Natural Light

The main sources of all natural light are the sun, the moon and the stars. In other words, the principle source of illumination is the light as mediated by atmosphere. According to some philosophers, spiritual or holy light includes not only material and quantified aspect, but being non-physical properties it treats as a spiritual connector between god and man. The light is the main part of existence which not only contacts to the surface of objects, but also helps them form. In other words, light is the key of finding space fundamental in making holy places meaningful. The present paper tries to make a comparative analysis of lighting in some of the most famous sacred buildings around the world. As such, the methodology preferred in this piece of research is descriptive, analytic and comparative.

In addition to attention to natural light as a renewable, costless and environment-friendly source of energy in the late 20th century, numerous studies have been conducted into the effect of natural light on human being’s soul and body and all such studies reiterate the undeniable role of natural lighting on people’s behavior, attitudes, and efficiency. However, in spite of the awareness of the effects of natural light on human beings as well as on the environment, source of lighting in most buildings is still limited to artificial lighting and most of the solutions used in the old architecture with regard to the use of natural lighting have been forgotten nowadays. This paper, based upon a holistic approach and a qualitative research method analyses a few traditional houses in Hot and Dry climate of Iran and showed how their builders by using architectural elements as well as different methods of space organization so to better use light to satisfy the physical and psychological needs of the inhabitants,including visual and heat comfort, health, introducing  variety and increasing space quality. As we will see, this research describes the methods they tried to create a balance between physical and psychological needs of the inhabitants and to supply the required energy.

Light is one of the many wonders in the architecture Iranian houses. It is a major tool for space creation and design. An important consideration in the Iranian architecture, which takes a functional and conceptual approach to the extensive subject of light, has been that light should create a beautiful and spiritual space in addition to being functional. The light used in a house should be pleasing to the eye, and it should not be dazzling or bothersome. Optimal use of light plays a major role in creating mental peace and physical comfort and saving energy. This paper investigates different methods of exploiting natural light in the architecture of Iranian houses. For this purpose, three houses of historical interest in the city of Kashan in Iran (Boroujerdi-ha, Tabatabaei-ha, and عباسian) were studied for the position and role of natural light in them. A qualitative research method was used within an analytical-interpretative approach. First, the elements and components used to exploit natural light were studied, and then the strategies employed to manifest values, meanings, and concepts were explored within an analytical model.

Based on conducted studies, lighting in Iranian architecture is one of the fundamental and essential features, with skylights playing a crucial role as a primary architectural element. Architecture in different regions is adjusted according to climatic conditions to maximize comfort while also considering the use of local materials. Given this, the design and placement of lighting elements can vary based on geographic location. The aim of this research is to examine the skylights in Qajar-era houses in Kerman and to explore the relationship between climate and regional architecture, considering both lighting and temperature factors simultaneously. Thus, the research questions are as follows: What are the characteristics of the windows in the historical houses of Kerman? Was natural light considered a key element in Kerman’s houses? Were the variety of windows in these historical homes adjusted based on climatic conditions? To achieve this goal, we studied four Qajar-era houses in Kerman: Azimi House, Kazemi House, Dinyar House, and Vaziri House. The research method is applied in nature and employs a descriptive and correlational approach for data collection, utilizing both field studies and library resources. By measuring the skylights and analyzing their design and positioning, we concluded that in desert regions, skylights are designed with small dimensions and colored glass to not only prevent direct sunlight but also regulate the lighting of the space. Additionally, these skylights are placed one meter above the floor and with a depth of less than 10 meters, providing both aesthetic appeal and environmental comfort.