Saturday,TOURS

August18, 2018
 SERVICES  INFO  ATTRACTIONS
Latest: History of Seleucids in Ancient Iran (330 B.C – 247 B.C)
BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 

     

Tour Package
Sites
Inquiry
Vernacular Structures of
Iran
 March 22, 2010  Rahman Mehraby  2 Comments

Vernacular structure refers to the structures

constructed by the people living in a locality. It is also
Destination Iran
called architecture without architect. Newsletter
The common factors creating the vernacular
First Name
architecture in Iranian plateau are climate and
accessible constructional materials. The prevailing
Last Name
climate in the region is harshly hot or cold. Most of the
time, it is also extremely dry with desert soil covering
the major part of lands. Generally, rainfall is not enough Email address:
and earthquakes have always been potential threats.
Mud and brick are major materials used for
constructing various structures, because the earth can Subscribe
be found everywhere quite easily and inexpensively.
Ceilings are mostly built in the form of cupolas and Temperature in
 TOURS  SERVICES  INFO  ATTRACTIONS BLOG 
vaults, walls are usually thick and windows have to be
ABOUT
Tehran
CONTACT 
made in small sizes. The reasons should be sought in
the common factors mentioned and explained before.

In addition to the general features of architecture in the

Iranian plateau, there are special structures built that
need to be referred here:

Pigeon Towers
The purpose
of building
such towers
had merely
been
Opinion Poll
collecting
pigeons’ NaN/6
excrement to

Pigeon Tower
be used as Your
fertilizer or as
an ingredient
Opinion
for producing Matters!
gunpowder.
There are few questions
here that help understand
The main issue was to build as many pigeon nests your expectation and
inside as possible with the least materials. needs. By answering
them, you help us find out
The architecture of these seemingly simple structures where to put more time
and energy to provide
was not void of art and calculations although economic more food for your
consideration should have been taken. thoughts.

Icehouses
Icehouses
were built for
reserving
snow and ice
 for summer
 TOURS  SERVICES  INFO  ATTRACTIONS
use. Supplying
BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 
ice in the
plateau had
been very
Icehouse
hard. Warm
season was
long and cold season short. Drinkable water was not
enough. Snow-covered mountains were not available
everywhere. The difference in altitude made it even
harder to carry snow down to low areas.

A ditch, a wall and a thick storage structure were the

intelligent solution to supply and reserve ice for later
use.

There were some technical and cultural aspects

involved as well, like any other structures, which are
quite interesting.

Water Reservoirs
To efficiently
collect and
reserve water
has never
been any
possible task
to do unless a
great amount
of experience
Water Reservoir
has been
gained
throughout
centuries. Supplying water by kariz (qanat), man-made
subterranean aqueduct system, has been common in
ancient Iran. Water supplied in this way must be kept in
 TOURS  SERVICES  INFO  ATTRACTIONS
an appropriate structure, a water reservoir.
BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 

Water reservoir is a deep circular insulated pit covered

by a dome and accessed by a stairway leading down to
its entrance. A barrel-vaulted ceiling covered this
stairway.

Water could be kept cool and clean with the help of

some local techniques.

Wind Tower (Wind Catcher)

I should
explain that
wind catcher
is one of the
most famous
and
spectacular
elements in
pure Iranian
Wind Tower
architecture. It
is a chimney-
like structure
usually erected in couples from the bottom of houses or
water reservoirs up to an elevation a little higher than
its roof. They work like a ventilation system bringing the
temperature of inside houses or water reservoirs
around 20 C lower than outside.

Unfortunately, vernacular structures in Iran are subject

to destruction for some reasons. But, one can still see a
great number of them that are indicative of people?s
need and interest in them.

Written By: Rahman Mehraby

  TOURS  SERVICES  INFO  ATTRACTIONS BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 

← Tile Working in Iran

Bazaars in Iran (Persian Bazaars) →

Rahman Mehraby
Rahman Mehraby is the founder and
owner of Destination Iran. He plans quality
tours and provides advice for tour
customization. You can rely on his
itineraries to get an exclusive tour to Iran.

2 thoughts on “Vernacular Structures of

Iran”
 Sophie @ Sophie's World
 March 2, 2015 at 2:54 pm
 Permalink

Very interesting read. I’m constantly astonished how

people in ancient times created the structures they
needed with the limited machinery available then

 Reply

 Rahman Mehraby
 March 2, 2015 at 11:42 pm
 Permalink
  Yes,TOURS
you’re SERVICES
 right. It’s not INFO
 easy ATTRACTIONS
tobelieve how BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 
complicated, although simple-looking solution, could
work for centuries!

 Reply

Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields
are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

I'm not a robot

reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms
 Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can
 TOURS  SERVICES  INFO 
also subscribe without commenting.
ATTRACTIONS BLOG  ABOUT CONTACT 

Post Comment

WHY VISITING IRAN? TOPICS OF More Links: Newsletter

INTEREST:
You'll never forget the experience! Advertise with Us First Name
Tourist
Real life will surprise you! Work with Us
Attractions
Last Name
It's full of world-class UNESCO sites! Sitemap
Tourism in Iran
We'll be with you at every step of the Archives
Cultural Activities
way! Email address:
in Iran Privacy Policy

History of Iran

Historical Sites of Subscribe

Iran

Geography of Iran

Cultural &
Tourism News

     
©2002-2018 All rights reserved for DestinationIran.com. No part of this site may be reproduced without
our permission.