Analysis of the Principle of Privacy in Traditional Houses of Guilan Using Spatial Syntax Technique (Case study: Guilan Plain Region)

Document Type : Research article - extracted from the dissertation

Authors

1 Ph. D Candidate, Department of Architecture, Qazvin branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Qazvin branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran.

10.22124/gscaj.2025.27645.1307

Abstract

One of the principles of Islamic worldview and culture considered an ethical and cultural value in the social life of Muslims, is the principle of privacy, which has also influenced the formation of spaces. This is particularly evident in the traditional houses of Iran's central plateau, often characterized by introversion and hierarchical access to spaces. However, this principle does not apply in the Caspian region's temperate and humid climate, where architecture is extroverted. Therefore, the principle of privacy in this region cannot manifest through introversion. Hence, the main goal of this research was to uncover how the principle of privacy is maintained in extroverted architecture. Accordingly, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between extroversion and privacy by analyzing the spatial-physical structure of indigenous houses in the plains of Guilan, using the space syntax technique. The samples were six traditional houses in Guilan’s plain. The research method was descriptive-analytical, and data was collected using field and literature review. Data analysis was performed using the mathematical relations of space syntax and the Depthmap and A-Graph software, focusing on the principles of "hierarchy" and "spatial positioning." The study examined the following indices: connectivity, relative asymmetry, relative integration, relative depth, and metric depth. Findings indicated that the privacy components were more prominent in houses with a square (rectangular) structural pattern compared to those with U-shaped and L-shaped patterns. Since the square (rectangular) pattern closely resembles the central courtyard pattern used in introverted architecture, it can be inferred that simultaneously adhering to the three principles of introversion, hierarchy, and spatial positioning enhances privacy in spaces. The results revealed that despite the extroverted characteristics of traditional Guilan houses, this feature does not prevent the application of the principle of privacy. The architecture of these houses, regardless of their mass-to-space ratio, maintains a privacy model due to adherence to other privacy-enhancing principles such as hierarchy, spatial positioning, and controlled access.

Highlights

- Analyzing the spatial-physical structure of Indigenous houses in Guilan’s Plain region

- Examining the relationship between extroversion and privacy in Indigenous houses

- Utilizing space syntax technique to understand how privacy aligns with extroversion in Indigenous house architecture

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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