Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque – Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran

The architecture of pre-Islamic Iran is divided into two styles of “Parsian” and “Parthian”.

Parsian Style

it is the first architectural style in Iran starting from Achaemenid era until the invasion of Alexander (from 6th to 4th B.C). Rectangular spaces with columned halls, construction of buildings on platform, introverted style, using wooden ceilings, carved stones, plinth and capital, decoration of entrance and glazed tile in interior sectors are among the main features of Parsian architecture.

Parthian Style

As the name suggests, Parthian Style is the architecture used by the Parthian, it includes diversity in patterns, introverted style, symmetry in construction of palaces and temples, increase in the height of buildings, curved arches and domes, squinches below the domes, using local materials like rubble, adobe, brick, mud, and stucco work.

Iran’s Architecture from the Advent of Islam to Seljuk (6^th to 11^th centuries)

In spite of the advent of Islam, for years, Iran’s architectural style was dependent on the past elements. After that, Muslim artists introduced new forms, buildings, and constructs like mosque, school, bridge, castle and caravanserai with respect to previous artistic features especially Sassanid ones and inspired Islamic mind-set.

At the beginning of Islamic time, more attention was paid to the construction of mosque. The mosques usually had simple structures, but from this time, we witnessed the rise of Muqarnas decorative designs (decorations made of brick, tile, stone, plaster and wood) as an ornament of the mosque. The Muqarnas decorative styles used in Gonbad-e Qabus tower is one of the earliest examples of it in 10th century. Besides, Ribat-i Mahi, contemporary to Gonbad-e Qabus tower, has muddy brick and stucco decorations as well and acts as a precedent for the more lavish decorations of Seljuk and Ilkhanate Eras.

Iran’s Architecture from Seljuk to Timurid (11^th to 15^th Centuries)

Seljuk dynasty (11th century) is one of the most outstanding periods of Iran’s architecture. The construction of schools was popular in this time and many schools were built in the cities of Baghdad, Neyshabur, Marv, Rey and Hyrcania (current Gorgan). The plans of most of the buildings in this era was Four-Iwan design (Chahar Iwani) with stucco and brick as their prominent decorations. Iwan is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. They are mostly build in exterior space of the buildings having entrance/ exit spaces. Different buildings such as mosque, school, tomb and caravanserai were constructed in this era as well. The splendour and glory of Seljuk architecture are completely visible in Jameh mosque of Isfahan. Although, Jameh mosque of Isfahan is the result of continual construction, reconstruction, additions and renovations of 15 centuries of Islamic Era, the most beautiful and important part of the mosque belongs to Seljuk Dynasty. It is interesting to know that the use of tile as a decorative element has become popular since the end of 10th century. The oldest examples are the tiles of Kharraqan towers in Qazvin which were built in Seljuk Dynasty.

Preserving the Seljuk architectural styles including Four-Iwan design, Ilkhanate architecture entered a new stage; Iwan became higher with narrow width and the walls got narrower as well. Decorations like stucco, tile work and brick with special patterns adorned buildings. Mihrabs of Isfahan Jameh Mosque, Urmia and Oshtorjan mosques are the obvious proofs of the mastery in stucco art in that era.

During Timurid dynasty, the art of mosaic tiling reached its zenith, it is the art of the assembling of small pieces of coloured tiles to make an image. Mosques like Goharshad in Mashhad, Blue in Tabriz, Khargerd Ghiasieh School in Khorasan and some buildings in Herat and Bukhara show the importance and application of this art in religious buildings.

In this era, Grand Khorasan in east of Iran played an important role in development of architecture as well. Khorasan was the origin of lots of innovations in architecture that spread it to other parts of the country. Two-Iwan style was used in Khorasan for the first time and it was one of the first cities that the traces of turquoise tile are found in, this style can be observed in Mosques of Zuzan, Gonabad and Forumad.

Iranian Architecture Infographic / Historic Imam Mosque – Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran
Photo by Alexandre Rotenberg / Shutterstock
Infographic by Negar Ganji

Iran’s Architecture from Safavid to the Contemporary Era

The 16th and 17th centuries are known as the period of flourishment of Islamic arts in Iran. In the shadow of the support of Safavid’s kings, art and architecture advanced drastically. The majority of buildings in Safavid era such as mosques, schools, and caravanserais were constructed in a four-Iwan style and Muaraq (Mosaic) and Haft Rang (Seven-Coloured) tiles were the main decorations used in the buildings, the template of tiles were square which were glazed and seven colors were used to design them. Calligraphy on tile became common in decoration of religious buildings as well. Public places like mosque, bridge, bathhouse, water reservoir and specially caravanserai were built more than ever. Amin Abad caravanserai in Isfahan, Deh-bid caravanserai on the road of Isfahan to Shiraz and the numerous Abbasi caravanserais built all over the country were important caravanserais of this period.

After the fall of Safavid Dynasty, the same architectural style of that time continued like before but it was not as glorious as before. Kalat Naderi Palace (Khorshid Palace) in Khorasan province (Afsharid era) and Vakil complex in Shiraz (Zandiyeh era) are outstanding buildings of this period. After this period and with the beginning of Qajar Reign, architecture was the centre of attention again. Some of the buildings from Qajar era like Al-Nabi Mosque in Qazvin, the Haj Ali Agha complex in Kerman, Imam Mosque, Sepahsalar Mosque and school in Tehran, as well as Golestan palace are the examples of the breathtaking architecture of Qajar era.

Contemporary Architecture

The contemporary architecture of Iran starts from early 19th century and continues up to now. Architectural structures of buildings in this time were the combination of traditional and western architecture styles which were witnessed in constructs like Shahrbani Palace, Marble Palace and Post Office building of Tehran, or modern architectural style was entirely used.

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The Si-o-Se-Pol Bridge was built in Isfahan City in 1602 during the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) mainly with stones, lime, bricks, and plaster under the supervision and sponsorship by Allah Verdi Khan who was one of Shah Abbas I’s commanders-in-chief. When Isfahan was selected as the capital city in the Safavid Dynasty, Si-o-Se-Pol was one of the first monuments constructed by the order of the Shah Abbas who aimed to expand and develop the city.

The title of the bridge means “33 bridges” in Farsi referring to its two parallel rows of 33 vaulted arches on the eastern of western sides of the structure on the first floor. In the past, the bridge used to have 40 vaulted arches but after a while, seven of them were blocked and 33 remained open.

The upper floor of the bridge has two vaulted arches above each lower level’s arch and one more arch above each pier. This floor has also two narrow sidewalks on the eastern and western sides of the bridge where people can visit the river from above it.

This bridge is also called Allahveridi-Khan, Chahar-Bagh, Si-o-Se springs, the Zayandeh-Rud River, and the Jolfa Bridge but today, it is most popular as Si-o-Se-Pol. Constructed on the Zayandeh Rud River, with a length of 298 meters and a width of 13.75 meters, it is considered the longest of the historical eleven bridges in Isfahan City.

The Si-o-Se-Pol Bridge connects the southern (Chahar Bagh Abbasi Street) and northern (Chahar Bagh Bala Street) parts of Isfahan to each other. During the Safavid Dynast, an annual water festival was held in Isfahan on the 13th day of Tir, the fourth month of the solar calendar, when Iranians splashed water to each other in order to celebrate the abundance of water in an arid country. The Si-o-Se-Pol Bridge was one of the venues of the festival.

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The foundation of the Khaju Bridge refers to an older bridge dating back to the Timurid Dynasty (1370-1507) but the current bridge was completed in about 1650 during Shah Abbas II, Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) to link two major Isfahan’s neighborhoods on the shore of the Zayahdeh Rud River. In general, the bridge measures about 133 and 12 meters in length and width, respectively.

Of note is that during the Safavid Dynasty, the bridge was called Shah Bridge (King Bridge) and Baba Rokn ol Din, because of its location in a route to the Baba Rokn ol Din Tekieh (a religious place to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hossein, the third Shia Imam). The bridge had also been called Hasan Abad Bridge, the name of a nearby bridge, and Shiraz Bridge since passengers crossed this bridge on their way to Shiraz City. Finally, it was entitled Khaju following the name of its neighborhood.

The Khaju Bridge functioning also as a weir consists of two floors, 26 smaller and 21 larger water channels (on the ground floor), and two-sided parallel corridors with 23 arches (on the first floor). Notably, the channels of the bridge could be closed in order to raise water for irrigation of nearby lands.

The bridge also possesses two pavilions in the middle of eastern and western sides that were called Beygar Beygi. These structures also known as Shah Neshin were used by the king (Shah Abbas II) and his family as a recreational place to enjoy the view and also as a place where they watched sailing and swimming competitions.

Today, a mere stone bench has remained of the magnificent bench that the king used in these pavilions. There are also two stone lions at two ends of the bridge that is believed they represent Bakhtiari army and Isfahan’s resistance forces during the Safavid Dynasty.

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