Soleimani et al. (2026) Drought and architecture

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Meysam Soleimani, Furkan Kavak
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-34205-9.00004-4

Research Groups

• Department of Architecture, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Türkiye

Short Summary

This introductory chapter explores the historical and cultural significance of water in ancient civilizations, particularly Iran, and sets the context for understanding drought as a persistent challenge in arid regions, necessitating distinctive architectural methods.

Objective

• To introduce the historical and cultural importance of water, especially in ancient Iran, and to frame drought as a significant issue in arid climates that influences architectural approaches.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global (ancient civilizations), with a specific focus on arid regions including ancient Iran, Africa, certain regions of Asia, and the Middle East.
• Temporal Scale: Historical, spanning from ancient times to the present regarding the persistence of beliefs and drought issues.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not mentioned in the provided text.
• Data sources: Not mentioned in the provided text. The text refers to mythological beliefs, historical significance, and climatic conditions, suggesting a qualitative, descriptive, or review-based approach.

Main Results

• The provided text is an introduction and does not present specific research results. It establishes that water holds sacred value in many ancient cultures (e.g., Iran), influencing spiritual and psychological dimensions, and that drought is a historical and ongoing challenge in arid environments characterized by high temperatures, minimal humidity, and scant precipitation, which in turn necessitates distinctive architectural methods.

Contributions

• The provided text serves as an introductory foundation for a chapter on "Drought and architecture," highlighting the deep cultural and historical relationship between humanity, water, and the challenges posed by arid climates. It sets the stage for exploring how these factors influence architectural design.

Funding

• Not mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Soleimani2026Drought,
  author = {Soleimani, Meysam and Kavak, Furkan},
  title = {Drought and architecture},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-34205-9.00004-4},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-34205-9.00004-4}
}