A Critique of Modern Shohada Square Based on the Principels of Islamic Iranian Urbanism

Squares as urban spaces are the arena for people formed by physical proportions and variety offunctions such as religious, commercial, cultural, etc. Shohada square as a focal point in Mashhad , is one of themain arteries of access to Holly shrine of Imam Reza and makes access to utilities and major axes . According tothe former urban pattern and its position in the traditional context of surrounding neighborhoods, access to the Holyshrine plays the memorial and historical role, that presents a very important position of the square. This paper clearlystates that Esfahan school characteristics such as unity, diversity and balance, are an appropriate pattern for designand evaluation of urban spaces that can be used for reconstruction of old squares on historical context. The resultsshowed that this pattern does not comply fully with Shohada square and modern architecture is visible in it. Also,serious damage has struck to the identity of the Shohada square by physical transformation with absolutely modernpattern after neglect of strong position of relation between Razavi shrine and Shohada square and religious traditionalcontext and history. Egregious physical duality of new

A Critique of Modern Shohada Square Based on the Principels of Islamic Iranian Urbanism Keywords:

Squares , Urban squares , Shohada square in Mashhad , Islamic urbanism , Esfahan school