Current World Environment

Introduction

In formation of residential buildings, doctrinal issues of Iranians such as self-esteem and respect for private life have unchallenged effects. By placing architecture parts around a central open space (Mian sara), architect cuts the direct relation of building with its outside space. (Pirnia et al., 2010). So they have created houses with enclosed spaces and a quiet space out of other’s sight, for residents. Wherever, it is talked about privacy and introversion, unconsciously, introversion houses located in arid areas are come into mind. It is talked less about privacy in houses with eccentric architecture. Is privacy in houses with eccentric status, valuable? Is it possible to create privacy and remove visual aristocrats among eccentric house? If there is such privacy, we can introduce it according to the definition that PirNia introduce it as a cage that we can directly communicate with the outside environment. (Pirnia et al., 2010).

The examples of privacy in traditional introverted houses are recognizable, simply while the eccentric houses (because of their particular provided definition) are considered without privacy, at the first look. The present study wants to investigate the privacy issues and patterns in eccentric houses and analyzes the respect to privacy in these houses. For this purpose after defining the privacy words and investigating the reasons of respect to privacy, we will identify the examples of visual privacy in traditional houses such as Sari historical houses. Finally, we will provide visual privacy patterns in eccentric houses.

Word’s Definition

Privacy: privacy is range of beliefs, practices, behaviors, characteristics, features and ownership of each person. And they are not willing to disclose it and against other’s entrance and supervising, they react to it. (Naghibi, 2010). The examples of privacy can be classified into four categories: (Aslani, 2005)

• information privacy
• communication privacy
• physical privacy
• homes and places privacy

The word of “Privacy” is defined in dictionaries as follows:

Dehkhoda Dictionary: deterrence of, deprive of around, surrounding, something that it does not support it and fight for it, respect, people’s honor, round, surrounding. (Dehkhoda, 1998).

Moein Dictionary: the surrounding of a house where it is necessary to protect and defend it. (Moein, 2006).

Amid dictionary: around and surrounding of houses where it is necessary to protect and defend it and it is not admitted and prohibited. (Amid, 1982). The word of privacy in Dehkhoda dictionary means proximity and confidentiality and in Moin dictionary, it means procimity. (Dehkhoda, 1998) (Moein, 2006).

The Necessity Reasons for Privacy

After defining the privacy terms, in this part, the need to privacy in Islamic teachings and specific reasons specially Qur’an and hadith will be examined.

Quran

By investigating the Quran’s verses, it is showed that Quran insists on privacy, greatly. In this part, we will mention to the most important verses which are insist on supporting privacy: verses of 27 and 28 of Nur Sura influence on the privacy need of facilities, private spaces. And it knows that any entering to house is subject to permission. The 31 and 30 verses of Nur Surah imply to keep looking of faithful men and women. These verses will lead faithful men and women to keep their eyes from looking to part of body. (Ghahfarokhi et al., 2012).

-verse 11 of AlHojorat Surah implies on prohibit searching and examining other’s affairs. This prohibition of investigation includes all privacy issues. (Naghibi, 2010).

Narratives: many narratives imply on keeping honor and privacy and all of them imply on high sensitivity of Islam teachings. The famous Hadith of “لاضررولاضررفی اسلام” from provisions of the Prophet (PBUH) in the case of Samareh Ibn Jondab is one of the clearest cases that support the privacy of person’s house. In hadith book, we can note to a hadith “النظرالی دارالغیربغیراذنه”. And its content is as follows: “everyone who has access to his neighbor’s house and look to it and monitor the men’s gentile or the hair of women in house or other part of women’s body and he will not dead until God make him, vain in the people’s perspective and in day of resurrection, God reveals his ugliness for people.” In another hadith of Imam Sadiq (as) about looking to other’s house, it states: when someone is watching to other’s house or monitor it by a hole, it is not guaranteed that he will be kill or taken his eyes. (Ghahfarokhi et al., 2012).The narratives of Ibn Ghidis of Imam Sadiq and narrative of Abou Ayob Haraz imply on permission for entering to the privacy of family members. (Naghibi, 2010). It is a speech from holy messenger (PBUH) that looking to other’s room without allowing the blackout factors is not permitted. (Bemanian, 2011) also in another hadith from Imam Sadiq Ias) it mentioned about the looking without permission to neighbor’s house. (Bemanian, 2011). From the sayings of Imam Ali, we can mention to the officers in privacy about protecting privacy of houses and consider the following issues: (Ameri et al., 2011).

-when you reach to a village…. Do not enter to someone’s house.

-“when you enter from house’s doors and if someone does not enter to houses from its doors, it is called a thief” and by investigating verses and hadiths, it is concluded that Islam has been attached a special importance to protect individual’s privacy. And it has been developed written directives and programs to achieve it. Now, that the importance of this issue has been revealed for us, we will investigate the samples of privacy within traditional houses and in continue, we will investigate these samples in some of the traditional houses in Sari city which are eccentric architectural samples.

Privacy in Constructing Houses

Privacy, semi-privacy, semi-public and public realm has long been existed in the Iranian residential spaces. According to this principle, at least four space realm can be seen within Iranian houses:

• Public space
• semi-public space
• semi-private space
• private spaces

Private spaces are designed for single privacy of house’s members. In this space, all privacy aspects are respected and highest privacy is provided within it. (Haeri, 2009). According to the compliance of space organization and residential procedures, we can always identify space reflection of each type of privacy. Among them we can mention to the public spaces in the yard and predominantly, private spaces have two doors and past-rooms and we can search semi-private and semi0public spaces in the interstitial spaces such as corridors, hallways, and porches. (Asghar Zadeh et al., 2009).

Examples of Privacy in Islamic Architecture

Privacy is one of the most important principles that is considered in Islamic architecture and it is used in the best shape in all buildings such as large public buildings to small residential houses, from urban public spaces to semi-public and even private. This principle influences on Islamic urbanism and architecture (from the largest urban spaces to smallest architecture buildings).in the following, we will introduce and analyze the issues and themes of privacy in traditional houses.

Entrance

In traditional architecture, the structure of house’s entrance is designed such a way that is a case of Quran verse about veil. (Masaeli, 2009). By limiting the vision and creating privacy in the entrance, architecture creates privacy for its residents. Traditional architects believed that house’s doors should not open together or face to face. And it should be a distance between them to prevent the direct looking into the house. (Okhovat, Almasi far, Bemanian, traditional architecture and urbanism in Islamic countries, 2010). Input space in traditional houses is created from several parts and each of them has ceratin physical and functional properties. (SultanZadeh, 2005).Vestibule is a space that is usually places after port and its major functionalities is dividing the entrance path into two or more directions. (Sultanzadeh, 2005). Vestibule should be considered as one of the best examples of privacy within traditional houses. In vestibule with two hallways were placed to enter the interiors (private residence) and exterior (staying guests). The interior is the residential space of peoples and other peoples does not have to be entered. (Pirnia et al., 2010). The most important performance of the vestibule is dividing the entrance path into some directions and protecting part of privacy of house. (Nikbakht at al., 2002). Traditional architecture by designing vestibule after entrance separates the public spaces out of house with the private spaces within a house and close the view of passers, completely. (Masaeli, 2009) in other words, the privacy principles will be respected by closing the direct vision of foreign to the interior after opening the door. (Bemanian et al., 2010). Corridor is another entrance spaces that make a relation between two places. In traditional houses, entering to yard is through a screwed corridor which prevents the direct vision to entrance and create a type of privacy. (Bemanian et al., 2010). In this way, privacy issue was solved through a corridor that connects the vestibule to the yard. (Sultanzadeh, 2005). So, vestibule and screwed corridors with interior and exterior yards cut the vision of foreign to the sanctity home and family. (Pirnia, 2013). Islamic scholars believe that visual view of output of house to the entrance should be destroyed by creating a deep hallway between urban tissue and house. (Okhovat et al., 2010). The role and function of vestibule in eccentric traditional houses is similar to introvert houses. The vestibule of Samii, Abrisham and Ghadiri houses in Rasht city is separator of interiors and exteriors. With this difference that in three samples, passing to spaces was direct and without passing the separator filter. (Shafi Zadeh et al.,2014) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: the role and function of entrance, vestibule and corridors in visual privacy. resource: author Click here to View figure

Yard

Due to the geographic situation of some areas of Iran (ie drought), introverted architecture is common. In creating residential buildings, Iranian religious issues have unchallenged affects such as self-esteem and respect for private life. By placing architecture organs around a central space (Mian Sara), architecture cuts the direct connection of building with outer space. (Pirnia, M.K, 2013, P. 37). Among introverted residential houses, yard was known as a quiet and rest place for family because it was enclosed with around places. (Memarian, 2007). Traditional houses have two yards which are named interior and exterior. Interior was for residing of women and children and house’s owner and exterior was for entertaining guests. Exterior and interior yards gave separate entrance. In the exterior place, passers family and guests lived and women could exit without connection to them from another door. This issue leads to uphold of guests and Haram. (Zamarshidi, 2011). the realization of interior and exterior concept that is consistent with life’s rules of a Muslim family, is architectural response to inherent demand of inhabitants such as veil and protected from passer’s vision. (Masaeli, 2009). Ardalan in the book of sense of unity says that: “ just as life with concentric circles of individual privacies is out of public view, a house with yard hides itself form outside world and protect from the privacy. this yard is a median to determine the spiritual and personal identity of a family.” (Ardalan et al., 2001). In eccentric traditional houses, yard is an open space that surrounds it, all walls. And building is as a cage that its openings can communicate between interior and exterior places (Yard). (Pirnia et al, 2010). Enclosed yards with surrounding walls are the reason to protect privacy in exterior traditional houses. (Memarian, 2012). (figure 2).

Figure 2: the role of yard in visual privacy of eccentric and introvert yards. Source: author Click here to View figure

Hierarchy

The hierarchy principle that defines the different realm’s connection from private to public, has special situation and place. This principle determines and identifies the connection between house’s realms (pubic, semi-public, semi-private and private) and determines the limits of spaces. (Hashemi, 2009). Not only in indoors spaces but only in a larger scale (albeit related to house) hierarchy has examples in cities. Among old Iranian cities, three spaces are defined as follows:

• Private spaces such as courtyards and its components
• Semi-public spaces, -semi-private such as vestibule that has way to multiple houses.
• public space such as passing and square (Tavasoli, 1997)

Among Islamic-Iranian cities, respecting to privacy of peoples in private and semi-private spaces have special importance according to strict teachings of Islam. (Mortada, 2003). Privacy is one of individual’s rights and shows concepts such as field, boundaries, scope and intrusion sphere. A network of privacy hierarchy can be seen in urban space. This hierarchy begins from residential houses as smallest and most private spaces and leads to most public urban spaces. (Figure 3) (Bahreini, 1995). Hierarchy of historical tissues creates a type of modesty and shame. Many receipts of visual, auditory and olfactory those are available for all today, were covered for city residential. (Naghi Zadeh, 2000), disregarding to the hierarchy system in urban structure, can causes difficulty in properly and reasonably function of city in terms of privacy and can lead to vision problems and it is one of the today housing problems. (Bahreini, 1995).

Figure 3: Privacy hierarchy in urban spaces.( Source: Tabibian, Charbgou, Abdollahi: 2011). Click here to View figure

Privacy is respected within the house by arranging and organizing spaces. Among traditional houses, privacy was respected for two aspect of private and public. In the public domain, it was necessary to have a space for welcoming guest and any direct access from this space to private spaces such as bedrooms was cut. This requirement was realized by creating two separate entrance for guest and family. Kitchen as an important part of house should be covered from passer’s vision, because women spent most of their time in this space. (Hosham, 2008). [1]

The number of rooms from entrance to room (as a residential space with private privacy) can be a good model to study the hierarchy for protecting privacy among traditional houses. (Okhovat, 2013). Access pattern from entrance to room among introverted and eccentric houses is as follows:

• Traditional introvert houses: entrance-vestibule-corridor-yard-hallway-rooms (Omrani pour, 2005)
• Traditional eccentric houses: entrance- vestibule (sometimes)- corridor (sometimes)- yard- hallway or patio-room (Memarian, 2012).

[1] Due to the extensive research for eccentric traditional houses and lack of other useful resources, we use the results of this book as an appropriate pattern in this research.

The number of spaces to entering a room shows a hierarchy and it clears the importance of this space’s privacy for us. It is obvious that the role of hierarchy for protecting the privacy of traditional introverted houses is more than its eccentric types  (Figure 4).

Figure 4: the access pattern from entrance to room. Source: author Click here to View figure

Openings

The openings in the interior enclosed houses in introverted traditional houses provide a safe and quiet environment and away of passer’s look for residents. (Pirnia, 2013). Generally, introverted houses were successful in protecting the family privacy. in many eccentric traditional houses, openings are placed against the yard space which is enclosed between walls and natural components. Using geometric styles in designing the openings (such as sash) is an effective factor to protect the privacy of interior spaces. Geometric pattern with a combination of colorful glasses prevent the direct vision from exterior to interior, in addition to create eye 0 catching interior spaces.

The role and significance of these patterns in houses’ openings of eccentric houses that are opened to ports becomes more and more obvious. The sash in eccentric traditional houses can be considered as best samples of privacy (Figure 5).

Figure 5: openings of houses to yard to protect visual privacy, source: author Click here to View figure

Distance From Port

The issue of distance from port within introverted traditional houses is not an effective factor to protect privacy. Surrounding walls which are designed without openings (expect entrance), does not allow to passers to see the house while the building distance from port among eccentric houses has an undeniable role for interior privacy. Privacy providing in eccentric houses located beside the roads is more difficult than other houses. Although by preventing to locate openings in wall overlooks to the road, non-locating openings in lower floors (ground floor) or using the geometric patterns for openings, so much attention has been paid for home’s privacy.

Exterior

In traditional architecture, all buildings and houses were constructed in a coordinated way so it does not have any intrusion for visual privacy. Balcony and porches were built in a form which not overlooks to neighboring houses. Belief to privacy is lead that there should not be a hole in exterior façade to connect with exterior. (bemanian et al., 2010).(Memarian, 2010).

The Number of Floors

Among conducted investigations about Iranian traditional houses (introvert typology) by Dr Gholam Hosein Memarian, we found that the frame of introverted traditional buildings is utmost 2 floors (located on the ground). On the other hand, a substantial portion of building floors have been depressed due to access to underpass waters and stability issues. (Pir Nia et al., 2010). Therefore, due to a slight difference of height of adjacent buildings and entrenchment of internal openings to Mian Sara and visibility from one unit to another are largely impossible. Conducted research in eccentric traditional houses by Dr Gholam Hosein Memarian shows similar results. Most traditional houses of Gilan city (which are so close to the type of studied states) have two utmost 2 floors. (Memarian, 2012). The low number of floors in these models has the smallest problems to protect the privacy of interiors. It should be noted that houses with higher number of floors have been seen among these types. And their numbers are less than other types of houses. It is obvious that conducted research in this type is not generalizable to other residential types. But, due to the comprehensive surveys carried out in this regard and lack of other useful sources, we can use it as an appropriate pattern in this study.

Another Types of Privacy Among Traditional Houses of Sari

In this section, we intend to investigate the examples of privacy among traditional houses of Sari city. In this regard, Kolbadi, Fazeli, Ramdani and Sara Jalil located in the traditional tissue of Sari city are selected as case studies.

Entrance

The Kolbadi, Fazeli and Ramdani houses have vestibule. Entering to inside and outside is independent due to the vestibule presence.

The house of Sardar Jalil does not have any vestibule. But how to enter yard and 90 degree rotation of building’s opening relative to entrance provides necessary privacy for the interior spaces of this house (Figure 6).

Figure 6: the role of entrance in privacy, source: author Click here to View figure

Yard

All houses have yard. In houses of Kolbadi and Fazeli, interior and exterior yards are designed independently. The houses of Ramdani and Sardar Jalil only have one interior yard. All yards are surrounded by high brick walls to prevent the visual to the yard of house (figure 7).

Figure 7: the role of yard in privacy. source: author. Click here to View figure

Doors and Windows

Among described houses, all openings are opened to an enclosed yard which is not exposed at the passer’s vision. It should be noted that all openings have wooden nodes and colored glass (figure 8)

Figure 8: the effect of openings on privacy. source: author Click here to View figure

Hierarchy

The access types from entrance to rooms among described houses are as follows:

Kolbadi’s house: entrance-porch-corridor-yard-hallway-room

Fazeli’s house: entrance-porch- yard-corridor-room

Ramdani’s house: entrance-porch-corridor-yard-room

Sardar Jalil’s house: entrance-yard-corridor-corridor- room

In all houses, to access rooms in entrance, we should pass 4 or 5 previous spaces. So, privacy for rooms is respected in an appropriate manner (Figure 9)

Figure 9: access hierarchy from entrance to interior. Source: Author Click here to View figure

Distance from Port

Façade’s distance of building’s interior (which has doors and windows) from ports is as follows:

Kolbadi’s house: 23 m

Fazeli’s house: 13 m

Ramdani’s house: 17 m

Sardar Jalil’s house: 27 m

Long distance of main façade from port indicates the importance of privacy in these houses (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Distance of houses from port. Source: author  Click here to View figure

Number of Floors

The Houses of Kolbadi, Fazeli and Ramdani have two floors and the house of Sardar Jalil has three floors. Due to the considerable distance of buildings from ports and limited number of floors(except the house of Sardar Jalil), there is no possibility of vision from out space to house. In addition, described houses don’t have any vision to other houses.

Table1: Privacy patterns in the eccentric house

Facade

Among the described houses, only Fazeli and Ramdani’s houses are located, adjacently. By investigating the conduction type of these buildings, we found that described houses are located with a difference in angle of 90 °. And this issue reaches the vision from one building to another, to a minimum level. By this investigation, we found that the establishment angle of these units is not necessarily affected by the climate (Figure 11).

Figure 11: the role of façade on house’s privacy. Source: author Click here to View figure

Table 2: The privacy examples at traditional houses of sari city

Conclusion

By conducted investigations, we can found the following results:

• Islam considers a particular importance to protect the individual’s privacy. and among Quranic verses and hadiths, it is so emphasized to protect it.
• privacy patterns at the eccentric houses are as follows: (Table 1)
• privacy examples in traditional houses of Sari cities were also investigated that its description is in the following table: (Table 2)

From this investigation, we can found that all surveyed houses protected the privacy in internal spaces. In this regard, Sardar Jalil’s houses have less utility relative to other houses, due to lack of vestibule and high number of floors.

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