Somaiyeh Falahat Knihy

Somaiyeh Falahat explores the spatial and morphological logic of pre-modern Middle Eastern and North African cities, referred to as "Islamic cities." She argues that a city's form and structure are deeply rooted in the thought-structure of its people. To truly understand these places, one must engage with this life-world as a lens for observation. This approach seeks to uncover new levels of understanding by grasping indigenous concepts and proposes a novel method of analysis. Falahat uses the historic city of Isfahan as a case study, suggesting that the indigenous term Hezar-Too effectively captures the city's complexity, often described as labyrinthine. This perspective allows for a more contextual observation of the city, revealing its true character. The contents include discussions on the model of the "Islamic city," the idea of the labyrinth, and the development of new terminology. The work targets researchers and students in architecture and urban history, particularly those focused on Middle Eastern and North African cities, as well as architects, historians, and urban planners. Falahat is a senior researcher and lecturer at Technische Universität Berlin.

Challenging the Western perception of Islamic cities as chaotic labyrinths, this book offers an alternative perspective that highlights their unique structures, cultural significance, and social dynamics. It delves into the historical context and architectural innovations that define these urban spaces, showcasing how they function cohesively rather than merely as disordered environments. Through rich analysis and vivid illustrations, the author invites readers to appreciate the complexity and beauty of Islamic urban life.

The concept of New Towns emerged in Iran in the early 20th century amid industrialization and urban population growth. Today, these towns are seen as strategic solutions to the challenges posed by Megacities, including pollution, poverty, and traffic. New Towns offer a unique opportunity to build cities from the ground up, ensuring that sustainability—social, physical, and economic—is integrated into design and planning strategies. Research on the sustainability of the built environment in Hashtgerd New Town has largely concentrated on architectural scale or city scale. While architecture plays a crucial role in energy efficiency, urban configurations at lower scales also significantly affect the effectiveness of architectural designs by influencing local climates. This text highlights the importance of urban geometry as a factor influencing sustainability and examines how the conventional urban pattern in Hashtgerd New Town performs compared to alternative designs. The focus is specifically on the dimension of sustainability related to building energy consumption.