Vitruvius and the Classical Principles

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Across the broad trajectory of architectural history, theories and principles have consistently drawn upon diverse civilizations, serving as sources of inspiration for successive generations of architects and builders. At the very outset of this historical journey, the name of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio—the eminent Roman architect, engineer, and theorist of the first century BCE (c. 50 BCE)—emerges as one of the most influential figures in the discipline.

Through his seminal work, De Architectura (Ten Books on Architecture), Vitruvius produced the first comprehensive and systematic treatise on the principles and techniques of architecture. Far more than a practical manual for construction, this text articulates a profound architectural philosophy, establishing criteria by which the beauty, durability, and utility of buildings may be assessed. Within its pages, Vitruvius discusses in detail the proper siting of public structures, with particular emphasis on temples dedicated to the immortal gods.

Vitruvian principles were to be applied not only to the overall proportions of buildings but also to their finer details. A striking and foundational aspect of his theory lies in the derivation of ideal proportions and geometric symmetry from the human body. Vitruvius argued that just as the human form is composed of parts arranged in precise and harmonious ratios, so too should buildings embody this natural order in order to achieve beauty and perfection.

  • This vision provided the intellectual foundation of classical Roman architecture and exerted a profound, enduring influence on European architecture, most notably during the Renaissance. For centuries, De Architectura remained the principal reference for the design and construction of buildings, shaping architectural thought and practice well beyond its own era.

Promoting Sustainability

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Buildings can contribute to raising awareness about sustainability, and some sustainable designers use their projects as educational tools. Clients, local authorities, consultants, builders, building users, and the general public can learn about sustainability both from completed buildings and from the construction process itself.

Learning how sustainable buildings operate not only increases awareness but also supports more efficient building performance. The success of a sustainable design strategy largely depends on how occupants use the building. Certain aspects of sustainable design are vulnerable to misuse, which can undermine their benefits. For example, even a well-insulated building will consume large amounts of heating energy if its windows are left open frequently. Unless occupants understand how the building works and the rationale behind its design, its performance is likely to suffer.

A comprehensive sustainable building design strategy should therefore include raising overall awareness about sustainability, educating clients and project teams on sustainable design approaches, and informing users about how the building functions. In addition, sustainable buildings should be monitored, and their design strategies and performance evaluated. This process can promote sustainable design by enhancing collective knowledge and understanding of how sustainable buildings perform, while also preventing the repetition of unsuccessful design practices.

In some cases, the building itself is used as an educational or demonstrative tool to showcase how effective sustainable design systems can be and how easily they can be integrated into a structure. Sometimes, information about environmental issues and building design is displayed within the building for visitors and users.

In all projects, opportunities for enhancing sustainability begin with setting appropriate goals to achieve a sustainable building. Clients—the individuals who ultimately commission and finance building projects—play a crucial role. The first step is to ensure that they are aware of the importance of sustainability and the potential for development it holds. The benefits of sustainable buildings are increasingly being recognized and quantified, and many completed projects exist that can demonstrate these benefits to potential clients.

References:
1. Razavinasab.Seyedhossein, Yousefi.Simin, California Academy of Sciences The 21st Century Noah’s Ark, 2025
2. Sassi, P., Strategies for sustainable architecture. 2006: Taylor & Francis.

The Role of LEED in the Future of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Planning

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In the face of environmental crises, resource scarcity, and global climate change, the role of systems such as LEED will become increasingly significant in the future of architecture and urban development. As an international standard tool, LEED not only provides a technical framework for designing green buildings but also guides architects, urban planners, and investors toward sustainability. By integrating science, technology, and policymaking, this system directs projects toward energy efficiency, pollution reduction, and improvement of urban quality of life.

Looking ahead, LEED can serve as a global platform for integrating environmental policies into cities. With population growth and urban expansion, challenges such as traffic, pollution, excessive energy consumption, and urban heat are on the rise. Certifications like LEED can become enforceable tools in urban construction laws, ensuring that only projects meeting minimum sustainability criteria are granted permission for construction or operation.

Moreover, LEED is not limited to individual buildings. Versions such as LEED for Neighborhood Development make it possible to assess sustainability at the scale of neighborhoods, districts, or even entire cities. As a result, the future of urban planning can be based on a set of strategies for public transportation, green spaces, land use, carbon reduction, and the promotion of social equity.

In the field of architecture, LEED not only helps optimize the technical performance of buildings but also acts as a driver of innovation in design, the use of smart technologies, and the enhancement of the architect’s role in sustainable development. Architects of the future will increasingly need a deep understanding of concepts such as life cycle assessment of materials, net-zero energy, and climate-responsive design.

Ultimately, LEED can become recognized as a global benchmark of building quality—one that goes beyond aesthetics to represent the environmental, social, and economic performance of a building or city. Therefore, adopting and expanding the use of this system in developing countries is not merely a technical choice but a strategic necessity for conserving resources, enhancing public well-being, and joining the global movement toward sustainable development.

References:
1. Razavinasab.Seyedhossein, Yousefi.Simin, California Academy of Sciences The 21st Century Noah’s Ark, 2025

Sustainability and Architecture: From Theory to Practice

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Anyone who has been involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of buildings in recent years has encountered the term sustainability. For many, this term still remains ambiguous, and although multiple definitions exist, they rarely show how sustainability principles can actually be applied in practice. Moreover, these definitions differ slightly from one another, and in any effort to implement sustainable development, a precise understanding of the concept is essential. It is generally accepted that sustainability fundamentally influences our way of life; therefore, personal ethics will shape how its goals are interpreted. Similar to architecture in its broadest sense, sustainability also addresses a wide range of issues, which sometimes seem to contradict each other. Gaining knowledge about these issues is the first step toward forming or clarifying personal values and moving toward a more sustainable future. [1]

Not only does the nature of human activities threaten the environment, but the increasing scale of these activities is also a major factor. At present, up to two billion people lack reliable access to healthy food and require resources to meet their basic needs, while billions of others are rapidly increasing their consumption of resources to improve their living standards. In addition, the global population is growing: it now stands at about 6.2 billion and is expected to reach around 9 billion by the end of the century. It is predicted that 90 percent of this growth will occur in developing countries. Population growth and the improvement of low living standards will demand more resources, produce more waste, and exert greater impact on the natural environment. The principles of sustainability aim to address the problems of environmental degradation, inequality, and quality of life by supporting development that is economically and socially viable, while maintaining the benefits of a healthy and stable environment in the long term. [1]

One of the major challenges facing today’s world is that a large number of people are still struggling simply to survive, lacking both the education and financial resources needed to consider environmental issues. There is a huge disparity between developed and developing countries: developed countries generally benefit from healthcare, employment, education, and GDP levels hundreds of times higher than some developing nations. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, and 2.4 billion are deprived of adequate sanitation services.

Given their superior economic position, developed countries should take the lead in moving toward sustainability. Instead of focusing solely on economic growth, they must adopt a balanced approach that considers sustainable growth and environmental stability. However, this approach faces obstacles, including pressure groups that oppose any environmental improvements for fear of harming corporate profitability. The reality is that even educated and privileged individuals often prioritize immediate personal interests over collective or long-term environmental benefits. This has led to a complex approach toward addressing environmental issues.

Sustainability is neither purely a scientific activity nor solely a professional one; it is a way of life that affects every aspect of it. The first step is to determine what kind of relationship we want to have with our global and local environment. Then, we must identify how we can achieve such a relationship. To move from theory to practice, we must understand the impact of our professional and daily activities on the environment. Buildings—and the processes of their construction, use, and end-of-life—have a significant effect on both the natural environment and the social structure of communities. Sustainable architecture can both enable and encourage the practical application of sustainable thinking. But how can we design and construct buildings that, in line with sustainability goals, create economically and socially stable communities while inflicting the least possible harm on the environment?

References:
1. Sassi, P., Strategies for sustainable architecture. 2006: Taylor & Francis.

California Academy of Sciences: A Landmark of Sustainability and Innovation

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The California Academy of Sciences is a natural history museum and tourist destination that houses more than 46 million specimens of diverse species, including plants, animals, fossils, minerals, anthropological objects, microscopic samples, and many other collections used for research and education. The museum building was constructed in 2008 by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, using concrete, steel, glass, and thermal insulators—many of which were sourced from recycled materials of the former building. Environmental sensitivity and minimizing damage to natural habitats, along with the use of natural light, pleasant airflow, solar panels, a green roof, and rainwater collection are among the defining features of this landmark. The new Academy was built on the site of the previous structure, adjacent to Golden Gate Park in California, since the old Academy had suffered severe damage during the Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco.

On October 17, 1989, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Northern California. In total, more than 18,000 housing units and several thousand other structures were significantly damaged. Nearly one thousand of these buildings were completely destroyed by the earthquake itself, and an additional 500 were demolished afterward. The California Academy of Sciences is one of the oldest natural history museums in the United States and the oldest scientific institution founded west of the Mississippi River. Established in 1853, it has played a vital role in scientific discovery and research, valued both by the public and by the academic community. After 136 years, and following the devastation caused by the earthquake, the Academy initially planned to restore and rehabilitate damaged sections, including the aquarium. However, broad community support and generous philanthropic contributions encouraged the institution to reconsider its vision, ultimately leading to a complete redesign and reconstruction of the complex.

The Academy’s leadership recognized that this redevelopment project offered a unique opportunity to fulfill its mission of advancing environmental sustainability. Designing an eco-friendly building integrated with diverse exhibitions became a way to respond to contemporary environmental concerns while inviting visitors to understand, appreciate, and protect nature. Renzo Piano, the distinguished Italian architect, was chosen to design the new building—an architecture that would embody both sustainability and innovation. The central feature of Piano’s design was a living roof, whose rolling hills echoed the natural landscape surrounding the museum. Additionally, two three-story domes, each measuring 27.5 meters in diameter, were designed to house the Rainforest Exhibit and the Planetarium. Although this ambitious architectural approach significantly increased construction costs, its bold and sustainable design attracted additional investors and ultimately expanded the scope of the project.

References:
1. Workshop, R.P.B. Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW).  [cited 2025 April 10, 2025]; Available from: https://www.rpbw.com.

2. Kroll, C.A., et al., Economic impacts of the Loma Prieta earthquake: A focus on small business. 1991.

3. Mahin, S., The Loma Prieta earthquake: Implications of structural damage. 1991.

4. Kociolek, J., A Sustainable Academy: The New California Academy of Sciences. Museums & Social Issues, 2006. 1(2): p. 191–202.
5. Razavinasab, Seyedhossein & Fakhrabadi, Elham. (2013). فرهنگستان علوم كاليفرنيا ساختمان پايدار قرن 21 (California Academy of Sciences: A Sustainable Building of the 21st Century).
6. https://www.timgriffith.com/

The Mystery of Baghsangi: A Garden of Stones and Silent Stories

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Baghsangi (Stone Garden)

The trees of this unique garden are not covered in leaves, but rather consist of dried trunks with heavy stones hanging from their branches. The story of Baghsangi began in 1961, when Darvish Khan Esfandiari, a landowner in Sirjan, lost a significant portion of his property due to the Land Reform program. His fertile lands, which he had cultivated for years, gradually dried up before his eyes. Feeling the injustice as a heavy burden on himself and his family, Darvish Khan grew distressed and moved to a tent in the desert near one of his ruined orchards. It was there that he began creating Baghsangi.

The exact reason behind the creation of Baghsangi has remained a mystery. Since Darvish Khan was deaf and mute, he could never fully explain his intentions. Some say it was born of a dream, while others believe it was a silent protest against injustice. What is certain, however, is the astonishing sight he left behind: massive stones, too heavy for one man to carry, skillfully hung from dry tree trunks.

In 1976, filmmaker Parviz Kimiavi visited Baghsangi and was so fascinated that he made a film about Darvish Khan’s life, in which Darvish Khan and his family played the main roles. The film won several awards at both national and international festivals, including the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

According to the film’s narrative, Darvish Khan once dreamed of a garden made of stones after his orchards had withered. Upon waking, he collected pierced stones from nearby riverbeds and mountains, carried them over long distances, and hung them on tree trunks. His family, however, insisted that Baghsangi was his way of protesting silently: unable to speak, he expressed his grief and anger by building the garden. Villagers recall how he burned old tires to extract wires, which he then used to fasten the stones.

There are mysteries surrounding Baghsangi. All of the stones are neatly pierced, even though Darvish Khan had no drilling tools. Many were so heavy that even after his death, several strong men struggled to rehang them when one of the trees collapsed. Despite these challenges, Darvish Khan dedicated his entire life to building the garden, employing unique techniques that died with him.

Every stone and tree in Baghsangi carried symbolic meaning. Whenever an event occurred in his life, he would add a new tree or stone. For example, when his grandson went to military service, he hung a round stone resembling a shaved head. Over time, these symbolic acts shaped a surreal landscape that, years later, would attract tourists and photographers from around the world.

Darvish Khan passed away on April 8, 2007, at the age of 90. He died among the trees of his beloved Baghsangi and was buried there, leaving behind a cultural landmark that continues to fascinate visitors.

I have designed a student project as a tourism complex for this region, and I will share its link with you below.

Tourism Complex, Recreational Complex

Embassies and Diplomacy: Architecture, History

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What is the Purpose of an Embassy?
An embassy aims to connect two nations and to demonstrate dialogue between them. If an embassy is enclosed by high walls and appears as an impenetrable fortress, the dialogue it represents is full of mistrust. Conversely, if it is transparent and open, it reflects a relationship based on trust (Ahmadi, 2007). Despite the importance of urban planning and architecture in embassies and other diplomatic buildings, our knowledge about them is very limited. Access to these places—often secluded and hidden—is usually through controlled pathways and interactions with staff behind security desks. Only a few architects are familiar with their functions, technical requirements, structural characteristics, and other features. These buildings are particularly fascinating from a design perspective due to their complexity and their interaction with multiple nationalities and cultures. Moreover, most countries pay careful attention to the architecture of their diplomatic missions abroad, as designing them offers an opportunity to enhance architectural quality in terms of design, technical specifications, and building standards. Diplomatic relations between governments date back to ancient times (Afshari-Naderi, 2009, p. 4).

What is an Embassy?
An embassy is the office of a country’s diplomatic representatives in another country. The main office, usually located in the capital, is called the embassy, while offices in other cities are referred to as consulates. Consulates generally do not provide all the services available at the main embassy (Razavinasab & Zakari, 2015).

Dictionaries define an embassy as: a place where the ambassador and their staff carry out political duties related to their country; a residence where the diplomatic mission performs political functions; the home of the ambassador (Dehkhoda Dictionary, 1998; Amid Dictionary, 2010).

History of Embassies
Until the 17th century, international relations were generally conducted through direct correspondence between rulers or through envoys and ambassadors sent for specific purposes. This method often produced unsatisfactory results, as many ambassadors faced difficulties while delivering their sovereign’s orders. By the late 17th century, permanent embassies had become common in Europe. Due to disputes over titles, precedence, and the hierarchy of political officers, the Congress of Vienna (1815) classified diplomatic staff. This classification was later revised and accepted by major states. Diplomats in the countries where they were posted enjoyed various immunities and privileges, including exemption from taxes, arrest, or legal prosecution. Their residences were considered extraterritorial, and these benefits were later extended to all embassy staff.

Diplomats are tasked with observing political, economic, and military events in accordance with international norms—without resorting to espionage—and reporting accurate information to their home government. They are generally accountable to their country’s foreign ministry and interact primarily with the host country’s foreign ministry, conducting their work through official notes. Diplomacy has its own specialized language and terminology, and until recently, French was the standard language of diplomacy. While some countries maintain distinctions between diplomatic and consular roles, in most countries these differences have largely disappeared (Razavinasab & Zakari, 2015).

The first permanent ambassadors were sent by the Vatican to the Byzantine Empire in Istanbul (8th century). Modern diplomacy emerged during the Renaissance, although some permanent embassies were established in Europe as early as the 13th century. In the 13th century, representatives from the Genoese Empire were permanently present in Tabriz. Many modern diplomatic traditions developed in 14th- and 15th-century Italy.

In Iran, modern foreign embassies emerged in the first half of the 19th century. Among the oldest in Tehran are the embassies of Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. These historic buildings and gardens, often maintained due to the continuous presence of diplomatic missions, provide valuable insights into the city’s past. Currently, the embassies of Turkey, Germany, Russia, the UK, and Italy occupy extensive grounds that remain prominent features in Tehran’s urban landscape (Alpha Engineering Associations, 2013)

I have designed an embassy project during my university studies, and I would like to share it with you through the following links.

Embassy Design , Diplomatic Space Design

Introduction to the Yakhchals (ice houses) of Sirjan

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Introduction to the Yakhchals of Sirjan and Their Components

The Yakhchals of Haj Rashid in Sirjan, registered as No. 11875 on the National Heritage List on 18/3/1384 (Persian calendar), date back to the Qajar era. This complex consists of two ice pits covered by large brick domes, as well as a long and high shade wall stretching between the two Yakhchals.

Ice Storage Pits (Yakhchals)


The ice pits were excavated into the ground and lined with stone or brick walls. Currently, the depth of the pits from the present ground level is approximately 6.05 meters, although originally the pits were deeper, reaching nearly the width of the pit opening. Over time, as the ice storage function ceased, the floors of the pits became filled with debris and waste.

The diameter of the ice pits ranges between 8.60 and 9.70 meters. To prevent moisture from entering, their walls were lined with bricks and an insulating layer. Each pit had two entrances/exits, each 130 centimeters wide. Ice harvested from shallow winter ponds was broken into smaller pieces manually and transferred to the pits. Once the pits were full, both entrances were closed to preserve the ice for the warmer months when cooling and ice were needed. Access to the bottom of the pits was possible via a staircase built into the lining wall.

Each ice pit is topped by a large conical dome, constructed from sun-dried bricks measuring 28×28×8 cm and coated with clay mortar, providing excellent insulation against sunlight and heat. This technique is common in all traditional Iranian icehouses. These conical domes, known as Rak, reach a height of approximately 12.05 meters. The exterior of the dome features stepped layers, facilitating access to the dome apex and reducing the structural load of the massive dome.

Shade Wall

A long and high shade wall stretches along the entire eastern front of the two ice pits, curving to a width of 2.40 meters at the base and reaching a height of 10.50 meters at the apex, forming a box-like shape. The wall extends approximately 100 meters in a straight line. Along the western face of the wall, brick buttresses are placed at regular intervals of 3 meters, each 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide, to reinforce stability.

In the southwestern area, another curved shade wall existed, but no traces of it remain today. Along the western face of the shade wall, as in most traditional Yakhchals, shallow ice ponds were constructed, usually square-shaped and 20–50 centimeters deep. Water poured into these ponds formed a thin layer of ice, and repeated watering created thicker layers. The ice was then broken manually and transferred to the storage pits.

Source: (Razavinasab, Seyedhossein & Fakhrabadi, Elham. 2014)

I have designed a hotel and complex inspired by the traditional ice houses of Sirjan during my university studies, and I would like to share it with you through the links below.

Hotel design , Hotel shopping center