نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

1 دانشجوی دکتری، گروه شهرسازی، دانشکدۀ معماری و شهرسازی، واحد تهران مرکزی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران.

2 دانشیار، گروه معماری، دانشکدۀ معماری و شهرسازی، واحد تهران مرکزی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران

3 دانشیار، گروه شهرسازی، دانشکدۀ معماری و شهرسازی، واحد تهران مرکزی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران.

10.22034/urbs.2024.141819.5068

چکیده

آرمانشهر ایرانی _اسلامی اصفهان واجد مراکز تاریخی نمادینی بوده که مبتنی بر جهان بینی های "نقلی _ عرفانی"،"عقلی _ فلسفی" و"علمی" شکل گرفته اند. میدان کهنه، بازار و نقش جهان در ترکیبی پیوسته، وابسته و همبسته با هم این مجموعه مرکزی را شکل داده اند. وجهی که جامعه پذیری جمعیت و حضور پذیری حکومت، اصناف، امت و مذهب را در مکانی همچون مرکز فراهم ساخته و به یگانگی می کشاند. پرسش اینجاست که نظام معنایی عمیق یا معنوی این مجموعه مرکزی با کدام مؤلفه ها برای انسان ها _ با هر نگرش و جایگاه وجودی _ ادراک پذیر و قابل دریافت می شود؟ هدف، فرارفتن از ادراک حسی و دسته بندی دریافت معنایی از مراکز نمادین تاریخی بر پایه اوج فهم معنایی مشترک افراد است. بازخلق چنین فضاهایی بدون حصول مؤلفه های ادراک معنایی و معنوی ممکن نیست. روش پژوهش پدیدارشناسی هرمنوتیک است که از رویکردهای تاریخی _ تفسیری و راهبرد مورد پژوهی عمیق درونی بهره می برد. کشف جوهر مشترک تجربه زیسته افراد از طریق طبقه بندی و تحلیل اطلاعات بر پایه مرور سیستماتیک متون و مشاهدات میدانی استوار بوده است. بر پایه نتایج حاصل از پژوهش، مجموعه مرکز نمادین تاریخی شهر اصفهان بر پایه زبانی با منش کالبدی _ فضایی، از مبدأ میدان کهنه شروع شده، مسیر بازار را می پیماید و به مقصد نقش جهان می رسد. در این گذر و گذار از مبدأ به مقصد، دریافت معانی با ارجاع به مؤلفه های"پایداری فرازمینه ای"،"رویداد فراعملکردی _اجتماعی"،"موضع فراریخت شناسی"،"سیماشناسی فرادیداری" و"گونه شناسی فرافضایی" بیشتر قابل ادراک می شود. فرایند بازخلق مراکز نمادین کهن ایرانی در کشاکش مؤلفه های ادراک معنایی بیشتر رخ می‏دهد، اگر تجربه زیسته "تهی از هر" بتواند از موقعیت پیرامونی آگاهی به مرکز سیر کند. این وضعیت با عاملیت یافتن بیشتر وجوه نمادین (به نسبت شمایلی) مکان همچنین کنش شدنی (به نسبت بودنی) ناظر در فضا افزایش می‏یابد. در این حالت، ادراک معنایی در اوج خود به یگانگی کنشگران در فضا منتهی می شود.

کلیدواژه‌ها

موضوعات

عنوان مقاله [English]

Components of Semantic Perception of Place: Phenomenological Interpretation of the Symbolic Historical Centers of Isfahan

نویسندگان [English]

  • seyed mojtaba hosseini 1
  • Mahmud Rezaei 2
  • Alireza Bandarabad 3

1 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran.

چکیده [English]

Highlights
- The Iranian-Islamic utopia of Isfahan features symbolic historical centers rooted in narrative-mystical, rational-philosophical, and scientific paradigms. Beyond the semantic components of the place, it also encompasses spiritual dimensions.
- Spiritual perception in historical symbolic centers can be explored by referencing "meta-place" components, such as a language intended for the audience.
- The "meta-place" language may shift the "agency" of the place from an "iconic” mode into a "symbolic" one, allowing the audience's "activism" to engage in a state of "becoming" rather than merely "being." As a result, all experiences become detached from perception except for the experience of "no-thingness" or a sense of uniqueness. Ultimately, it culminates in a heightened state of spiritual perception.
Introduction
Historical cities, and the utopia of Isfahan in particular, feature symbolic centers with values that transcend time and space. These values emerge from a fusion of narrative-mystical, rational-philosophical, and scientific paradigms. In contrast to such deeply semantic historical urban planning and architecture, modern urban planning has generalized human needs into materialistic demands, often neglecting historical continuity. This shift has led to the excessive dispersion of people and activities, creating identity-less built environments.
Historical symbolic centers offer meaning and provide spaces that sustain life. This phenomenon is vividly manifested in Isfahan’s symbolic centers, which have been preserved to this day. Thus, studying Isfahan’s historical centers provides a meaningful case for understanding value-creating rules. This research examines the symbolic historical centers of Isfahan by analyzing the city’s development during the Al-Buyyid and Safavid periods, revealing the semantic perception embedded in these spaces. These places hold identity through fantasy, thought, and historical continuity, shaping unique urban experiences.
Theoretical Framework
The sense of place consists of three key components: physical, social, and conceptual. These elements have been widely analyzed in architectural and urban planning studies. However, most research has examined them in isolation, without integrating all three into a phenomenological model that accounts for intuitive perception in Iranian historical places. This study addresses this gap by proposing a metaspatial ontology of place perception, as shown in Table 1.
 
Table 1: Perception of Dimensions of Place with a Metaspatial Ontology




Semantic Perception


Sensory Perception


Spatial Perception




Imagination – Creating images


Readability, memories, ritual establishment


Mental perceptions




The unity of the observer and the view


Peace, comfort, people's actions


Social perceptions




Life, natural and climatic comfort


Body quality, variety, coverage


Physical perceptions




The world of the senses and the world of intuition


Visual diversity


Morphology and spatial openness/closure




The journey from material to spiritual worlds


Spatial confinement


Spatial order and authenticity




Methodology
This study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, utilizing historical-interpretive methods and an in-depth case study strategy. The analysis is based on a systematic review of historical texts and field observations. The symbolic historical centers of Isfahan—including the Old Square, Bazaar, and Naghsh-e Jahan Square—were selected for study based on direct observation, first-hand researcher experience, and audience perceptions.
Results and Discussion
The semantic perception of Isfahan’s symbolic historical centers arises from an interplay of semantic and sensory components. A transspatial language—characterized by its spatial transcendence and actionability—forms the foundation for an enriched semantic experience, adaptable to different existential perspectives. This perception is shaped by linguistic elements, including trans-spatial stability, trans-functional-social dynamics, metamorphological positioning, individualistic semantics, and metaspatial typology.
Table 2: Coding of Semantic Perception Components in Isfahan’s Symbolic Historical Centers




Linguistic Components of Place


Selected Codes


Pivotal Codes


Urban Space Open Codes


Isfahan Historical Center Open Codes




Trans-contextual sustainability


Action


Possible-liquid


Peace/Nature/Comfort


Manifestation of heaven on earth in Baghshahr and Chaharbagh; Si-o-Se Pol’s role in urban unity




Transfunctional-social


Fluidity


Dialogue/
Attraction


Sociability/Dynamics/Diversity


Unity of nation, religion, and politics; Integration of material and spiritual elements




Metavisual imagery


Fantasy


Perspective/Identity


Historical identity/Memory


Visual complexity and spatial continuity




Metaphysical positioning


Transfiguration


Symbol


Historicity/Unity of Being


Spatial structure, coherence, and hierarchical balance




Hyperspace typology


Sacredness


Authenticity


Wisdom/Enclosure/Identity


Connection between earthly and celestial realms, cosmic design principles




Conclusion
In traditional Iranian cities, perception was deeply intertwined with the components of place, resulting in a supraspatial aspect that extended beyond material existence. This quality, rooted in Islamic-Iranian ontology and epistemology, enables the recreation of ancient symbolic centers by focusing on linguistic, agency, and action concepts. The historical centers of Isfahan function as a symbolic language, embodying a profound grammar that connects the earthly and celestial realms. In contrast, contemporary urban centers often lack this depth due to the absence of such a foundational language.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

  • Phenomenology
  • transspatial language
  • transfiguration and symbolic agency
  • actionability
  • Isfahan school urban planning
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