Designing a Cultural Center: An Approach to Harmonizing Tradition and Modernity

Abstract

The fundamental essence of all arts lies in the manifestation of beauty, which is expressed through the relationships of length, breadth, and height in architecture, sculpture, and other artistic forms. The objective of the present research was to design a cultural center that embodies the interaction between tradition and modernity. This design approach sought to incorporate materials, forms, and architectural examples from contemporary modern architecture, enabling the establishment of a dialogue between traditional Iranian architecture and contemporary architectural practices, while simultaneously preserving Iranian culture and heritage. Anchored in the theoretical framework of the interaction between tradition and modernity in architecture, and utilizing a causal-comparative methodology to meet environmental needs, the design of this complex is intended to accommodate all social strata. The statistical population of this study, in the quantitative section, encompasses all architecture experts and professionals from related fields, as well as visitors to both traditional and modern cultural and artistic buildings. The sample size was determined to be 384 individuals, based on the Morgan table. The data for this study were collected through a questionnaire and subsequently subjected to analysis using SPSS software. The findings revealed that elements such as the juxtaposition of modern materials with traditional ones, the execution of façades that embody the synthesis of tradition and modernity, along with symbols, Islamic motifs, and geometric forms, have facilitated a dialogue between traditional and modern architecture in the design of the cultural center. Conversely, the layout element did not promote this interaction between traditional and modern architectural styles within the cultural center's design.

Keywords: Traditional Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, Cultural Center Design, Interaction Between Tradition and Modernity