Rebuilding a Sustainable Image in a Cultural Landscape, Iran
| Name | add the project name | |
| Place | add the city name | |
| Country | Iran | |
| Author(s) | Roya Sabri | |
| Project start | enter the date of the project start | |
| Completion | enter the date of completion | |
| World Heritage | enter the year of listing | |
| Client | enter the client | |
| Project costs | enter the costs (if known) | |
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Rationale: Why is the case study interesting?
- Please summarise:- e.g. Design Innovation? Planning Exemplar? Theoretical Insights? Lessons from its failure?
On December 26, 2003, an earthquake struck the city of Bam in Iran. While there have been numerous quakes in Iran (caused by the unique geology of the country) with a plethora of casualties, none have ever been as devastating as the damage caused by that earthquake in Bam. There are major lessons that can be learned from the Bam experience that can be applied to other similar situations. The relationship between nature and culture adds a significant insight into the complex situation where reconstruction extends beyond bricks and mortar to the reconstruction of lives and the continuation of nature. The participation of the local people is of vital importance. In Bam, a unique approach was used to recover cultural values and reach out to a segment of population that is vital to Bam's future, its children. The procedure for reconstruction involved Bam's children in a UNICEF workshop and provided a way to involve them in the design of parts of the environment through their own eyes. The workshops not only provided insight for a better reconstruction of the city, but also hope in the midst of a disaster.
Author's perspective
- What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study? Please make a short note on your personal background
Cultural landscape context
- Biogeography, cultural features, overall landscape character, history and dynamics
Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses
Socio-political context
- Brief explanation of political economy, legal framework
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Spatial analysis of area/project
- What are the main structural features?
- How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Traveling to Bam, a historic oasis city was once one of the most desirable destinations for a tourist in Iran. This trip was never complete without a visit to its prominent landmark, Arg-e-Bam or the Citadel. The significance of the Citadel is not only related to its unique architectural features, which have placed it on the World Heritage List2, but also the cultural traditions and memories of the place. For instance some local residents, bound to ancient Iranian traditions, used the height of the upper fort to salute the arrival of spring on the occasion of the Iranian New Year. The Citadel, a giant adobe structure, is located on a steep rock surrounded by desert as far as eyes can see. Until recent times, residents inhabited the Citadel and tended to their gardens outside the Citadel on the plain below. The plan of the Citadel reveals its efficiency and self-sufficiency with an array of public spaces, such as: the Bazaar, a small mosque, a theological school, a caravanserai, a water reservoir, the square, a bathhouse, a gymnasium and some older and more elaborate houses of the aristocrats. The Citadel of Bam (Arg-e Bam) is considered “the largest extant mud brick complex of its type in the world which has kept its traditional architecture and town planning undisturbed by alien elements until now.”3 The devastating earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale by some estimates, has destroyed up to 60% of the compound4 (Figure 1). Today after many months the experts at the Iran Cultural Heritage Organization are still painstakingly sifting through the rubble to put pieces of tile and brick back together (Figure 2)5 . The Citadel is the place where the entire city comes into the view. The greenest fields amid the sandy desert are some of the most enduring images in the Persian landscape ( Mohajeri Baradaran, 2005). And here, on top of the hill, where the ruler used to live, one should not miss the panoramic views over the endless desert to the north, the oasis town of Bam to the east and an impenetrable mountain range to the south. The internal experience of the site is joined with external qualities of the context, establishing a relationship between the Citadel, the gardens and the entire city. In restoring this valuable landmark it is fitting to use the original techniques and methods from the vernacular lessons of the past. The use of mud or adobe brick making is a case in point (Figure 3).
Analysis of idea/program/function ("Planning Objective")
- What are the main functional characteristics?
- How have they been expressed or incorporated?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Analysis of design/planning process ("Process Biography")
- How was the area/project formulated and implemented?
- Who initiated the project and why?
- Which stakeholders have been involved?
- Who made the major decisions and when?
- Were there any important consultations/collaborations?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Analysis of use/users
- How is the area/project used and by whom?
- Is the use changing? Are there any issues?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
Future development directions
- How is the area/project evolving?
- Are there any future goals?
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Peer reviews or critique
- Has the area/project been reviewed by academic or professional reviewers?
- What were their main evaluations?
Please add references, quotes...
Successes and limitations
- What do you see as the main successes and limitations of the area/project?
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What can be generalized from this case study?
- Are there any important theoretical insights?
Short statement plus background notes
What research questions does it generate?
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References
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Gibson, J. J. (1979). The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Gussow, A. (1979). A Sense of Place: The Artists and the American Land, A Continuum Book, NY.
Houghton, M., and G. A. Boston (1979). A Sense of Place: The Artists and the American Land. NY: A Continuum Book.
Kaplan, S.(1979). Perception and Landscape: Conceptions and Misconceptions.
Malloy, J. (2003). Woman, Art, and Technology. Mass: MIT Press, Cambridge.
Meyer, S. M. (2004). End of the Wild. The Boston Review, April-May.
Mitchell, W. J. (1972). Environmental Design Research and Practice, Proceedings of the EDRA Conference. LA: University of California Los Angeles Publication.
Norman, D. A. (1990). The Design of Everyday Things, NY: Doubleday.
Pierssene. A. (1999). Explaining Our World: an Approach to the Art of Environmental Interpretation. London: E&FN Spon.
Rice-Oxley, M. (2004). Walkers Face off in Tragicomic Struggle. The Christian Science Monitory, May 18.
Sabri, C. R. (2006). The Role of Nature on Design. An Academic Research for Shahid Beheshti University.
Sonfist, A. (1983). Art in the Land: A Critical Anthology of Environmental Art. NY: Dutton Publication.
Susanka, S. (2004). The Not so Big House. Taunton Press.
Weintraub. L. (1984). Land Marks. NY: Bard College Center.