From Imitation to Authenticity of Space: A Theoretical Analysis of the Placelessness Phenomenon in Iranian Residential Interior Design

Hosseinpourshiraz, Seyed Reza; Dastranj, Mahsa

doi:10.22059/jdt.2025.405641.1165

From Imitation to Authenticity of Space: A Theoretical Analysis of the Placelessness Phenomenon in Iranian Residential Interior Design

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyed Reza Hosseinpourshiraz ¹

Mahsa Dastranj ²

¹ Department of Architecture and Design, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, United Kingdom

² Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.

10.22059/jdt.2025.405641.1165

Abstract

This study investigates the pervasive crisis of "placelessness" within contemporary Iranian residential interior design, a phenomenon precipitated by the indiscriminate emulation of Western paradigms. This trend has engendered a marked cultural divergence, resulting in living environments devoid of identity. To empirically substantiate this premise, a quantitative visual content analysis of 44 contemporary residential projects was conducted, confirming the statistical dominance of the imitative trend (77.27%). Anchored in the foundational theories of Rapoport, Lefebvre, Bourdieu, and Norberg-Schulz, this research interrogates the sociological underpinnings of this approach. The theoretical analysis elucidates three critical challenges: the destabilisation of the traditional equilibrium between privacy and social interaction; acute spatial alienation stemming from the erosion of Genius Loci; and functional inefficiencies arising from a misalignment with indigenous cultural practices. To operationalise these findings, the study utilises two archetypal case studies: Case Study A exemplifies the discord inherent in imitation, while Case Study B demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed alternative. Consequently, the article advances "Intelligent Localisation" as a forward-looking paradigm. This approach advocates for a rigorous, analytical reinterpretation of cultural concepts to generate novel, contextually resonant spatial forms. It champions a culturally user-centred design process, augmented by tools such as Space Syntax, to reconcile the schism between abstract design logic and the authentic "lived space" of inhabitants, ultimately reinstating a vital sense of belonging.

Keywords

Iranian Interior Design

Placelessness

Cultural Identity

Intelligent Localisation

Genius Loci

Subjects

Design Thinking

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