TYPOLOGICAL STUDY OF TRADITIONAL HOUSES OF SEMNAN CITY

Abstract

In Semnan, there are several valuable historic buildings that, despite their diversity and innovative nature, have a standard and unbreakable identity. With their erosion and degradation, their architecture and construction are rapidly being destroyed and forgotten. Therefore, a multifaceted study of these buildings is essential to recognize the patterns of building homes as the primary focus of development, relying on valuable samples mostly dating back to the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. In this research, forty historic houses in Semnan have been studied and analyzed in terms of climate, culture, geometry, form, spatial communication, structure, and all architectural elements that are the basis of the formation of the patterns of these houses. It was realized that architectural designs and constructions of these houses had undergone fundamental changes over time based on changing social conditions and habits of life. Traditional houses were studied in three specified periods, including before the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, from the power of Naser al-Din Shah to the early reign, and Pahlavi. By reviewing all the details of historical houses and categorizing them we will achieve a guideline for providing conservation and restoration projects in the historical context of Semnan.   Keywords: Urban fabric, historical houses, typology, Iranian Architecture, cultural heritage