The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Elucidating the Concept of Non-Institution and Its Role in Establishing Immanent Connection in Architecture and Urban Settings (A Case Study of the Edges of Buildings Surrounding the Jame’ Mosque in Shahrak-e Gharb, Tehran)

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2024.474768.5655
Volume 21, Issue 138
December 2024
Pages 41-54
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Milad Heidari 1
Ali Asghar Malekafzali 1
Mahta Mirmoghtadaee 2

1 Architecture Department, Faculty of Art and Architecture, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Road, Housing and Urban Development, Research Center (BHRC), Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Problem statement: One of the primary reasons for the creation or development of buildings is to accommodate the ongoing and potential activities of individuals. However, the current focus on purely physical expansion has diminished human activities at building edges and reduced the sense of connection between buildings and the urban environment. This study seeks to identify the factors influencing immanent connections in architecture and urban settings.
Research objective: The connections between buildings and urban areas are defined as a collection of factors in which the institution plays a central role as a social agent, linking small and large scales, and is characterized by both formal and functional attributes. This study aims to provide an operational definition of the concept of institution within the context of the selected study area, exploring the attributes of institutions and non-institutions and their roles in establishing immanent connections.
Research method: This qualitative study employs an emancipatory paradigm, utilizing ethnographic strategies and grounded theory. It follows a cyclical and interactive process of data collection, summarization, visualization, and evaluation.
Conclusion: The study identifies nine indicators of an institution: familiarity, time, motivation, details, transparency, enclosure, permeability, relationships, and perspective. These indicators serve as objective criteria that collectively describe the characteristics of institutions. The elucidation of the concept of “non-institution” serves to liberate the definition of “institution” from the constraints imposed by repetitive and mundane interpretations. Non-institutions are generative ideas that create and nourish institutions, such as concepts related to cultural contexts, customs, beliefs, and all that connects individuals. Consequently, the characteristics of institutions act as a bridge linking us to non-institutions. Therefore, immanent connection in architecture and urban settings signifies the extent to which non-institutions are manifested at the edges of buildings. A city that allows greater expression of its non-institutions will appear more connected.

Keywords

Immanent connection
emancipation
non-institution
building edges
Agamben, G. (2015). The signature of all things: on method (A. Ferdowsi, Trans.). Dibache.  [in perssian] (original work published 2009)
American Heritage Dictionary. (2001). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Boano, C. (2017). The Ethics of a Potential Urbanism: Critical Encounters between Giorgio Agamben and Architecture.  Routledge.
Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T., & Tiesdell, S. (2009). Pubic Places Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Spaces (F. Gharayi, Z. AharI, E. Salehi & M.Shokuhi, Trans.). University of Art. [in persian] (original work published 2003)
De Certeau, M. (1988). The Practice of Everyday Life. University of California. https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Practice_of_Everyday_Life.html?id=-Csl_AAoUT8C
Fazeli, N. (2012). Farhang va shahr: charkhesh-e farhangi dar goftemanha-yue shahri ba tekye bar motale’at-e shahr-e Tehran [Culture and City: Cultural Turn in Urban Discourses Focusing on Tehran Urban Studies]. Teesa Sina Saghar. 
Frost, T. (2019). The Dispositif between Foucault and Agamben. Law, Culture and the Humanities, 15(1), 151-171. https://doi.org/10.1177/1743872115571697
Gehl, J. (2006). Close Encounters with buildings. Urban Design International, 11(29), 29-47. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000162
Gehl, J. & Svarre, B. (2016). How To Study Public Life (M. Behzadfar & M. Rezai Nodooshan & A. Rezai Nodooshan, Trans.). Elm-e Memar. . [in persian] (original work published 2013)
Gehl, J. (2017). Life Between Buildings (A. Akbari, F. Karamian & N. Mehrabi, Trans.). Parham Naghsh. [in persian] (original work published 1971)
Ghahreman, M. (2020). Foucault’ s Method as Subjectification and Developing of an Immanent Life Review of the book “ Genealogy is Gray: Reflections on Foucault’ s Method”. Journal of Critical Literature and Humanities, 20(9), 207-226. https://www.sid.ir/paper/390079/fa
Gharibpour, A. (2010). The Concept of “Function” in the Thought of Louis Kahn. Soffeh, 20(2), 51. 32-51.  https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100389.html?lang=fa
Groat, L., & Wang, D. (2011). Architectural Research Methods (A.R. Eynifar, Trans.). University of Tehran. [in persian] (original work published 2002)
Hassan, D. M., Moustafa, Y. M., & El-Fiki, Sh. (2019). Ground-floor façade design and staying activity patterns on the sidewalk: A case study in the Korba area of Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 10(3), 453-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2018.12.006
Heffernan, E., Heffernan, T. & Pan, W. (2014). The relationship between the quality of active frontages and public perceptions of public spaces. Urban Des Int, 19, 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1057/udi.2013.16 
Heidari, M., Malekafzali, A. A., & Mirmoghtadaee, M. (2023). Explaining the Concept of the Immanent Connection of the Building and the City; Towards a Non-Institutional Architecture. Urban Design Discourse- a Review of Contemporary Literatures and Theories, 3(4),74 -91. http://udd.modares.ac.ir/article-40-63848-fa.html
Joyce, T., & Guaralda, M. (2013) Life on the edge: The effects of building facade three dimensionality on public social behaviour. In_Bo: ricerche e progetti per il territorio, la citta e l’architettura, 4 (1), 158-173. 
Lang, J. (2011). Creating Architecture Theory: The Role of Behavioral Sciences in Environmental (A. Eynifar, Trans.). University of Tehran. [in persian] (original work published 1987)
López, T. G. (2003). Influence of the public-private border configuration on pedestrian behaviour: The case of the city of Madrid [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (UPM).
Madanipour, A. (2008). Public and Private Spaces of the City (F. Noorian, Trans.). Processing and Urban Planning Publication. [in persian] (original work published 2003)
Mehta, V. (2019). The Street; A Quintessential Social Public Space (Z. Khaledian & A. Payab, Trans.). Azarakhsh. [in persian] (original work published 2013)
Moin, M. (1992). Moin Encyclopedic Dictionary. Amirkabir.
Norberg-Schulz, C. (2014). Architecture: meaning and Place (V. Norouz Borazjani, Trans.). Parham Naghsh. [in persian] (original work published 1988)
Ogburn, W., & Nimkoff, M. (2009). Zamine-ye Jame’eshenani [Sociology Context] (A. H. Arianpour, Trans.). Gostareh. [in persian] (original work published 1940)
Shakeri, M.A. & Mirzaee, A. (2015). Maarefat Shenasi-e Zabani-e Daroon Mandegar Nazde Saussure va Hjelmslev: Yek Barresi-e Tatbighi [Linguistic epistemology of immanence according to Saussure and Yalmezlov: a comparative study]. Elme Zaban, 3 (5), 117-140. https://doi.org/10.22054/ls.2016.7522
Simpson, J., Freeth, M., Simpson, K. J., & Thwaites, K. (2018). Visual engagement with urban street edges: insights using mobile eye-tracking. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 12(3), 259–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2018.1552884 

Home

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us