Qajar architecture

In exploring the evolution of Iranian architecture from prototypes to the present day, Qajar architecture is an important part of Iranian architecture history. The importance of this era's architecture is because large changes in conceptual and physical context occurred slowly in Iranian architecture during this time. These changes, especially from the Nasserian period (the second Qajar era), have intensified and with the influence of Western architecture, Iranian architecture is gradually moving away from its traditional, rooted forms, manifestations and concepts, and blending European architectural patterns with Iranian models and styles to the extent that architecture progresses. These changes in Residential buildings (especially mansions) also appeared. Therefore, in this study, a comparison between the architecture of the residential buildings of the three periods of Qajar dynasties has been carried out to compare the changes of each period. The results showed that Qajar architecture has been influenced by western and European architecture from beginning to end.

Gardens are one of the most important built environments throughout the history of Iran in terms of symbolism, semantics, social construction, mythical elements and physical and functional spatial relationships. The coexistence of natural and built environments is more obvious in the Persian garden compared to any other functions. In this research, the nature of Persian gardens is analysed in terms of physical and functional structures and spatial and natural relationships based on a qualitative approach and a comparative-analogous method and the data is collected through library research and field investigations. Then, the components of the living structure theory, introduced by Christopher Alexander, are surveyed as research theoretical framework. The components are analysed and scored using AHP and the comparative analogy is done by 15 scholars. The data reveal that the physical, functional and natural structures are prioritized in order of importance with weights of 0.428, 0.334 and 0.238, respectively. The total interaction of components demonstrates that Ein-al-Doleh Garden possesses a living structure better than Eshrat-Abad Garden for all three structures, but it is weaker in natural structure, the same in functional structure and stronger in physical one in comparison to the Niavaran Garden. The local symmetries (0.125), strong centres (0.214) and roughness in the cultivation system (0.194) represent the most effective factors. For today, In consequence, it is possible to revitalize living structures in historical gardens through the revival of strong centres, attendance of green spaces, spatiality of Kushks and intense relationships between gardens and the Kushks.