Tribal housing structures analysis in Balochistan of Iran

Journal of Research in Ecology

Journal of Research in Ecology

ISSN No: Print: 2319 –1546; Online: 2319– 1554

An International Scientific Research Journal

Mini Review

Tribal housing structures analysis in Balochistan of Iran Authors: Kiana Maleki Shoja and Mojgan Aminravan Institution: Master of Architecture, Gilan University, Rasht, Iran

ABSTRACT: Indigenous houses in accordance with ancient patterns, especially Balochistan tribal houses, considering their history, forming and changing through hundreds of years, have maximum compatibility with the environmental conditions and ecological area. The mentioned patterns have been orally transferred till now and are in danger of extinction and oblivion versing the period of development of contemporary architecture. Therefore, this review article is designed to examine a variety of Balochistan houses to introduce the addressed indigenous housing, and study their structural types and provide constructional analysis, to achieve a deeper understanding of these ancient structures.

Corresponding author: Kiana Maleki Shoja

Keywords: Tribal houses, Compatibility, Balochistan, Iran.

Email ID:

Article Citation: Kiana Maleki Shoja and Mojgan Aminravan Tribal housing structures analysis in Balochistan of Iran Journal of Research in Ecology (2017) 5(2): 1192-1198 Dates: Received: 22 July 2017

Web Address: http://ecologyresearch.info/ documents/EC0465.pdf Journal of Research in Ecology An International Scientific Research Journal

Accepted: 09 Aug 2017

Published: 14 Oct 2017

This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1192-1198 | JRE | 2017 | Vol 5 | No 2

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Shoja and Aminravan, 2017 INTRODUCTION

al housing is the South East region of Iran located in

Old architectural values of this land have long

Sistan and Balochistan, which is a rare example of per-

been totally forgotten, but one can still find villages that

fect harmony with the environment in the field of indig-

are examples, rich in architectural culture and have

enous tribal housing. The characteristics of housing in

maintained ways of living and traditions of residence

this province is a variation on the traditional mobile

and folk art (Davtalab and Azarsa, 2009). In the differ-

houses. These portable temporary shelters belong to low

ent form of housing alongside racial factors, historical

-income villagers, Sistani and Baluch nomads and some

and psychological factors, geographical factors, which

fixed homes in winter and summer migration areas are a

vary from region to region and create characteristics of

blend of traditional and modern architecture. According

each region, also have played a major role. The con-

to the estimates of the Statistical Center of Iran in 2006

struction, materials, shape and arrangement of the vari-

from 2.400 million people in Sistan-Balochistan prov-

ous parts of the rural housing are influenced by geo-

ince, about 1.200 million people live in 5719 villages

graphical conditions in their environments and are of

(Statistical Center of Iran, 2006). Based on the men-

great geographical importance according to reflecting

tioned data, 242.351 rural families live in 192.392 resi-

this influence.

dential units. In 2006 statistics show that rural popula-

In fact, the influences of geographic, social,

tion and rural dwellings of the province is more than the

economic and cultural conditions create special and rare

urban population and urban dwellings (Table 1). That

local ecosystems that have the highest sustainability

reason is merely enough to pay attention to the decisive

with the environment and can supply maximum comfort

role of rural areas in the economic and social develop-

and convenience for residents. These ecosystems clearly

ment, physical and security in the province and country.

showed the fact that can through a fight with environ-

Housing and environment considering strength, beauty,

mental constraints and geographical perspectives where

comfort, and its coordination with the producing activi-

all the needs of rural communities would be resolved.

ties are of such important topics that can help to achieve

These ecosystems provide such comfort for their resi-

this goal (Sartipipour, 2004).The followings investigate

dents that even today's housing are not capable of fully

and discuss the types of tribal housing in this area.

achieving this goal.

Gdam

A systematic view of the body and houses of the

This type of house is mainly built in northern

villages are designed in a way that rural settlements and

areas of Balochistan is mostly cold and mountainous. It

housing components are identified and their connection

is a black tent (Siyah Chador) made of stripes sewn to-

that has determinant effects in the rural and physical

gether of woven goat hair and prepared and held by

development of proper housing (Gray and Kenny,

women and girls. It is a pentagon or hexagonal shape

2004). The fact that components of housing units

and at the sides has arches toward inside.

(materials, structures, architectural spaces, beauty, func-

Gdam

components

include

Pat,

Pastak,

tion, etc.) are interconnected with elements related to

Gdamsak, Cadag, Sad which is called "Reez" or

each other and communication and coordination be-

"Chilouk", Corag, Dastak, Beam and Nails.

tween them can create the desired house. This is the

Pat

basic principle that should be considered in housing renewal and improvement project (Sartipipour, 2005).

One of the very important areas in terms of trib1193

Part of the fabric that should be placed on the roof is made of a piece of cloth called "Pat" which is formed in accordance with the dimensions of Gdam and Journal of Research in Ecology (2017) 5(2): 1192-1198

Shoja and Aminravan, 2017 Table 1. Comparison of Balochistan native housing

1

2

3

4

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Shoja and Aminravan, 2017 1

2

3

4

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Journal of Research in Ecology (2017) 5(2): 1192-1198

Shoja and Aminravan, 2017

can have two to three pieces. Beams which set up

risk and palm trees – and has vertical composition. Its

Gdam, are placed is under this section (Ibid).

entrance is covered with palm leaves horizontally and

Pastak

flat and between the poles are covered with palm trees Fabrics used along the Pats and are connected

and tamarisk foliage. Kapar is usually a shed in agricul-

by "Gdamsak" and "Cadag" means the fabrics which are

tural lands or a place to buy and sell products. This

sewn across the Gdam. Dastakis slong stick about 1.5

housing mainly used in southern Balochistan (Makran)

meters its upper part is shaped like 7 seven and the

(Ibid).

length of both of it branches is about 10 cm. Dastak is

Davar or Loug

used to maintain the overall balance of Gdam, in a way

It is also called Kapar or shed by some, made of

that the 7 seven shaped part of it is placed in the "Pat"

foliage of the palm trees and shaped as a semicircle with

ring pulled by "Sad" and the other end of Sad is fas-

an arch formed roof. In each Davar dimensions, length,

tened to the earth byan iron nail ring. This is done along

width and height, depend on the number of household

the length of Gdam (Bashiri et al., 2009).

members, families socio-economic status and its use and

Kapar

one cannot recognize a specific division, but in the A shelter of long frames- often made of Tama-

Journal of Research in Ecology (2017) 5(2): 1192-1198

absence of a specific order it can be said that length to 1196

Shoja and Aminravan, 2017 width ratio of the oval which means the large diameter

Davar, we run the following operation sequentially

to the small diameter is 3 to 1. The height of Davar is

1. A rather high level ground -shaped as an oval- is pre-

variable and the minimum height is 2.5 meters and

pared and flattened.

reaching the sides of it, the height is reduced

2. Its surrounding is dug by the depth of 3 to 5 cm.

(Sartipipour, 2004).

3. They put the Shaboksat approximately equal intervals

Materials needed to build Davar are mainly pre-

in the ground, If a higher level is needed one or more

pared from palm trees and a shrub called Daz-

Shaboks are connected together by Chilouk.

Nannorhops Ritchiana- which the following would dis-

4. "Peeshes" of palm are put in gaps between the

cuss the different parts of it.

Shaboks.

Chilouk

5. "Peeshes" of palm are fastened horizontally around

They weave a rope by the leaves of "Daz" and

Davar by Chilouk to the main skeleton.

for more strength hit the rope.

6. In the last step, Tagerd is placed on the skeleton of

Peesh

Davarand attached to the framework by "Shak" (Omran, The young branches of palm trees after their

leaves have been picked and dried.

1996).

Gerd Toup (Round Ball) One of the most beautiful vernacular dwellings

Shabok Made by putting several Peeshes together and

or the region is "Gerd Toup". The walls of "Gerd Toup"

fastening them by Chilouk.

are made of adobe and clay and thatch, it has a wooden

Tagerd

door and its roof is of palm trees’ foliage and is almost A mat woven from the leaves of "Daz", which is

circular. If the vertical wall is made of the wood of palm

used as a simple or patterned mat.

trees and tamarisk, it is called "toupi".Two examples of

Shak

toupi’s is shown in Figure 1. This kind of dwelling is Small sticks of palm trees which are used to

mainly built in Iranshahr, Chabahar and Jazmouriyan

connect the "Tagerd" to the Davarskeleton. To set up a

plain. It is so similar to the dwellings of Boushehr, Ab-

Figure 1. Two samples of Toupi constructions (Source: author) 1197

Journal of Research in Ecology (2017) 5(2): 1192-1198

Shoja and Aminravan, 2017 bass Port and Torkman Port. The smaller kind of this

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Based on traditional housing and style of Balochistan, it should be noted that the dwellings of Gdam, Kapar, Davar and Gerd Toup can be categorized to smaller groups due to their structure. For example, Gerd Toup can be constructed in 10 different ways based on materials and methods of construction, which adds to the complexity of analyzing these structures. The way

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of using fiber of palm and Daz in the tissue of the body

Gray NF and Kenny C. (2004). A rural housing sus-

and ceilings, and also the structural form has differences

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Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Mu-

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nicipal Engineer, 157(4): 275-283.

CONCLUSION While Balochistan is an area with vast deserts and low population density where for various reasons

index:

background

to

development.

Omran B. (1996). Tribal housing typology of Sistan and Baluchestan. Proceedings of the Fourth Student Conference on Civil, 1: 112-117.

humans had no particular interest to live permanently

Sartipipour M. (2004). Rural housing indicators and its

there throughout history, nomadic life in small villages

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is just so common so that till the contemporary age and

prehensive Plan Seminar, Urban Planning Ministry. 12:

present time, this way of life is going on in a large part

18-34.

of the area.

This lifestyle has caused certain kinds of architecture that because of its construction and materials has

Sartipipour M. (2005). Indicators of rural housing architecture in Ian. Fine Art Magazine, 22: 51-43.

had little survive a land its construction method has

Statistical Center of Iran [Internet]. Organization;

passed not as constant and compiled model but from

[cited 2017 April 25].

generation to generation and chest to chest. Today the

Available from: https://www.amar.org.ir

mentioned problem, with the increasing development of the heterogeneous patterns of urban life in this area has put this type of architecture in danger of oblivion the patterns and practices and original constructions. This review explored four different types of housing that are native to Balochistan and has divided them into 17 different types. And one by one the materials, construction

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techniques, type of form and appearance similarities with modern structures were discussed to create a hope of maintaining this tradition.

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