Hossein Manoochehri

Armenia And Iran Hossein Manoochehri

There are two main architectural styles in Europe, as well as in mountainous countries such as Armenia and Georgia, and in Iran. While a stone architecture is common in Europe and in the mountainous countries, a clay architecture is used in Iran. A comparative, display of the two styles, the stone vs. clay architectures, therefore, is the main theme of the series titled: A Comparative Display of Art and Architecture. Using a functional-equivalency approach, the series focuses on architectural features from Europe and mountainous countries and Iran that, while structurally are different, functionally are similar or have similarity with each other. For example, both a church and a mosque are religious buildings with similar functions but with different structures. Although there are numerous published books about art and architecture in Europe or in Iran, but none makes a comparative introduction using a functional- equivalency approach. The present series, therefore, should be regarded as the first original work that seeks to present a comparative, pictorial introduction of two different architectural styles, stone vs. clay architectural styles, by displaying their main features side by side. For example, the illustrations are grouped into several categories (Introduction) [i.e, 1) Historic or Heritage Buildings; 2) Stone (Khachkar) vs. Brick or Tile decorations; and 3) Religious Buildings: Churches vs. Jam'a mosques]. Volume I of this series compares architectural features in Armenia (a country in the Caucasian region) to similar, clay architectural features in historic cities of Iran. The work is expected to make available for the readers a quick and an easy comparative views of the architectural forms and designs from Armenia as compared to their similar, clay architectural features in historic cities of Iran. Otherwise, assuming that the images presented in this volume are also presented in some other books about art and architecture in Armenia or in Iran, an estimated 50 to 100 books on the subjects of art and architecture in either Armenia or Iran should be browsed over, here or there, to find similar images collected in this volume.