Reflection of Principles of Iranian Vernacular Music and Ritual Ceremonies in Designing Urban Spaces

ABSTRACT: Urban design is a multidisciplinary field, consisting of both science and art. The physical aspect together with the non-physical aspects related to human – like meaning and function – along with the presence of human beings, make a successful and dynamic place to be used by people in a good way. Undoubtedly, culture as a response of a society to its requirements and a means to ensure the quality of life, is one of the most important factors that can help designers in creating an appropriate plan.Every ethnic group use specified rhythms, proportions and scale in its cultural products. As every ethnic group is accustomed to a specific kindof music, in terms of psychological aspects, it will make a more comfortable relationship with the rhythms in its own music style. If an urban designer extracts urban design principles out of the rhythm in the music and ritual rhythmic frolic of a specified ethnic group, he or she could apply them in the design process of urban spaces to create much more beloved spaces for the related ethnic group. This article first studies Iranian ethnic groups (Kurds, Lures (Bakhtiaries), and Turks are three selected ethnic groups discussed in this article)1 music and traditional frolic via collecting data both with observation and descriptive methods, extracts the hidden regularizing principles. Then analyze the regularizing principles. After that, through an in-depth interview of the target groups, elaborates these principles and finally proposes an innovative framework for designing urban spaces of these mentioned Iranian ethnic groups. Finally it is concluded that the potential of artistic indigenous values such as folk music and ritual rhythmic frolic would increase the quality of their urban design.