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The architecture of underground dwellings in Iran
Published in Daniele Peila, Giulia Viggiani, Tarcisio Celestino, Tunnels and Underground Cities: Engineering and Innovation meet Archaeology, Architecture and Art, 2020
The individual cave dwelling units are about 2 meters high and have an area of 16 to 20 m2. Small alleys known as “Kicheh” provide access to the living units, each having on average 2 to 4 rooms. Some of these units are dug up to 25 m inside the mountain. The construction of a dwelling unit starts with the chiseling of 6 to 9 meter long horizontal cuts into the cliff. The dwellings usually consist of a single square or round room (Figure 7). Most units are semi-dark as the only sources of light are the entrances. However, windows where possible were hewed openings approximately 75 cm across. Doors to the dwellings are commonly made of wood but not all of them are rectangular. Some have the shape of standing human body, narrower at the base and widening at the top to shoulder width. To prevent water ingress into the units, the threshold of the doors were raised 15 to 20 cm above the level of the Kicheh. Heat exchange in these cliff dwellings is such that the spaces are cool in summer and warm during winter.
The architecture of underground dwellings in Iran
Published in Daniele Peila, Giulia Viggiani, Tarcisio Celestino, Tunnels and Underground Cities: Engineering and Innovation meet Archaeology, Architecture and Art, 2019
The individual cave dwelling units are about 2 meters high and have an area of 16 to 20 m2. Small alleys known as “Kicheh” provide access to the living units, each having on average 2 to 4 rooms. Some of these units are dug up to 25 m inside the mountain. The construction of a dwelling unit starts with the chiseling of 6 to 9 meter long horizontal cuts into the cliff. The dwellings usually consist of a single square or round room (Figure 7). Most units are semi-dark as the only sources of light are the entrances. However, windows where possible were hewed openings approximately 75 cm across. Doors to the dwellings are commonly made of wood but not all of them are rectangular. Some have the shape of standing human body, narrower at the base and widening at the top to shoulder width. To prevent water ingress into the units, the threshold of the doors were raised 15 to 20 cm above the level of the Kicheh. Heat exchange in these cliff dwellings is such that the spaces are cool in summer and warm during winter.
Investigation of Earthquake Damage Assessment of Loess Caves of Ancient Buildings Using a Shaking Table
Published in International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 2022
Xiangbi Zhao, Jiashuo Li, Jianyang Xue, Juan Du, Fengliang Zhang, Jia Liu, Xu Lu
Cave dwellings are a kind of traditional vernacular architecture widely distributed in the Loess Plateau of China, developed from a natural cave, and are typically characterized by “arched” spatial units and facades. The earliest record of cave dwelling in China was the “Book of Rites”, which can be traced back to cave dwelling in the Banpo era in Xi’an at least six thousand years ago. The evolution of loess caves has gone through the natural cave period, the artificial cave period, and the cave-dwelling period. According to the documentary records with the word “cave”, it can be traced back to 304–439, reflecting the rich architectural and cultural heritage value of loess cave dwellings. Loess caves have played a significant role in the development of Chinese society and have received increasing attention (Han 2020; Hu et al. 2020; Peng et al. 2018).
Ecological Wisdom and Inheritance Thinking of the Traditional Village’s Water Resources Management in Taihang Mountains
Published in Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 2023
Zurui Lin, Yuan Liang, Kaiyi Chen, Shuangshuang Li
Buildings and courtyards are the most basic structural units of internal drainage organization. The flat roof of the cave dwelling and the hard-slope roof of the building both use the slope to exclude rainwater. The yard is generally of the courtyard type; the overall slope is not flat, but according to the rainfall and pavement materials, 2% to 6% of the whole slope is processed, and in the courtyard around the building, set up drainage recesses (also set up the dark ditch, but not common), and the roof drainage and courtyard rainwater with a weak slope gathered in the recesses after the drainage outlet to the street (Figure 12).
Multiple geo-environmental hazards susceptibility assessment: a case study in Luoning County, Henan Province, China
Published in Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2019
Linwei Sun, Chuanming Ma, Yonggang Li
Land-use, which collectively reflects engineering and economic activities, is another criterion for deciding the susceptibility for mass movement initiation (Horton et al. 2008; Huang 2010). In the study area, the rapid development of highway construction, cave dwelling, and mining activities in the southern region often disrupt the original equilibrium of the slopes, and over time induce and advance landslides.