Architectural Transcendence in the Formation of Interior Vaulted Spaces of Iranian-Islamic Architecture

Volume 21, Issue 138
December 2024
Pages 15-28

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Shahid Beheshti,Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Problem statement: Architecture, as a work of art, can evoke both concrete and abstract meanings for humans, thus establishing a profound connection with their emotions. “Transcendence1“ is an emotional concept that has been discussed in the theories of Western architectural theorists, and some travelogue writers have also mentioned their perception of this meaning in historical buildings of Iran2. This concept is particularly evident in certain dome structures and the interior halls of traditional Iranian buildings, spanning a range of sacred buildings like mosques and tombs to everyday structures such as Timchehs and baths.
Research objective: The aim of this research is to explore how the meaning of “transcendence” manifests in some Iranian architectural buildings and to provide a framework that can be utilized by designers and students to understand the emergence of the meaning of transcendence.
Research method: This study is qualitative, employing a descriptive and analytical method based on logical reasoning and the analysis of selected samples through a formalist critique approach.
Conclusion: Architecture that embodies the meaning of transcendence creates a space for mental concentration and places individuals within that space. In this environment, the uplifting force, liberation from the emotional weight of matter, and connection to the infinite are mentally evoked, thus preparing the context for the experience of transcendence in humans.

Keywords

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