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Pourshabanian Z, Mortezai M, Khamseh H. (2022). An Analysis of the Structural Pattern of Mosques Matching the Climate in Hamadan City. Parseh J Archaeol Stud. 6(20), 247-269. doi:10.30699/PJAS.6.20.247
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-244-en.html

Abstract
The native and traditional architecture of each region has been derived from the climate and geography of that region, and mosques as the most important permanent building of Islam in different cities and climates have developed and survived over time by maintaining their unique characteristics in accordance with the climate of each region. The survival of the structure of the historical mosques of Hamedan has also been influenced by the climatic indicators of the region and the climate has guaranteed the structure of the mosques for many years and has provided the possibility of peaceful coexistence of architecture with the environment and its integration. On this basis, this question can be asked that to what extent did climatic characteristics influence the process of forming mosques? In other words, to what extent have climatic factors been effective in creating similar shapes and forms in the building of Hamedan mosques? Its purpose is to recognize Hamedan’s climatic indicators in the structure of mosques by relying on study sources and field surveys to provide a basis for answering the mentioned questions .Considering that the quality of the structural model and the materials used in the mosques of Hamadan city have many similarities with each other due to the high foothill climate of the region ,and the design matching the climate in most of the mosques of this region is similar to other cities of the high foothill climate and mountainous has been observed, as a result, by studying and comparing architecture and climate, the degree of adherence to climate in the architecture of these valuable structures can be obtained. In order to understand the architecture of the historical mosques of Hamadan city, all the documentary, library and field data have been reviewed in a comprehensive way to reveal the effects of climate on the architectural structure of the mosques.
Keywords: Mountainous Region, Hamedan, Architecture, Mosques.

Introduction
In most of the historical and geographical sources of the Islamic era, the life and position of the city and its landmark works such as mosques, especially the Grand Mosque, have been talked about, and it has always had many study attractions for archeology, history and art researchers. In terms of urban identity, Jame Mosque of Hamadan has an old structure from the early Islamic era. However, the majority of neighborhood mosques were built in the neighborhoods of the city after the Safavid period, and a number of mosques, which are related to the Islamic Middle Ages, were revived during this era and the Qajar era. The plan of these mosques is square-rectangular and they follow the pillared nave pattern, without minarets and garlands. The majority of these mosques are built along the bazaar or on the side of the main roads of the city and play an important role in the formation of the design systems and public image of the city. Despite such a key position in the context of the city, investigation and research on the structure of mosques has often been scattered and focused only on the expression of architectural features. Therefore, the role of some influential factors such as climatic indicators in the structure of mosques, which are adapted to the climate of each region as much as possible, has been less noticed. Based on the main objectives of the article, the author aims to examine the architectural structure of the mosques of Hamedan city based on the climate of the region in the time frame of the Islamic era .Based on the mentioned approach, the review of historical and contemporary written sources, archeological data, excavation documents, and field surveys can provide researchers with a comprehensive and complete analysis of the exact location of mosques in the urban context and their architectural analysis based on the region’s climate.

Introduction
The mosques of Hamedan city, as one of the prestigious cities of many centuries of Islam, are very important in the civilization of the Islamic era from various aspects of study and research. In most of the historical and geographical sources of the Islamic era, the life and position of the city and its landmark works such as mosques, especially the Grand Mosque, have been talked about, and it has always had many study attractions for archeology, history and art researchers. In terms of urban identity, Jame Mosque of Hamadan has an old structure from the early Islamic era, which has been repaired and restored in different periods and additions have been added to it. Investigations and evidence show that the majority of neighborhood mosques were built in the neighborhoods of the city after the Safavid period, and a number of mosques, which are related to the Islamic Middle Ages, were revived during this period and the Qajar era. There is a mosque in each neighborhood of Hamadan city, among these mosques, we can mention Nazarbeg, Shalbafan, Chaman-Chopanha, Prophet, Imamzadeh Yahya, Gazran, Mirzataqi, Kalpa, Kebabian, Haji, Haj Kalbali and Alavian mosques. The plan of these mosques is square-rectangular and they follow the columned nave pattern, without minarets and garlands. Considering the importance of a significant number of mosques that are scattered in the city of Hamadan, each one is located on the path of one of the main neighborhoods of the city in the old context. The majority of these mosques are built along the bazaar or on the side of the main roads of the city and play an important role in the formation of the design systems and public image of the city. Despite such a key position in the context of the city, the investigation and research about the structure of mosques has often been scattered and focused only on the expression of architectural features. Therefore, the role of some influential factors such as climatic indicators in the structure of mosques, which are adapted to the climate of each region as much as possible, has been less noticed. Based on the main objectives of the article, the author aims to examine the architectural structure of the mosques of Hamedan city based on the climate of the region in the time frame of the Islamic era. Undoubtedly, this method of investigation and analysis can solve the study gaps regarding the architectural structures of mosques and climatic effects in them to a great extent. Based on the mentioned approach, the review of historical and contemporary written sources, archeological data, excavation documents, and field investigations can provide a comprehensive and complete analysis of the exact location of mosques in the urban context and the architectural analysis of mosques in Hamadan city. To provide researchers with the climate of the region.

Discussion
Although the historical mosques of Hamedan follow the general principles of mosque building, they have used methods to adapt to the cold climate of the region. The presence of courtyards in Hamedan mosques is often shown in three ways. Due to the unevenness of the city fabric in all areas, in sloping lands, part of the body of mosques is sunk into the ground. In addition to the external structure of mosques, often the internal parts are also designed under the influence of climatic conditions. Often, the roof of the mosques in this area is not dome or flat due to weather conditions and the amount of snow and rain. Comprehensive mosques are excluded from the general rule due to their centrality in the urban context of each region and often have a dome cover. Except for comprehensive mosques, keeping the balance in the ambient temperature as one of the design priorities has led the majority of mosques in this region to have flat or smooth roofs.
In some mosques of this region, there is only one nave with the characteristics of winter naves, and in other mosques, due to the more appropriate use of the nave space in different seasons, dual spaces have been considered for winter naves and summer naves. The axis of placement of the winter and summer Shabestan in the design of the mosque depends on the climatic pattern of the region. The number and dimensions of the openings in the mosque building imply maintaining the internal temperature, for this reason, in most mosques, the number and size of the openings and skylights of the external walls of the mosque are reduced to the minimum possible to control the heat exchange. The cold weather in the cold seasons of the year in the mountainous climate requires materials such as stone, brick and clay in the structure of buildings, especially mosques.

Conclusion
In the four regions of Iran, the body of mosques has been adapted as much as possible to the climate of each region so that in addition to meeting religious or political needs, human comfort needs are also provided in the space inside the mosque. Climatic factors are visible as influential factors in the structure of mosques in Hamadan city. The quality of the structural model and the materials used in Hamadan mosques have many similarities with each other due to the climate of Hamadan. In the review of 16 prominent mosques in the urban context of Hamadan, it can be clearly stated that the overall structure of the mosques does not have significant differences from each other. The plan of most mosques is often compact and square or rectangular. Most of the mosques, except Jame Mosque, Haj Kalbali Mosque and Sheverin Mosque, have a central tabernacle, and the materials used in all mosques are generally the same. Heavy materials such as brick and stone are prioritized due to their high thermal mass. All mosques have flat roofs, which causes snow to accumulate on the roof, and the only dome-shaped mosque in the city is Jame Mosque as the main mosque. The height of most of the mosques in this area is relatively short, except for the Grand Mosque. The dimensions of the openings and windows in the mosques of this area are few. The importance of the courtyard in other regions is not seen in such mosques. The layout of mosques is mostly integrated with the surrounding context such as alleys, streets, residential houses and markets, and the mosques are connected to the adjacent buildings, which is effective in maintaining the heat inside the mosques as well as the adjacent buildings.