Investigating the Geometrical Proportions in the Height Elements and Components of Qajar Era Mosque-Schools in Tehran

Hayaty, Hamed

doi:10.22034/bagh.2024.405521.5415

Investigating the Geometrical Proportions in the Height Elements and Components of Qajar Era Mosque-Schools in Tehran

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2024.405521.5415

Volume 21, Issue 132
June 2024

Pages 55-70

The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Hamed Hayaty

Assistant Professor, Architecture Department, Qom University, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

Problem statement: geometry, along with proportions, are the significant indicators of the prominent monuments designed by Iranian artists and architects over the history of architecture in Iran. Architectural proportions create a desirable connection between the generating components of a monument and provide the audience with a sense of order and arrangement between different parts of a visual composition. Besides order, proportions can create a sense of beauty. In other words, Iranian architects apply geometry and proportions as a common language to meet the aesthetic, structural, and functional needs of the architecture and artworks.
Research objective: The current research explored the geometrical proportions in the height components of the Qajar Era school mosques in Tehran, Iran. Thus, each school mosque was analyzed based on the proportional rules of the height components. As a result, a height pattern or a relational pattern between the height components of 9 school mosques was obtained. Hence, a height design hierarchy can be reread in each mosque. Therefore, the research question was what common patterns and proportions can be found in the height components (dome, minarets, porches, courtyard facade) of the school mosques.
Research method: The current paper used a quasi-experimental research method to examine the compatibility between the dimensions of the height components and the proportions and geometry. Then, the deductive method was utilized to investigate the case studies. That is to say, after analyzing the data of each building and comparing them with the proportion principles, the characteristics of the common height proportions were observed in the height of the components of the building courtyards based on which the research findings were assessed.
Conclusion: After analyzing the proportions and height patterns in 9 case studies, the Iranian golden ratio was obtained in all the height components, including the height of the courtyard facade, from the shortest height of the porch to the highest minaret or dome. The common patterns in the proportions were found in all case studies while comparing the height components. For instance, the shortest porch of the complex and the height of the courtyard facade had proportions close to the golden ratio. Furthermore, other similar proportional patterns were recognized in two or several school mosques.

Keywords

Golden ratio

Iranian proportions

height components

Qajar era

Tehran mosques

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