The Spatial Structure of Yazd Courtyard Houses: A Space Syntax Analysis of the Topological Characteristics of the Courtyard

An important “architectural type” in Iranian history is the Yazd courtyard house. This historic building type features a walled boundary that contains complex pattern of open (to sky), semi-enclosed and enclosed spaces. The planning these houses has typically been interpreted as either response to changing socio-cultural values or local climatic conditions. Such theories about are based on series assumptions (i) numbers courtyards rooms they contain, (ii) their unchanging nature over time (iii) topological existing relationship between rest plan. Yet, assumptions, all which have an impact interpretation this famous architectural type, never tested. In response, paper uses computational mathematical method drawn from Space Syntax measure spatial topology 37 plans Yazd’s most significant houses. These houses, classified by Cultural Heritage Organization, were constructed 11th 20th CE centuries exemplars type. develops three hypotheses around found past research characteristic Then, using quantitative measures derived plan graph analysis, longitudinal trends test explore changes occurred time.