An Integrated Framework for the Architectural Evaluation of the Identity of Qajar Houses

Throughout the history of architecture in Iran, the term identity has been changed due to the dynamic and temporal aspects shaping the identity of architecture. Mainly, during the Qajar period (1795-1925) due to social, political, and economic changes, there was a sharp milestone from the vernacular approach of design to more contemporary approaches of construction which led to the development of a specific identity in architecture of houses in Qajar period. In this regard, this study aims to develop an integrated framework to assess the identity of Qajar houses. The methodology developed in this study is mainly qualitative assessment based on content analysis and case studies. Historical analysis has been used to assess as applicable technique on the case studies in Qajar period. Overall, the methodology in this qualitative grounded theory study will be classified into three main parts: a) Discourse and content analysis b) Historical analysis c) Site survey. Accordingly, indicators shaping the identity of architecture have been classified into seven main groups and further developed based on static and dynamic organization which shapes the identity of traditional Iranian architecture. The study also revealed that in Qajar period, there is a possibility of classifying the identity of architecture into three main periods. Overall, it reveals that the amalgamation of the dynamic and static factors shaping identity is the most important factor that forms the identity of Qajar houses. Generally, it concludes that apart from radical social, political, economic and technological changes in the Qajar period, some traditional principles of housing (such as courtyards, simplicity in design) are frozen, but culture - architecture- of privacy in design due to the people’s religion is continuing. Keywords: Identity; Traditional Iranian Houses; Transition period; Qajar period.