Analysis of Sustainablity patterns of stair stepped villages in northwest Iran Case study: Totakhaneh, the wonderful village
Abstract
Various factors impact on residential complexes as well as villages. These are called economic, sociocultural and environmental factors. Sustainable residential complexes have balanced among these factors. This paper is studying the stair stepped village named Totakhaneh located in east Azerbaijan, Iran. The paper is to answer the question - are mentioned factors balanced in formation process of village texture? Is Totakhaneh a sustainable res idential complex? The investigation method is descriptive -analytic; data and information collected through fieldwork and library study. Finally, it was concluded that although nature has meaningfully affected on the formation of the village; however socioc ultural and livelihood issues have been influential on major and minor decision -making processes and the village has been assumed a sustainable residential complex before accession to the modern life.
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Introduction
Concept of sustainability has been highly regarded in recent years, and many developed countries have tried to approach successful models of sustainable development. A glance on vernacular architecture in different areas of Iran suggests our ancestors' prudence and wisdom in selection of material and form of building to save energy by constructing sustainable building. They have used minimum facilities to provide the most suitable existing conditions; to overcome unfavorable climatic and environmental conditions and to meet principles and fundamentals of sustainable design which is focused nowadays by architects and urban designers.
This paper is scientifically studying a wonderful village named Totakhaneh in east Azerbaijan, Iran. It is geographically located in an impassable mountain range overlooking a valley with original features of vernacular architecture; Totakhaneh has formed gradually in coordination with climate and vernacular properties. This paper is going to analyze influencing factors on formation of Totakhaneh, to evaluate its texture and skeleton rate of amenability to environmental and socioeconomic factors. Required information on Totakhaneh collected through fieldwork and library study. First part of this paper is introducing influencing factors on village formation. And then sustainability principles are studied; and finally, influencing factors on texture of the village are reviewed. According to the primary principles, in sustainable complex socioeconomic and environmental conditions of human life are focused.
This paper is going to answer the following questions: Except natural factors, are socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing on village formation? Have the three mentioned factors been balanced in formation process of village texture? According to the current definitions of sustainability, is Totakhaneh a sustainable residential complex? Objective of this paper is to achieve sustainability models of Totakhaneh for the development and reconstruction as well as development and reconstruction of other villages in Bonab area.
Conclusion
Sustainable residential complex balances among environmental and socioeconomic factors. Before emergence of modern living, villages were considered as sustainable residential complexes because they were compatible to the environmental conditions of the area through trial and error; and there were intelligent solutions for confronting environmental incompatibility. Old people respected and protected the nature. This paper is introducing a sample of stepped structure villages named Totakhaneh that is located in Bonab in east Azerbaijan. According to the diagram 5, in formation of the village, environmental issues such as accessibility to the water resources; avoidance and prevention of flooding; construction of sloped structures for utilization of sunlight; usage of regional potentials for passive heating and cooling have been very effective. Not only environmental issues but also social issues, and religious beliefs; relationship of residing people are effective in the village formation and layout of internal spaces of the houses.
On the other hand, economic issues; sources of villagers‟ income and their subsistence have increased diversity of indoor spaces and have impacted the texture of village. Generally, we may conclude that texture and architecture of Totakhaneh are highly flexible for gradual construction of various spaces; all peoples‟ living requirements are considered. Namely, it is a sustainable residential complex and foretime experiences are regarded and used for future development project of the village.