Climate, culture, and religion: Aspects of the traditional courtyard house in Iran

This paper concerned with the traditional courtyard house in Iran and with the factors that shaped its form and development. Through a comparison of two historic cities of central Iran - Yazd and Shiraz - we examine the impact of climate and of religious ideology (Shi'a Islam) on the spatial and formal organization of the house. Both can be seen to have had a significant influence, though the study suggests that the "weight" of the factors may differ according to local conditions. A limited comparison is also made between the courtyard houses of Muslims and those of a religious minority in Iran - the Zoroastrians. Despite the asymmetries of power and differences in belief, there is evidence that a similar range of house-types developed amongst both peoples.