Methods of Utilizing Nature in Samples of Iranian Contemporary Architecture

ABSTRACT: This research is going to explore methods of utilizing nature in architecture and use them to evaluate naturalism of the samples of Iranian contemporary architecture, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The use of various aspects of the nature in Iranian contemporary architecture is less than the past. So the main questions in this research are: “Which methods of utilizing nature have influenced on the artistic works of Iranian contemporary architecture?”, and “How and how much are these influences?” In the research process, descriptive-analytic techniques are used. First, the theoretical literature was studied using the archival methods, and then the methods of utilizing nature as evaluation criteria were extracted. Next, using surveying methods, characteristics of case studies were analyzed and their quantitative and qualitative effects were presented. Research results indicated that conceptual, scenery and material techniques have been the most used in the public buildings of Iranian contemporary architecture, and formal, functional and spatial techniques have been neglected. The conclusion is that naturalism has always been on the focal attention in contemporary Iranian architects design process, but there is lack of Iranian architects’ effort to create works that nature is present comprehensively in them. On the other hand, public buildings are architectural patterns of every country, and utilizing the above methods in making such buildings can help to improve the quality of architecture in the country.