Acoustic performance of Shekam-Darideh spatial typology in traditional Iranian houses: Evidence from the Tabatabaei house

Contemporary studies in architecture and urban planning, especially in the field of cultural heritage and historical monuments, show that spatial perception is not limited to visual characteristics and that other components, such as sound, play an important role in the quality of the experience of these spaces. Despite extensive research on the acoustics of historical monuments such as places of worship and theaters, historical residential architecture in Iran has received much less attention. Historical houses in Iran have been studied from various architectural aspects, including function, climate, and culture. One of the important spaces in a historical house is the vestibule, a flexible, multi-directional space connected to a largely unknown central courtyard. In this study, acoustic simulations of six different interior spaces (Shekam-Darideh) were performed using Odeon ray tracing software (versions 1985–2015, dedicated to research and education at Tabriz Islamic Art University). This research shows that although the increase in height and volume of the space is the main factor in increasing the reverberation time (RT), by adjusting the amount of surface details, porous decorations, and heterogeneous surfaces, the Iranian architect has been able to control the reverberation time to an acceptable level and prevent the reduction of acoustic quality. In fact, Iranian architecture is not based on a fixed formula, but on the dynamic interaction between physical dimensions and micro-geometric elements to provide a balanced and suitable acoustic environment for different functions.