DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Liam Duffy>

Abstract

Isfahan is a city of contrasts, where winding alleys and cluttered streets open up onto lush green gardens and courtyards. Once the capital of former Persia, this land is built on the foundations of its rich cultural heritage, a legacy of strong community values and a sense of interconnection between families and spaces. Open and shared public space is an integral aspect within the structure of the city’s landscape, as it provides a sense of unity within the society, a society which is based on a strong interdependence within its social composition. This concept featured heavily within the proposed building’s form as private spaces were carefully constructed to allow for a sense of community. The use of community spaces, such as the upper and lower courtyards, embraces the inter-relationship and sense of communal identity that already pre-exists within the structural layout of the city, yet through its modernized aspects of shape and form enables a sense of continuity and evolution. However, despite the relatively westernized inspired nature of the building, traditional facets still underpin the tone of the design, creating a sense of harmony between the traditional and the modern eras. This is achieved through the primary role played by nature within the shape of the structure, a fundamental feature that has long been established within Isfahan’s architectural layout. A further characteristic of the design is its manipulation of transitional phases between private and public spaces, a feature which not only allows for a sense of community, but encourages a sense of cohesiveness within not only the occupants of the buildings, but within the wider region. The aim of this design was not merely to create a building that was simply practical in function, but instead to formulate a structure that integrated public and private spaces in a manner that captures the most positive characteristics of modern western architecture, whilst maintaining a cultural integrity.