Vastu Shastra and the Patterns of Traditional Houses of Iran: Determining the Rules and Patterns of Traditional Houses of Kashan by Using Vastu Shastra As a Framework

Although the traditional houses of Kashan-Iran, are believed to be fine representations of "good-design" and healthy-living worldwide, providing the inhabitants with different levels of physical, psychological and spiritual needs, the rules and guidelines applied in their design have not yet been identified and introduced as a complete package. In fact insufficient documents regarding the design process of traditional houses, cultural values of traditional societies and esoteric knowledge have led to disputes among scholars in clearly determining these rules and guidelines. Studying such houses, there is an evidance of a similar repeated pattern in plan, structure and decorations, which prove the influence of a well-established architectural system in their creation. Historical views further point towards an influence of Vastu Shastra on the design of traditional Iranian house, which appears to be the earlier practice within the IndoAryan communities. This book is an attempt to introduce the complete set of rules and guidelines applied in the creation of traditional Iranian houses, using Vastu Shastra as a framework.