A quest in urban morphology : an analytical approach in formation and transformation of a traditional city : with special reference to case of Yazd, Iran.

This study examines the morphological development of urban spaces. It proposes a method for morphological analysis which views the built environment as an existing object. The emphasis is on an objective view of an urban situation, treating its present state as a fact. It is assumed that the study of morphology can contribute substantially to the search for appropriate concepts of urban space in both traditional and new built environments in Iran. There is ongoing discussion between designers and government about the identity of Iranian architecture and urban design. One problem is the apparent lack of an effective and relevant way of treating urban spaces, both new and existing. In the absence of an accepted method of analysis, much emphasis is placed on an intuitive type of thinking, based on personal styles and experience. A systematic method may reduce the difficulties faced by urban professionals. The concept of systematic morphological analysis is applied in this thesis to the city of Yazd, which is centrally located in Iran. Yazd is famous not only for its individual buildings but also for its spatial pattern and for the environment of its traditional housing. In addition there is a comparatively wide range of new housing over a considerable area. In the research, the settlement of Yazd was analysed at five levels: City, District, Block, Building group and Unit (although some overlapping proved to be present). The entire city was studied briefly at the first level then three carefully selected smaller areas were examined in detail at the other levels. These areas were erected at different times and are described as 'historical', 'old', and 'new'. The aim was to identify the main characteristics of the urban form in three typical areas. The results identify morphological components of the built environment of Yazd and suggest that the morphological patterns of a settlement reflect underlying rules that regulate the spatial arrangement. The results also demonstrate that functional alterations sometimes preceded the physical changes that occurred when new concepts of urban spaces and new morphological patterns were introduced into parts of the city. The nature of these changes was found to vary at different levels of morphology. This research aims to make two contributions: firstly to extend urban morphological analysis to the case of cities in the Middle East and, secondly, to provide a practical approach and new results that will aid future urban planning and design in Iran.