A Comparative Analysis of Semantic Values in Liminal Spaces of Traditional Houses (Case Study: Yazd Traditional Houses)

Abstract

A house is a space where humans grow and live with their families feeling secure with a sense of attachment. Thearchitecture of the traditional Iranian houses not only has taken on physical and functional importance as architecture,but the role of architecture in the association of meanings and transmission of concepts also has a special place.Liminal spaces in traditional houses are part of the apparent form carrying multiple meanings. In these spaces, thereis a possibility of common interaction and exchange with adjacent spaces, this demonstrates the ability of liminalspaces to confront multiple concepts that make it the focus of meaning.This applied research was conducted as adescriptive-analytical study with the interpretivist approach to describe the valid theories and opinions of theoristsby ranking the concepts and notions hidden in liminal spaces. Then, by preparing a questionnaire from the residentsand field study of samples of traditional housing in Yazd, the identified indicators have been analyzed and evaluatedby a comparative method. Research findings suggested that liminal spaces are represented by a definable conceptby physical elements (such as porches and entrances) in traditional houses consisting of various semantic layersperceived objectively (physical concepts) and subjectively (subjective concepts). In addition, it was revealed thatall indicators had considerable physical manifestations in threshold spaces on five value levels, fostering the linkbetween the physical form and content on all semantic levels. Moreover, restoring part of the lost identity of theIranian house architecture seems possible by prioritizing, recreating, and incorporating these indicatorsinto themodern housing models.

Keywords

• semantic value
• liminal spaces
• traditional housing
• yazd