Physical features and social analysis of Gozar: The case of Quzzat quarter of Herat Old City, Afghanistan

Abstract

The study aims to discover the formation, functions, typology, and development process of the Gozar system in the Herat Old City in Afghanistan. Traditional local administrative units, or Gozar, consist of residential areas, facilities, and functions performed by their residents. The paper examines the physical characteristics of the Gozar as well as its social functions. The boundaries of Gozar were plotted, urban types classified, and a typology of Gozar, explained by age, was developed. Even though Gozar's physical situation has dramatically changed, the three main functions, political, social, and environmental, have mostly stayed the same.