Vernacular and Local Architecture of Iran (Golestan Province)
Memar 111, now before you, dear reader, is the first issue whose main content is devoted to "Vernacular and Local Architecture of Iran" — in this case, Golestan Province. We have planned to gradually, through a series of Memar issues, cover the entirety of Iran's vernacular and local architecture. By "vernacular and local architecture," we mean it in its broadest sense: the architecture of those buildings and urban spaces that have established a clear relationship with nature (natural terrain, climate, etc.), local culture in general (and its diversity within the province), and material culture and craftsmanship in particular (hunting and fishing, agriculture, industry, etc.), regardless of when they were built. We prefer the content to be proposed and written by groups of architects who live and work in the locality. Of course, as with all issues of Memar, we reserve the right to decline articles that indulge in fruitless generalizations about modernity, tradition, and identity — we have concrete analysis of concrete conditions in mind.
The publication of each issue on the vernacular architecture of a province is not the end of the work — it may be said to be just the beginning. The writing team will undoubtedly consider other buildings and urban spaces in the future, and as a result of their experience in writing about the published works, they may wish to revisit the subject with greater depth and richness, which we will naturally publish in future issues of Memar. We invite all architects interested in participating in this program to email us their proposals. This program cannot be carried forward individually; some form of group organization is essential. The reason the first issue was dedicated to Golestan Province was the existence of the Golestan Province Architects' Guild and a group of enthusiasts who facilitated the work on the ground. We are infinitely grateful to all of them. — Editor-in-Chief