Tarbiat Modares University Naqshejahan- Basic studies and New Technologies of Architecture and Planning 2322-4991 2 2 2012 09 22 The Quality of Light-Openings in Iranian Domes (With the Structural Approach) The Quality of Light-Openings in Iranian Domes (With the Structural Approach) 31 42 693 FA Mohammadjavad Mahdavinejad Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran. Soha Matoor M.A. Student, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article Light has got the prominent significance in the Iranian beliefs throughout the history. Insistence on the light sanctity originates from the religious doctrines of pre-Islamic era (Zoroastrian beliefs) which was emphasized in the Islamic era and especially Islamic Sufism. Overall, in most religions light is the symbol of Divine Wisdom and the element of all goodness and purity; so going from darkness to brightness has been the main goal of life. Since the religion, mysticism and culture throughout the Iranian history have always been in direct relationship with the architecture of each era, the Iranian architecture has always strived to give the interior a kind of spiritual atmosphere and since no sign like the light does symbolize or manifest Divine Unity, the Islamic artists have strived to use the light in their works to make them much closer to the source of spirituality. Paying attention to light is considered as one of the most prominent features of Iranian traditional architecture, which influenced most of its structural and conceptual patterns. The construction of light-openings in the buildings such as masjids, bazaars, madrasas, and caravanserais, as the Iranian outstanding monuments, proves this very point. The Iranian master-mimars’ strategies to create the light-openings in the domes has been taken into consideration through this study. To this end, the light-openings’ exact location, according to the domes’ structural properties have been analyzed. Next, based on the foursome classification of the domes, the research theoretical framework has been determined, and the case-studies have been studied meticulously; through applying the case-studies and the combined research methods. According to the achieved results, the light-openings of the Iranian brick domes have been located at four distinguished areas, including: 1- the dome’s top, 2- the dome’s curve, 3- the dome’s shekargah and 4- the dome’s drum. Moreover, because of the structural limitations of each type of dome, the constructional techniques have played the pivotal role at locating the light-openings in the domes. Light has got the prominent significance in the Iranian beliefs throughout the history. Insistence on the light sanctity originates from the religious doctrines of pre-Islamic era (Zoroastrian beliefs) which was emphasized in the Islamic era and especially Islamic Sufism. Overall, in most religions light is the symbol of Divine Wisdom and the element of all goodness and purity; so going from darkness to brightness has been the main goal of life. Since the religion, mysticism and culture throughout the Iranian history have always been in direct relationship with the architecture of each era, the Iranian architecture has always strived to give the interior a kind of spiritual atmosphere and since no sign like the light does symbolize or manifest Divine Unity, the Islamic artists have strived to use the light in their works to make them much closer to the source of spirituality. Paying attention to light is considered as one of the most prominent features of Iranian traditional architecture, which influenced most of its structural and conceptual patterns. The construction of light-openings in the buildings such as masjids, bazaars, madrasas, and caravanserais, as the Iranian outstanding monuments, proves this very point. The Iranian master-mimars’ strategies to create the light-openings in the domes has been taken into consideration through this study. To this end, the light-openings’ exact location, according to the domes’ structural properties have been analyzed. Next, based on the foursome classification of the domes, the research theoretical framework has been determined, and the case-studies have been studied meticulously; through applying the case-studies and the combined research methods. According to the achieved results, the light-openings of the Iranian brick domes have been located at four distinguished areas, including: 1- the dome’s top, 2- the dome’s curve, 3- the dome’s shekargah and 4- the dome’s drum. Moreover, because of the structural limitations of each type of dome, the constructional techniques have played the pivotal role at locating the light-openings in the domes. https://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article_693_53e3a7161e428b65688f14b84d61c610.pdf