Designing Ahwaz Center of Architectural Studies with Context-Oriented Approach

Abstract

In this paper, it has been attempted to consider the relationship between culture, architecture, and the effect of cultural factors in shaping architectural spaces and the necessity of attention to cultural architectural spaces. Next, by analyzing this relationship, it investigates the importance of attention to context-oriented architecture with a considerable contemplation that it establishes with the environment, and tries to consider the quality of constructions and practical approaches for designing cultural spaces and the center of architectural studies, paying attention to the native architecture of the city of Ahwaz and familiarity with native architectural terminology in order to promote culture, preserve regional values, and resuscitate national and regional culture and customs of this country. Specialized conditions of the district of Khuzestan, especially the city of Ahwaz, occurrence of the big river of Karun, hot climate, occurrence of dust and foggy weather, semi-desert climate, and intense air moisture at sultry times distinguish the climate of this region countrywide as particular and quite special. Conformity and coexistence of the people of this region with climate conditions can be a pattern for contemporary architects of Ahwaz. However, this architecture has undergone malformations like other regions of Iran. Unfortunately, employing construction patterns are changing in Ahwaz like in other Iranian regions.  Therefore, to find original Ahwaz patterns, a tour was taken to this region and native rural construction methods with environmental conditions of the district’s traditional architecture were investigated and eventually, appropriate approaches have been provided for devising durable architectural principles based on context-oriented architecture and incorporating how architecture affects the design of cultural spaces.