Iranian architecture or Persian architecture is the architecture of Iran. It has a continuous history from at least 5000 BCE to the present, with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Turkey to North India and the borders of China and from the Caucasus to Zanzibar. Persian buildings vary from peasant huts to tea houses and garden, pavilions to "some of the most majestic structures the world has ever seen".

Iranian architecture displays great variety, both structural and aesthetic, developing gradually and coherently out of earlier traditions and experience. Without sudden innovations, and despite the repeated trauma of invasions and cultural shocks, it has achieved "an individuality distinct from that of other Muslim countries". Its paramount virtues are several: "a marked feeling for form and scale; structural inventiveness, especially in vault and dome construction; a genius for decoration with a freedom and success not rivaled in any other architecture".

Traditionally, the guiding formative motif of Iranian architecture has been its cosmic symbolism "by which man is brought into communication and participation with the powers of heaven". This theme, shared by virtually all Asian architecture and persisting even into modern times, has not only given unity and continuity to the architecture of Persia, but has been a primary source of its emotional character as well.

Fundamental principles

Traditional Persian architecture has maintained a continuity that, although temporarily distracted by internal political conflicts or foreign invasion, nonetheless has achieved a style that can hardly be mistaken for any other.

In this architecture, "there are no trivial buildings; even garden pavilions have nobility and dignity, and the humblest caravanserais generally have charm. In expressiveness and communicativity, most Persian buildings are lucid - even eloquent. The combination of intensity and simplicity of form provides immediacy, while ornament and, often, subtle proportions reward sustained observation."

Categorization of styles

Overall, the traditional architecture of the Iranian lands throughout the ages can be categorized into the six following classes or styles ("sabk"):

Pre-Islamic:

*The Parsian style (Achaemenid, Median, Elamite eras)

*The Parthian style (Parthian, Sassanid eras)

Islamic:

*The Khorasani style

*The Razi style

*The Azari style

*The Isfahani style

*The tabari style

Materials

Available building materials dictate major forms in traditional Iranian architecture. Heavy clays, readily available at various places throughout the plateau, have encouraged the development of the most primitive of all building techniques, molded mud, compressed as solidly as possible, and allowed to dry. This technique, used in Iran from ancient times, has never been completely abandoned. The abundance of heavy plastic earth, in conjunction with a tenacious lime mortar, also facilitated the development and use of brick.

Geometry

Iranian architecture makes use of abundant symbolic geometry, using pure forms such as circles and squares, and plans are based on often symmetrical layouts featuring rectangular courtyards and halls.

Design

Certain design elements of Persian architecture have persisted throughout the history of Iran. The most striking are a marked feeling for scale and a discerning use of simple and massive forms. The consistency of decorative preferences, the high-arched portal set within a recess, columns with bracket capitals, and recurrent types of plan and elevation can also be mentioned. Through the ages these elements have recurred in completely different types of buildings, constructed for various programs and under the patronage of a long succession of rulers.

The columned porch, or talar, seen in the rock-cut tombs near Persepolis, reappear in Sassanid temples, and in late Islamic times it was used as the portico of a palace or mosque, and adapted even to the architecture of roadside tea-houses. Similarly, the gonbad on four arches, so characteristic of Sassanid times, is a still to be found in many cemeteries and Imamzadehs across Iran today. The notion of earthly towers reaching up toward the sky to mingle with the divine towers of heaven lasted into the 19th century, while the interior court and pool, the angled entrance and extensive decoration are ancient, but still common, features of Iranian architecture.

Pre-Islamic architecture of Persia

:Main articles: Achaemenid architecture & Sassanid architecture

The pre-Islamic styles draw on 3000 to 4000 years of architectural development from various civilizations of the Iranian plateau. The post-Islamic architecture of Iran in turn, draws ideas from its pre-Islamic predecessor, and has geometrical and repetitive forms, as well as surfaces that are richly decorated with glazed tiles, carved stucco, patterned brickwork, floral motifs, and calligraphy.

Iran ranks seventh in the world in number of historical monuments, museums and other cultural attractions and is recognized by UNESCO as being one of the cradles of civilization.

Each of the periods of Elamites, Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids were creators of great architecture that, over the ages, spread far and wide far to other cultures. Although Iran has suffered its share of destruction, including Alexander The Great's decision to burn Persepolis, there are sufficient remains to form a picture of its classical architecture.

The Achaemenids built on a grand scale. The artists and materials they used were brought in from practically all territories of what was then the largest state in the world. Pasargadae set the standard: its city was laid out in an extensive park with bridges, gardens, colonnaded palaces and open column pavilions. Pasargadae along with Susa and Persepolis expressed the authority of The King of Kings, the staircases of the latter recording in relief sculpture the vast extent of the imperial frontier.

With the emergence of the Parthians and Sassanids new forms appeared. Parthian innovations fully flowered during the Sassanid period with massive barrel-vaulted chambers, solid masonry domes and tall columns. This influence was to remain for years to come.

For example, the roundness of the city of Baghdad in the Abbasid era, points to its Persian precedents, such as Firouzabad in Fars. Al-Mansur hired two designers to plan the city's design: Naubakht, a former Persian Zoroastrian who also determined that the date of the foundation of the city should be astrologically significant, and Mashallah ibn Athari, a former Jew from Khorasan.

The ruins of Persepolis, Ctesiphon, Jiroft, Sialk, Pasargadae, Firouzabad, and Arg-é Bam give us a distant glimpse of what contributions Persians made to the art of building.

Islamic architecture of Persia

The fall of the Persian empire to invading Islamic forces led to the creation of remarkable religious buildings in Iran. Arts such as calligraphy, stucco work, mirror work and mosaics became closely tied with architecture in Iran in the new era.

Archaeological excavations have provided much evidence supporting the impact of Sassanid architecture on the architecture of the Islamic world.

Many experts believe the period of Persian architecture from the 15th through 17th centuries CE to be the pinnacle of the post-Islamic era. Various structures such as mosques, mausoleums, bazaars, bridges and palaces have survived from this period.

Safavid Isfahan tried to achieve grandeur in scale (Isfahan's Naghsh-i Jahan Square is the sixth largest square worldwide), knowing how to build tall buildings with vast inner spaces. However, the quality of ornaments was less compared to those of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Another aspect of this architecture was the harmony with the people, their environment and their beliefs it presented and manifested. At the same time no strict rules were applied to govern this form of Islamic architecture.

The great mosques of Khorasan, Isfahan and Tabriz each used local geometry, local materials and local building methods to express, each in their own way, the order, harmony and unity of Islamic architecture. When the major monuments of Islamic Persian architecture are examined, they reveal complex geometrical relationships, a studied hierarchy of form and ornament and great depths of symbolic meaning.

In the words of Arthur U. Pope, who carried out extensive studies in ancient Persian and Islamic buildings:

:"The meaningful Impact of Persian architecture is versatile. Not overwhelming but dignified, magnificent and impressive."

Persian Domes

The Sassanid Empire initiated the construction of the first large-scale domes in Persia, with such royal buildings as the Palace of Ardashir and Ghal'eh Dokhtar. After the Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire, the Persian architectural style became a major influence on Muslim societies and the dome also became a feature of Muslim architecture (see gonbad).

The Il-Khanate period provided several innovations to dome-building that eventually enabled the Persians to construct much taller structures. These changes later paved the way for Safavid architecture. The pinnacle of Il-Khanate architecture was reached with the construction of the Soltaniyeh Dome (1302–1312) in Zanjan, Iran, which measures 50 m in height and 25 m in diameter, making it the 3rd largest and the tallest masonry dome ever erected. The thin, double-shelled dome was reinforced by arches between the layers.

The renaissance in Persian mosque and dome building came during the Safavid dynasty, when Shah Abbas, in 1598, initiated the reconstruction of Isfahan, with the Naqsh-e Jahan Square as the centerpiece of his new capital. Architecturally they borrowed heavily from Il-Khanate designs, but artistically they elevated the designs to a new level. The distinct feature of Persian domes, which separates them from those domes created in the Christian world or the Ottoman and Mughal empires, was the use of colourful tiles, with which the exterior of domes are covered much like the interior. These domes soon numbered dozens in Isfahan and the distinct blue shape would dominate the skyline of the city. Reflecting the light of the sun, these domes appeared like glittering turquoise gems and could be seen from miles away by travelers following the Silk road through Persia.

This very distinct style of architecture was inherited from the Seljuq dynasty, who for centuries had used it in their mosque building, but it was perfected during the Safavids when they invented the haft- rangi, or seven colour style of tile burning, a process that enabled them to apply more colours to each tile, creating richer patterns, sweeter to the eye. The colours that the Persians favoured where gold, white and turquoise patterns on a dark-blue background. The extensive inscription bands of calligraphy and arabesque on most of the major buildings where carefully planned and executed by Ali Reza Abbasi, who was appointed head of the royal library and Master calligrapher at the Shah's court in 1598, while Shaykh Bahai oversaw the construction projects. Reaching 53 meters in height, the dome of Masjed-e Shah (Shah Mosque) would become the tallest in the city when it was finished in 1629. It was built as a double-shelled dome, spanning 14 m between the two layers and resting on an octagonal dome chamber.

Contemporary Iranian architecture in and outside Iran

Contemporary architecture in Iran begins with the advent of the first Pahlavi period in the early 1920s. Some designers, such as Andre Godard, created works such as the National Museum of Iran that were reminiscent of Iran's historical architectural heritage. Others made an effort to merge the traditional elements with modern designs in their works. The Tehran University main campus is one such example. Others, such as Heydar Ghiai and Houshang Seyhoun, have tried to create completely original works, independent of prior influences.

Future architecture in Iran

Major construction projects are undergoing all around Iran. Borj-e Milad (or Milad Tower) is the tallest tower in Iran and is the fourth tallest tower in the world. The Flower of the East Development Project is the biggest project on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. The project, includes a '7-star' and two '5-star' hotels, three residential areas, villas and apartment complexes, coffee shops, luxury showrooms and stores, sports facilities and a marina.

Iranian architects

:See main article: List of historical Iranian architects :See main article: List of Iranian architects

Persian architects were highly sought in the old days, before the advent of Modern Architecture. For example, Ostad Isa Shirazi is most often credited as the chief architect (or plan drawer) of the Taj Mahal. These artisans were also highly instrumental in the designs of such edifices as Afghanistan's Minaret of Jam, The Sultaniyeh Dome, or Tamerlane's tomb in Samarkand, among many others.

UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites

The following is a list of World Heritage Sites designed or constructed by Iranians (Persians), or designed and constructed in the style of Iranian architecture:

Inside Iran:

*Arg-é Bam Cultural Landscape, Kerman

*Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan

*Damavand, Amol (city)

*Pasargadae, Fars

*Persepolis, Fars

*Tchogha Zanbil, Khuzestan

*Takht-e Soleyman, West Azerbaijan

*Dome of Soltaniyeh, Zanjan

*Behistun Inscription

Outside Iran:

*Taj Mahal, India - designed by the Mughal Empire

*Minaret of Jam, Afghanistan

*Tomb of Humayun, India

*Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi, Kazakhstan

*Historic Centre of Bukhara

*Historic Centre of Shahrisabz

*Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures

*Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Darband, Daghestan

*Baha'i Gardens

Awards

Mirmiran Architecture Award http://www.mirmiran-arch.org/

The Memar Award: An award set for the best Architectural designs of the year in Iran

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

* Winners:

* Bagh-e-Ferdowsi, Tehran. 1999-2001

* New Life for Old Structures, Various locations. 1999-2001

*Shushtar New Town, Shushtar. 1984-1986

*Ali Qapu, Chehel Sutun, and Hasht Behesht, Isfahan. 1978-1980

See also

History of Iran

Yakhchal

Ab Anbar

windcatchers

Great Wall of Gorgan

Construction in Iran

Architecture

Islamic architecture

Ottoman architecture

Turkish architecture

Mughal architecture

ArchNet, MIT/UT Austin's archive of Iranian architectural documents

Indian architecture

Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran

Band-e Kaisar

References

External links

Ancient Pre-Islamic Architecture of Iran

Architecture of Iran during Islamic times

United Iranian Architects of Europe

Contemporary Iranian Architecture

Memaran, a Persian language online Architecture magazine

The Mosque Sheikh Lotfollah - A Documentary film directed by Manouchehr Tayyab (15 min)

Watch "Isfahan the Movie" on QuickTime Player to see example of Isfahan architecture.

Animated film inspired by the Persian Architecture

Iranian Architecture and Urbanism News Agency

vakil mosque

360 degree views:

*Five 360 degree views of Takht-e Soleiman historical site

*360 degree view of Naqsh-e Jahan Square

*Lotfallah Mosque in Isfahan">360 degree view of the Lotfallah Mosque in Isfahan

*Three 360 degree views of Chogha Zanbil, Iran's largest ziggurat

*Two 360 degree views of Soltaniyeh Dome

*Six 360 degree views of Yazd

*360 degree view of Pasargad

*Six 360 degree views of Persepolis

*360 degree view of Arg-e Rayen citadel

*Ten 360 views of Arg-e Bam

*Dozens of 360 views of Central Asian architecture

Iranian Architecture Today, A Bridge Between East and West

Category:Iranian art Category:Iranian culture Category:Buildings and structures in Iran Category:Islamic architecture

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