TY - JOUR T1 - Typology of Loft Badgirs’ (wind towers) Based on Façade Ornaments TT - گونه‌شناسی بادگیرهای بندر لافت بر‌اساس تزیینات نما JF - JHRE JO - JHRE VL - 36 IS - 159 UR - http://jhre.ir/article-1-1217-en.html Y1 - 2017 SP - 19 EP - 34 KW - Badgir (wind tower) KW - Loft port city KW - Typology KW - Ornament KW - Façade. N2 - Wind towers have always been an elemental component of Iranian vernacular architecture in hot and humid areas of the country, which has had effective role by utilizing the wind flow on better climatic comfort in the buildings. They also played an important role in the historical urban fabric silhouette of hot-arid urban and rural human habitats in Iran as vertical pathfinders next to mosque minarets. Therefore, the study of wind towers in Loft port city in the south of Iran country is necessary for conservation and revitalization of these architectural components. Although the Badgir has always had an important role in public life both indoors and outdoors with and aesthetic significance in the image of the city, but they have lost their real function and ended up into symbolic and useless architectural elements now. Unfortunately, due to lack studies on their functional characteristics and utility from one side and inattention to their upkeep in the rich silhouette of Loft port from the other side, this integral element of the urban fabric skyline is diminishing. In addition to the aforementioned fact, new urban developments of the Loft city are lacking the emblematic element that, greatly threatens urban identity of Loft. This study is equally significant for both architects and urban designers and other administrators as well as the public to appreciate the perceptual qualities and consider it as cultural demand in future urban developments. This study would search through available historical documents and library inquiries as well as field surveys such as interview, observation and visual documents to acknowledge physical, functional and esthetic characteristics of the wind tower. Then a typology of these Badgir based on their Façade ornaments is proposed. An interview with a traditional architects and master builders of Badgir has been done and the structural and architectural features of the wind tower are closely examined and elucidated. In this study façade of 45 wind towers are closely analyzed and categorized and their construction method as well as materials are described. Ultimately, it has been concluded that the decorative patterns and ornaments applied in Badgirs were mainly affected both by local architect’s individual crafting style and by collective culture, beliefs, and vernacular knowledge as well as social and financial status of the owner. Some of these decorations come from intangible culture and beliefs of Loft people like "Mah-o-Setareh” decorative patterns. The ornaments in these wind towers are mainly in three locations: on top of main part called wind tower roof, on top of each span and in their base. Furthermore, their final finishing was done by plaster and some still preserved their ventilation function in leading cool wind and fresh air to the inside of buildings. The two-sided wind towers of Loft port are usually simple and without ornaments or decorative finishing. The four-sided single-span wind towers have few ornaments and adornments while the four-sided multiple span wind towers possess the most elaborated ornaments and adornments. Studying wind towers facade and their ornaments as a vernacular architecture asset provides an effective ground for conservation and revitalization of this valuable architectural heritage in Loft port. M3 ER -