Necessity of Urban Transformation in Introverted Historic Textures

Abstract

The historic center of Yazd consists of courtyard houses in which the main facades have been formed around the private inner courtyard. By spreading waves of Modernism, an evident contrast emerged between the historic core and the new areas; therefore, the inner city became an isolated-inactive part that was unable to adapt itself with the new urban life. Pursuing an analytic-suggestive method, this article aims to explore how a courtyard-based tissue can be synchronized with the new lifestyle. Considering the theoretical bases in regard to conservation–modernization of historic contexts, this article investigates the spatial transformation of the introverted frozen frameworks. It discusses how instead of the present restrictive conservation policies the introverted Islamic neighborhoods could be modernized. In this regard, the present rules and codes related to the historic areas are critically verified. Moreover, by analyzing the physical remodeling realized in the recent interventions, the article represents controversial proposals to connect the isolated private courtyards to the streets network. The article concludes that regulations and policies should be devised to ensure conserving the courtyard-based pattern as well as redevelopment of introverted neighborhoods. By formulating policies and appropriating the codes in regard to relationship between closed and open spaces and also utilization of new technologies, both the conservation and innovation objectives could be achieved in the framework of a balanced view.