Recognizing and analyzing hardware (structure) and software (function) of

Boroumand, Amirali; Salehi, Esmaeil

doi:10.22054/qjik.2025.80899.1430

Recognizing and analyzing hardware (structure) and software (function) of "Heyte": a forgotten element of Mashhad's urban civilization

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Amirali Boroumand ¹

Esmaeil Salehi ²

¹ Ph.D. student in Environmental Planning, Department of Environmental Planning, Management, and Education, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Associate professor, Department of Environmental Planning, Management, and Education, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/qjik.2025.80899.1430

Abstract

The current research analyzed the hardware (structure) and software (function) of the Heytes. In this regard, research methods were historical document research and semi-structured in-depth interviews with the residents of Mashhad's historical areas. The results indicate that "Heyte" was a tangible concept in the city of Mashhad, which arose organically during the Qajar period due to the need to provide food security for the neighborhoods during the eras when conflicts of neighborhoods arose. Allocation of Heyte by the neighborhood owner, management of Heyte area with Kodkhoda,s of crops grown were fast-growing crops, including annual plants and Shrubs, and each household's share of the Heyte is proportional to the number of its members. When the first Pahlavi era began and accelerated the modern urban development process, the Heyte changed their Structural-functionality and became plaza. The acceleration of changes in Mashhad during the second Pahlavi period caused the destruction of all Heytes and the transformation of the only remaining area, the "Haj karbalai Ali Heyte" into an urban green space. The discussions of the present research seek to recreate the Heyte in today's cities by combining the three historical roles of Heyte ("participatory urban agricultural space", "plaza" and "local green space").

Keywords

Heyte

organic planning

sustainable planning

resilient planning

urban regeneration

Subjects

Indigenous Knowledge

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