Spatial Organization

Purpose- In the hierarchical planning of central places, systematic and calculated settlement is based on the desired spatial system, and small cities play a major role in striking balance and equilibrium in the residential system. The role and function of this type of rural centers lay the theoretical basis for strategies of developing a balanced settlement model. The proponents of small towns point to importance of these settlements as service centers in rural development, stressing the construction of a cohesive settlement hierarchy and the effects of top-down distribution. According to their view, small towns are at the forefront of rural and regional development in terms of production and institutional structure, preventing the over-concentration of population and activities in large cities. It is an issue that has deprived these cities of proper economic returns and investment. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, the effect of Molkabad City on the spatial organization of rural settlements is investigated, and research hypotheses are tested using t-test, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and WASP. Finding- Of the sample villages in various geographical areas located at varying distances, Derakht-e Sepidar Village has the highest Qi in WASPAS model and is ranked first, thus having the highest spatial development among the sample villages. It is true because this village is located in a plain area adjacent to a dirt road that leads to Molkabad City. In the same region, Razan Village has the lowest Qi in WASPAS model and is ranked last, mainly because this village is located on a plain, but far from communication routes. Further, this village is within the jurisdiction of Binalood Town rather than Molkabad or even the center of its county, Imam Taghi Village. In general, according to the results obtained from the WASPAS model, it can be mentioned that there is a slight difference between the first and the last village and the rate of spatial development in the studied villages is almost identical. That is, it is not pertained to the remoteness and proximity to Molkabad City.

Passive Defense is a set of civilian efforts performed to enhance deterrence, reduce vulnerability, sustain essential activities, promote national stability, and facilitate crisis management against military threats of an enemy. Since in battles, sensitive and critical areas of cities are of paramount importance,it is clear that in military agressions, a large part of threats are focused on cities and their urban facilities and equipment, especially fuel centers. As a result, consideration of passive defense while planning cities has a significant role in reducing the vulnerability of cities and their urban elements as well as facilitating the urban crisis management. It also provides the citizens resistance threshold under possible enemy invasion and natural malicious agents. Hence, this article reviews and analyzes the current situation of gas distribution centers and evaluates their positioning across the city of Mashhad with regard to passive defense approach. However, as far as there is no clear- cut criteria for organizing fuel centers with passive defense approach, the Delphi method is used to select the desired criteria in which on the basis of the final comments of the experts, four critera- performance, access, hazards and security election and spatial organization of the fuel tanks and petrol stations- are analyzed using AHP model and GIS spatial analyzes. Accordingly, it can be said that the assessment of the current status of the urban fuel stations in Mashhad indicates that no area of the city enjoys all measures of passive defense (performance, availability, security, and risks). Likewise, the results indicate that the distribution of these centers in the city are mostly consistent with the factor of access. taking into account all the criteria, it is the ​​North West of Mashhad which has the highest utility than other areas. It is followed by the east of Mashhad and ​​the Northeast and the middle east of the city, respectively. Accordingly, it could be stated that ignoring an efficient design for determining the optimum location of the site construction with a passive defense approach results in an inappropriate and naive spatial distribution of the stations leading to an increased security and environmental risks of the city.

Purpose- This research attempts to analyze the role of livestock production in the spatial organization of the houses in Liqvan village that is one of the famous rural areas at the national level in Iran, and it owes most of its fame to the dairy products produced there (especially cheese). Design/methodology/approach- This study has been carried out in two sections: library and field studies. The theoretical part is done from available and accessible library resources (including books, magazines, articles, and authoritative sites). The field part is done using the "phenomenology" method. Findings- Studies show that in the traditional livelihood period, the role of livelihood was influential in the formation and spatial composition of the houses in this village, and the old living spaces of Liqvan were shaped to respond to the functions, with appropriate internal divisions, to provide long-term living facilities. However, along with the contemporary wave of modernization and changes in the needs of the present era, and especially the significant shift in income from traditional activities to mass dairy production, in the newly built houses, the residential spaces have often been converted into living spaces that do not have much affinity with local customs and traditions and do not have compatibility with the native architecture. Original/Value- Given the significant changes in the livelihoods of rural communities, it is crucial to implement strategies for developing and regenerating villages like Liqvan. This includes stabilizing rural centers, creating production and promoting income centers, and revising development strategies and policies. The focus should be on leveraging local potentials. The study also advocates introducing new productions and reviving past activities and services through production clusters with technical and specialized consultations. Furthermore, the preservation of indigenous architecture and the regeneration of local spaces can contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in the village.

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of residential floor plans from three pivotal periods in Iranian history: the Zand (1751–1794 CE), Qajar (1789–1925 CE), and Pahlavi (1925–1979 CE) eras. By examining prominent residential buildings from each period, the study investigates the transformation of circulation features, namely courtyards, iwans, corridors, and vestibules (hashtis). Findings reveal a progressive reduction in courtyard centrality and hierarchical access systems during the Zand and Qajar eras, shifting toward linear, corridor-based, and Western-influenced layouts in the Pahlavi period. This change decreased reliance on introverted, multi-courtyard configurations for privacy and climate control, favoring open-plan structures with direct entrances and reduced spatial segregation. This evolution reflects changing approaches to spatial organization, privacy, and formal access in response to modernization and shifting cultural paradigms. The study contributes to understanding the dynamic interplay between architecture and historical context in Iran, highlighting the significance of residential spaces as cultural artifacts. Through a focused architectural lens, this analysis provides insight into the broader historical shifts embedded in built environments.

Safavid Isfahan (1501–1736) has long been celebrated for its monumental mosques, palaces, and gardens, yet scholarship has often privileged domes, façades, and ornament while neglecting the interstitial spaces that mediate between them. This study addresses that gap by examining the formative role of thresholds, corridors, galleries, gardens, and terraces in structuring experience and constructing architectural identity. A qualitative methodology was adopted, combining a systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews with eight leading scholars of Iranian and Islamic architecture, and detailed case analyses of the Imam Mosque, ʿAlī Qāpū Palace, and the Chahār-Bāgh School. Thematic coding of expert testimonies, triangulated with architectural evidence, revealed six interdependent domains of interstitial design: geometric order, spatial hierarchy, environmental intelligence, socio-cultural practice, sensory–spiritual orchestration, and political–aesthetic representation. The findings demonstrate that in Safavid architecture, interstitial spaces were not residual connectors but polyvalent instruments that simultaneously organized movement, moderated climate, encoded hierarchy, and materialized cosmological and ideological meanings. These results reframe Safavid design as a grammar of thresholds in which form, function, and symbolism are fused. Beyond historical insight, the study underscores the continuing relevance of interstitial design as a model for integrating climate, community, and cosmology in contemporary architectural practice.