Zone of Transition in Seljuq Dome Chambers of Iran

Abstract

Architecturally, the Seljuqs' dominion makes a significant shift from the Pre-Islamic Sassanid squinches into a sophisticated transition mechanism employed to change the walls of a square chamber to an octagonal base to set a dome which this initiated a new construction methodology to hybridize the previous experiences of Sassanid domes with new architectural tendencies since the previous understanding of the transition zone was a makeshift in quality, not consistent enough for future architectural adventures in creating larger structures. Although a cursory investigation of transition zones of Seljuq dome chambers in some respects might reveals a fairly homogeneous framework, it has never meant the stagnation of architectural creativity in different parts of Seljuk territory. On the other hand, the typology and local schools of Seljuq transitions zones of dome chambers have not been thoroughly considered by geographical centralism in Iran. For a better understanding of the standardization of various techniques considered in Seljuq architecture between 11th and 12th centuries in order to spanning the cubic structure to a circular plan, this project is aimed to clarify three various schools of architectural articulation concerning transition zone in the Seljuq dome chambers.