, various analytical methods have been used to understand these hidden dimensions and a new approach has been proposed in understanding the nature of the sabats of historical neighborhoods.

Research method

In this research, interpretive-historical, descriptive-analytical methods, content analysis, and case studies have been used for providing a special model to analyze the Sabbats. These analyses are carried out by the historical documents and interviews about the oral history of the Sabbats, field observations. Quantitative and qualitative components have been studied separately in the neighborhoods of Naein historical context. Based on the scattered content about sabat and relying on field observations, analysis of available documents and information and in-depth interviews, the present research studies and analyzes the sabats of historical context in both functional and physical dimensions The method of data collection and analysis was as follows: Documentary studies, Field surveys and impressions, In-depth interview.

Research findings

Qualitative knowledge of Sabat requires a study of the set of characteristics and features that this element has, both independently or in context and in total. According to the initial studies, the functions of creating extra space on the passage, creating privacy in public spaces, optimizing the underpass by controlling the two climatic components of temperature and wind, and defensive as the functions of sabats are identified and examined in the qualitative part as follows.

Creation of extra space on the passage

Creating private spaces in public spaces

Climatic function by optimizing the passage by controlling the two climatic components of temperature and wind

Defensive function

A quantitative analysis of the historical context of Naein

Volumetric composition

Materials and cover

Stretching of sabats

Conclusion

Sabat, on the one hand, is a spatial-physical structure which is related to the social structures of neighborhoods and personal and public spheres, on the other hand. This has led to the fact that it has played a key role in neighborhoods and turning from a cover-up with a mere shading role into a multifunctional element. This research emphasizes that based on Sabat's sampling in historical contexts, based on qualitative and quantitative methods, new dimensions of the nature of Sabats in the structure of neighborhood passages can be found. Also, from a methodological point of view, the production of analytical models requires preconceptions based on historical interpretive analysis of ownership documents, observations and field observations and reference to the oral memory of residents, to analyze the process of space production over time. Based on this methodological view, the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the historical context of Naein can be stated as follows:

Creating extra space on the passage

-The lower level of the passage that is used as a general stress and the level on the passage that has an application. And its ownership belongs to one of the owners of both sides of the passage.

Social

-Creating private space with confinement, roofing and height difference with the overall space

-A place to gather residents of several houses and create a sense of solidarity and local neighborhood

climate

-Tolerance to harsh conditions of Nain desert climate

- Combining shadows created by Sabat walls

- Increasing shading surfaces

- Protecting passers-by from the intense sun and desert winds

- Absorbing heat from the body wall and reducing the wall temperature

Defense

-Separating the rider from the animal and adjusting the offensive power of the attackers

-Helping each other in times of siege from above the sabat

Dimensions and proportions

-Average length of 8.50 m, average width of 3.40 m, average height of 5.10

Volumetric composition

-Open (bridge between adjacent houses, entrance definition), closed (one or more rooms) with opening in the facade and semi-open with the porch in front of the closed space of Sabat have been designed

Materials

-Has rough texture, light color and high thermal capacity (clay and mud)

stretching

-Ten sabats with east-west stretch and five with north-south stretch

Keywords

• Passage
• Sabat
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis
• Historical Context
• Naein

Main Subjects

• Architecture