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Beqāʿ al-khair in Isfahan: Spatial Practice in “Living Heritage”
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Zahra Ahari1   , Sana Yazdani2 , Nazanin Shahidi3 |
1- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2- PhD Researcher in Architecture, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3- PhD Graduate in Islamic Architecture, Independent Researcher |
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Abstract: (15 Views) |
While Isfahan possesses a rich architectural legacy symbolizing its zenith, magnificent and enduring structures also remain from its periods of crisis and decline. These edifices represent the physical manifestation of social practices, constructed to address material and spiritual needs, foster urban vitality, and engender a crucial sense of local and urban belonging. The Beqāʿ al-khair (monuments of benefaction), specifically the tomb complexes dating back to the Ilkhanid era, stand as the most significant examples of this phenomenon. Their religious and spiritual importance has ensured the preservation of their physical fabric and the continuity of a portion of their activities, thus establishing them as "living heritage" sites.
Employing a mixed strategy based on theoretical discourse and historical data, this article demonstrates how the synergistic convergence of physical, spiritual, cultural, and social dimensions has sustained the fundamental functions of these monuments. The research findings indicate that the continuous production and reproduction of space, mediated by sustained spatial practices within the mausoleums, have facilitated the perpetuation of their primary function, ritual observances, continuous conservation and management, and the community's enduring relationship with the edifice. Therefore, maintaining the vitality of the Beqāʿ al-khair necessitates adopting practical strategies capable of identifying their spatial practices and reinforcing their mediating role within the triadic dialectic encompassing the mental, objective, and social facets of their existence.
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| Keywords: Beqāʿ al-khair, Living Heritage, Spatial Practice, Isfahan, Tomb Complexes, Ilkhanid Period. |
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Full-Text [PDF 1086 kb]
(5 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/12/1 | Accepted: 2025/12/4
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