The Social Parameters of Sustainable Landscape Design in the Persian Tomb Garden (Case Study: Taj Mahal in Agra, India)

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Document Type : Original Article

Author

Departement of Architecture, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehn, Iran

Abstract

The Persian garden had various types throughout history and in different lands, among which we can mention the tomb gardens, many examples of which were built during the Mughal rule in the Indian subcontinent, inspired by the Persian garden design. One of the most well-known of these tomb gardens is the Taj Mahal in the city of Agra in India that was built in Iranian architecture method. Many factors have been involved in the formation of this historical space, including social interactions and views. Therefore, it seems necessary to study and investigate the social parameters of landscape sustainability in the design of Taj Mahal as a valuable example of the Persian tomb gardens. The methodology of present paper is descriptive-analytical, based on the data from the scholars’ views in the field of social sustainability and the findings from the design features of the Taj Mahal garden by studying the sources and observing its images and documents. First, it introduces the Taj Mahal Tomb Garden and explains the parameters of social sustainability in landscape. Then, it analyzes the features of Taj Mahal garden based on the social sustainability factors and finally compares these features with the factors of social sustainability. The findings indicate that the Taj Mahal is a place with social sustainability features such as social interactions, participation, harmonious with the climate, comfortable and has a sense of place, and the design of its natural and built elements was in accordance with the objectives of social sustainability.

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Journal of Design Thinking

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 June 2025

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