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.

The post Iranian Architecture appeared first on Persia Advisor.

Water Reservoir – Ab Anbar Haft Badgir – Asr Abad, Yazd Province, Iran
Photo by SeyedMahdiSalehi via Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-4.0

The importance of water and its storage led to the creation of an architectural structure calling water reservoir (Ab Anbar) which is one of the tourism attraction in Iran. It is an important traditional architectural structure in Iran, a sealed and covered water tank which was built lower than ground level to store drinking water to be used during the days with low storage of water or to have cold water during summer.

One of the most ancient water reservoirs in Iran is next to Chogha Zanbil region (an ancient Elamite complex in Khuzestan province) which goes back to the 2nd century of B.C. and was built upon flourishment of Elam civilization. Building different types of qanats and dams was developed during the dynasty of Parthian and Sassanian which shows a great achievement in techniques used for building structures to store water.

Water Reservoir – Ab Anbar Rostam Giv- Yazd, Yazd Province, Iran
Photo by Meysamwiki via Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

After Islam, building water reservoirs was developed in the villages and roads where caravans passed over there, by the appearance of cities and new neighbors, the water reservoirs were built next to the mosques, schools, bazaars and governmental palaces as part of a joined architectural complex. One of the most ancient water reservoirs is “Azodi Pool” which was built in Istakhr city in Fars province on 10th A.D. by the command of Adud al-Dawla Deylami. In Iran building water reservoirs was developed after 16th & 17th A. D. centuries.

Different Types of Water Reservoir

The water reservoirs were built either privately (in rural or urban houses) or publically. The most important water reservoirs of Iran are: Seyed Esmail, Saheb Eyvan, Yuzbashi, Imamzadeh Yahya (Tehran), Gholi & Sorkheh (Semnan), Haj Kazem & Sardar (Qazvin) and Mosalla (Yazd).

Depending on the size of water reservoirs, the tanks of water reservoirs are with or without pillar and their section is square, square-rectangle, octagonal or circle. The tanks of mountainous water reservoirs were built by cutting stones with hammer and other required tools and their ceilings were covered but in other regions, tanks were made by digging the ground.

The water reservoirs were connected to the qanats or fountain by canals. Most of the water reservoirs which were located around the roads were filled by spring floods of rivers near them.

Some of the private water reservoirs and most of the public water reservoirs have pashir (a place to pick up water) which is connected to the ground by brick or stony stairs. Some of the public water reservoirs do not have pashir and there are stairs in the tank (from the ground level till its bottom) and water can be directly picked up. There are some other water reservoirs with a low capacity which do not have any stairs and their water can be picked up through a hatch which are directly connected to the tanks.

Ways to keep water cold

Some architectural ways were being applied in order to keep water healthy and cold in the water reservoirs, ways such as building tanks lower than ground level, building thick walls or building wind-catcher over the ceiling of water reservoirs. The wind-catchers play a crucial role in keeping water tanks cold, especially in deserts and southern regions of Iran. The 6-wind-catcher water reservoir in Yazd with the height of 12 meters is one of the most salient wind-catchers.

Water reservoirs have been constantly among the tourism attractions of Iran and currently have been used as dining salons, café, museum and theater hall to be preserved and displayed to others.

Water Reservoir – Ab Anbar Haji Abdol Karim- Yazd, Yazd Province, Iran
Photo by MREZA1977 via Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-4.0

Ways to keep water cold

Some architectural ways were being applied in order to keep water healthy and cold in the water reservoirs, ways such as building tanks lower than ground level, building thick walls or building wind-catcher over the ceiling of water reservoirs. The wind-catchers play a crucial role in keeping water tanks cold, especially in deserts and southern regions of Iran. The 6-wind-catcher water reservoir in Yazd with the height of 12 meters is one of the most salient wind-catchers.

Water reservoirs have been constantly among the tourism attractions of Iran and currently have been used as dining salons, café, museum and theater hall to be preserved and displayed to others.

The post Water Reservoir (Ab Anbar) appeared first on Persia Advisor.