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Volume 40, Issue 4 (2025)
GeoRes 2025, 40(4): 295-304 |
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History
Received: 2025/10/3 | Accepted: 2025/12/9 | Published: 2025/12/12
Received: 2025/10/3 | Accepted: 2025/12/9 | Published: 2025/12/12
How to cite this article
Bagheri R, Rashidvash V, Sharbatian Y, Karimian H. Anthropological Analysis of the Role of Qajar-Era Architecture in Tourism Development in Shiraz. GeoRes 2025; 40 (4) :295-304
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1- Department of Social Sciences, Central Tehran Campus (CT.C.), Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Sociology, Garmsar Campus (Ga.C.), Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran
2- Department of Sociology, Garmsar Campus (Ga.C.), Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran
Abstract (254 Views)
Aims: The purpose of this research was to explain the cultural and functional role of Qajar architecture in Shiraz in the sustainable development of cultural tourism with an anthropological approach. The study sought to bridge the gap in previous research which primarily focused on formal and technical dimensions.
Methodology: The research employed a qualitative method, specifically an interpretive case study with a dominant ethnographic approach, which was conducted in 2024 in Shiraz. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts and field observations of prominent Qajar buildings in Shiraz, including Narenjestan-e Ghavam, Eram Garden, Afif Abad Garden, Zinat al-Mulk House and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque. The collected data, including interview transcripts and ethnographic notes, were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings: The thematic analysis yielded two core themes: a) Qajar architecture as a Cultural Text (symbolic reading), evidenced by visual symbolism and light (e.g., stained glass in Nasir al-Mulk Mosque), and the role of decorations in transferring narratives. b) Qajar architecture as a Functional Institution (social reading), demonstrated by the function of representing power and status and preserving privacy and social relations. These features successfully conveyed a sense of authenticity and continuity of identity to cultural tourists.
Conclusion: Qajar architecture in Shiraz functions beyond a mere physical form, operating as a “cultural institution” and a “living text” that influences tourists’ experiences from both semantic and functional perspectives. From a semantic standpoint, the symbolic interpretation of decorative elements and the interplay of light and color establish a profound connection between national identity and the visitors’ lived experiences. From a functional perspective, spatial organization and the delineation of domains reflect the social structure and cultural values of the period.
Methodology: The research employed a qualitative method, specifically an interpretive case study with a dominant ethnographic approach, which was conducted in 2024 in Shiraz. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts and field observations of prominent Qajar buildings in Shiraz, including Narenjestan-e Ghavam, Eram Garden, Afif Abad Garden, Zinat al-Mulk House and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque. The collected data, including interview transcripts and ethnographic notes, were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings: The thematic analysis yielded two core themes: a) Qajar architecture as a Cultural Text (symbolic reading), evidenced by visual symbolism and light (e.g., stained glass in Nasir al-Mulk Mosque), and the role of decorations in transferring narratives. b) Qajar architecture as a Functional Institution (social reading), demonstrated by the function of representing power and status and preserving privacy and social relations. These features successfully conveyed a sense of authenticity and continuity of identity to cultural tourists.
Conclusion: Qajar architecture in Shiraz functions beyond a mere physical form, operating as a “cultural institution” and a “living text” that influences tourists’ experiences from both semantic and functional perspectives. From a semantic standpoint, the symbolic interpretation of decorative elements and the interplay of light and color establish a profound connection between national identity and the visitors’ lived experiences. From a functional perspective, spatial organization and the delineation of domains reflect the social structure and cultural values of the period.
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