Typology of the Ornamentations of the Openings of the Historical City of Masouleh, a Case Study of Reyhane-bar Neighborhood

Masouleh is one of the few historical and habitable spaces in Iran, where the continuity of Iranian Islamic arts has been common for many centuries. Masouleh is located in the mountainous part of Fuman city with a thousand year old history. This historical city was registered as a national monument in 1944 and is currently being registered in the UNESCO World Organization. Masouleh’s architecture has a stepped structure and the houses are extroverted. Masouleh has six neighborhoods, Reyhane-bar, Asad-mohalleh, Keshe-sar, Khanebar, Masjed-bar and Bazaar. Reyhane-bar neighborhood is the main entrance to Masouleh and is located in the southern part of the city. The formation of Reyhane-bar neighborhood and its buildings is deep-rooted in the Zandiyeh- Pahlavi period. Reyhane-bar neighborhood has 50 residential units, of which 26 buildings have a historical structure and were examined in the current research. The Reyhane-bar neighborhood has a variety of latticed openings made of enclosing decorative patterns. The aim of the research is to recognize the types of openings and ornamentations in the Reyhane-bar neighborhood. The research questions are as follows: 1- In how many levels are the openings of the historical building of Reyhane-bar neighborhood classified? 2- What decorative patterns are used in the openings and what is the frequency of new to old patterns in the ornamentation of the openings of Reyhane-bar neighborhood? The research method is descriptive-analytical and the information collection method is documentary and field study. The results of the research show that the ornamentations of the openings of Reyhane-bar neighborhood have been implemented using three methods: Girih-tiling, Ghavarehbori and woodcarving. The openings of the Reyhane-bar neighborhood are classified in six levels: integrated openings, without Sarbarieh (opening above the window), inscribed openings without Sarbarieh, Sarbariehs without a border design (single), and inscribed Sarbariehs (single) and Orosi. This should also be noted that the Reyhane-bar neighborhood has the lowest number of Orosis in comparison with other neighborhoods and Orosis in the above-mentioned neighborhood are mainly observed in the economic constructions. A total of fifteen decorative patterns have been used in the openings of Reyhane-bar neighborhood, among which, 8-square Shamse girih patterns and Paisley Ghavarehbori are the most repeated patterns. Reyhane-bar neighborhood has 6 new patterns and 9 common (original) patterns in Masouleh. The results of the research show that 24% of the decorative arrays of the openings of the Reyhane-bar neighborhood was of new patterns and 76% of the original and common patterns in Masouleh neighborhoods. A noteworthy point in the construction of the ornamentation of the openings of the Reyhane-bar neighborhood is the common use of the Ghavarehbori method. Among the main reasons for the Ghavarehbori construction method in the decorations of the openings of the Reyhane-bar neighborhood, the following can be mentioned: Cost-effectiveness: The Ghavarehbori construction method is much more economical than the Girih-tiling method, but by implementing Ghavarehbori, more limited designs can be made in comparison with the Girih-tiling method. Ease of construction: Artists need to use soft wood to make Ghavarehbori ornamentations, and this causes less durability, more wear and tear, and a more unfavorable appearance in the building wall. For this reason, to solve the problems of corrosion and to prevent biological and environmental disintegration as well as turbidity of color, the residents are forced to use stabilizers and chemical colors that do not match the authentic and historical texture of Masouleh. The research results show that there are sixteen geometrical patterns in Reyhane-bar neighborhood. As already mentioned in the text, the ornamentations of Masouleh’s openings have been implemented in three forms: Girih-tiling, Ghavarehbori and woodcarving. Several researches have been recently conducted with regard to the subject of Masouleh, its neighborhoods, and the existing ornamentations of the openings of each of these neighborhoods due to the significance and importance of Masouleh, as one the few habitable historical places in Iran. This research and its results are only a small part of the wide and extensive topics that can be performed in the field of knowledge of traditional arts and how they work to meet the needs of users. In fact, it is possible to investigate the ornamentations of other places in Masouleh in future research, which would lead to the recognition and preservation of the architectural arrays of Masouleh.