URBAN RURAL LINKAGE THROUGH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE IRANIAN PLATEAU: CASE OF SEMNÂN

A. ALEHASHEMI

Abstract


For centuries, complex hydraulic systems had a pivotal role in shaping Iranian cities. As socio-technical systems, water infrastructures outlined a strong connection with the socio-spatial organization of the Iranian cities.

This article examines the traditional urban rural linkage in the city of Semnân and shows how this linkage was shaped in various aspects based on the traditional water infrastructure of the city. The paper focuses particularly on the socio-spatial connection between water infrastructure and urban-rural structure in Semnan before the mid-twentieth century. It successively outlines this traditional interconnection in three scales of territorial, urban and architectural organizations. It then puts into question the current situation of the traditional hydraulic system and its correlation with the modern development of the city.

The Results of the research shows that the traditional water infrastructure in Semnan had a leading role in Urban-Rural linkage, and spatial organization of the city on different scales until the mid-twentieth century. It shows the integration between hydraulic systems and rural and urban organizations was not limited to the physical aspects. But the hydraulic system governance and organization was in fact deeply integrated with a hierarchical societal system which formed the socio-spatial organization of the Semnan.


Keywords


Urban Structure, hydraulic infrastructure, Iranian Plateau, Traditional water systems, socio-spatial structures, socio-technical systems.

Full Text:

PDF

References


AHMADPANAHI SEMNANI M. (2002). Shiveye sonnatiy-e taghsim-e âb dar semnan [Traditional method of water division in Semnan]. Tehran: Institute of Anthropology, Cultural Heritage Department.

AKBARYAN M., ALEHASHEMI A., NOURI A. (2021). Hydraulic Landscape, the role of water system in shaping the landscape of Qazvin traditional Orchards, MANZAR, The Scientific Journal of Landscape, Vol. 13, Issues 55, pp. 30-41. doi: 10.22034/manzar.2021.247604.2087

AL-MUQQADASI (1982). The best divisions for knowledge of the regions (Ahsan Al-Taqasim Fi Maʻrifat Al-Aqalim), Tehran. in Persian. Originally composed in Arabic: 986 A.C.

ALEHASHEMI A., COULAIS J. F. (2021). Systèmes hydrauliques et structures urbaines en Iran. Un modèle traditionnel d’intégration à l’épreuve de la modernisation, Flux, Vol. 123, pp. 3-29. https://doi.org/10.3917/flux1.123.0003

ARMANSHAHR CO. (2017). Report of strategic plan of the city of Semnân. Semnân, Housing and urban development organization of isfahan province in Persian.

ATASH F. (1993). Fragmentation of the urban fabric: the experience of middle Eastern and North African cities, Cities, Vol. 10, Issue 4, pp. 313-325.

BÂGH-E ANDISHEH. (2009). Renewal plan for urban blighted areas in Semnân, Semnân, Urban Development and Revitalization Organization of Iran. in Persian.

BONINE M.E. (1979). The morphogenesis of Iranian cities, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 69, Issue 2, pp. 208-224.

ENGLISH P.W. (1968). The Origin and Spread of Qanats in the Old World, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 112, Issue 3, pp. 170-181.

ESTAJI H., RAITH K. (2016). The role of qanat and irrigation networks in the process of city formation and evolution in the central plateau of Iran, The case of Sabzevar. in Fatemeh Farnaz Arefian, S. H. I. Moeini (Eds.), Urban change in Iran: Stories of rooted histories and ever-accelerating developments. Springer International Publishing.

GOBLOT H. (1995). Les qanats : une technique d'acquisition de l'eau, Editions de l'Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, France.

HAKIM B. S. (2013). Arabic Islamic Cities Rev: Building and planning principles. routledge.

HASHEMI S. (2018). Photo collection of Semnan Province during Qajar period. Tehran, Abrokh.

IRANMANESH N., POURJAFAR M., KHATIBI M., ZIARI K. (2021). The Contribution of Water to the Morphology of the Historic Qazvin City (Qajar Era), The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, Vol. 18, Issue 97, pp. 31-46. doi: 10.22034/bagh.2020.226317.4513

JANIBALLAHI M.S. (2005). Forty Speeches in Anthropology of the city of Meybod, Vol.1: Culture and Technology of Qanat, Tehran, Roshanan. In Persian.

KHOSROBEIGI H., GHANBARIMALEH Z. (2011). Social and economic situation of Semnân at the beginning of the Qajar period (until 1892), The Quarterly Journal of the History of the Iranian Islamic Period, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp.19-41, (In Persian).

MANSOURI S.A. (2014). The spatial system in the Islamic city of Iran, Journal of art & civilization of the Oriental, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 52-63.

MANUEL M., LIGHTFOOT D., FATTAHI M. (2018). The sustainability of ancient water control techniques in Iran: an overview, Water History, Vol.10, pp. 13-30.

MOKHLESI M. (1976). Historical Monuments of Semnân, Tehran, National Heritage Society of Iran, (In Persian).

NOGHSAN MOHAMMADI, M.R. (2021). The influence of the underground water system on the urban morphology of a traditional city, Yazd -Iran, in Alehashemi A.,

COULAIS J.F., HUBERT G. (Eds.), Hydraulic Systems and Urban Structures, Paris, L’Œil d’Or.

PAPELI YAZDI M.H., LABBAF KHANEIKI M. (2000). The role of qanât in the formation of civilizations: the hypothesis on the sustainability of culture and civilization of Kariz. Qanât International Conference, Yazd, Yazd Regional Water Organization, pp. 1-25. in Persian.

RAFEI H. (1962). History of Semnan, Semnan, Governory of Semnan.

SAFINEZHAD J. (1980). Nezam-ha-ye abyari-ye sonnati dar Iran [Traditional irrigation systems in Iran], Tehran, Tehran University Press. in Persian.

SEMSARYAZDI A. A., LABBAF KHANEIKI M. (2017). Qanat knowledge: construction and maintenance, Netherlands, Springer.

SOLTANZADEH H. (1997). An introduction to the history of the city and urbanization in Iran, Tehran, Amirkabir, in Persian.

TARH-O-PAJOUHESH CO. (1974). Report of the strategic plan of the city of Semnân, Tehran, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, in Persian.

TAVASSOLI M. (2016). Urban Structure in Hot Arid Environments: Strategies for Sustainable Development. Springer International Publishing.

WULFF H. E. (1968). The Qanats of Iran, Scientific American, Vol. 218, pp. 94-107.doi: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24926204

YAQUT AL-HAMAWI. (2000). Dictionary of countries (Mu'jam ul-Buldān), translated from Arabic to Persia: Ali Naghi Monzavi, Tehran. in Persian. Originally Composed in Arabic: 1224-1228 A.C.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.