Water Reservoirs

Throughout history, the people of Iran have paid special attention to the value of water and its significance. Not only have they been aware of the sanctity of water and its deity, but also due to the aridity of the Iranian plateau lands, they have always sought solutions for storing this sacred substance. Water reservoirs are one of the inventions designed for this purpose, made from various materials such as stone, sarooj (a type of mortar), and gypsum in circular, rectangular, and barrel-shaped designs. These reservoirs have circular, rectangular, and barrel-shaped plans, each equipped with gates for water entry into the basin, channels for water supply, and outlets for water extraction and use by the people.

Since ancient times, alongside major water supply projects such as qanat irrigation and dam construction, attention has also been paid to storing winter waters and using them in low-water seasons and droughts. Structures like water reservoirs have been constructed for this reason. The oldest remaining example is the water storage of the Chogha Zanbil temple in Khuzestan.

The term “water reservoir” refers to a place used for storing and preserving water. During the autumn and winter seasons when the need for water for agriculture is less, the people of the desert regions, such as Yazd, store water in their public and private reservoirs to conserve water in their qanats. In the summer, when even a drop of water is valuable, they use them, keeping the natural life alive. Some notable water reservoirs in Yazd include the Golshan Water Reservoir, the Tekiyeh Amir Chakhmaq Water Reservoir, and the Shesh Badgir Yazd Water Reservoir.

Water reservoirs are one of the essential factors in desert settlements, including regions like Yazd, Kashan, Minab, Lar, Garash, Owz, and Khenj/southern Fars province. In various provinces of Iran such as Fars province, some water reservoirs are still in use.

The Oz/southern Fars county can be cited as an active example in the construction of water reservoirs in southern Fars, as the active and intelligent people have built beautiful structures for future generations.

Icehouses

In the past, structures were built to access ice in the summer, where rain and snow in the winter were stored and converted into ice. These structures were known as “icehouses.” Today, examples of these structures exist in cities like Kashan and other areas, which have been transformed into tourist centers.

Qanats

Qanats have been developed since the third millennium BCE, following the construction of dams, and are considered one of humanity’s important innovations in advancing agriculture and providing water to water-deficient areas. The architecture of qanats involves knowledge and information about measuring the gradient of the land, solving the problem of qanat slopes, and other related calculations. In most Iranian desert cities, life elements and vitality are attributed to the architecture and design of qanats. Cities like Meybod, Nain, and Kashan are among the Iranian desert cities where qanats played a fundamental role in the irrigation network of agricultural lands.

The individuals who dug qanats were highly skilled and knowledgeable, possessing expertise in geology, hydrology, and other related fields, with each branch leading to the main qanat line drawn along a valley.

According to available documents, the oldest living qanat in Ardakan county is the Bahaladdinabad qanat, locally known as “Badanbadi Nava.”

The Ghasabe qanat is the longest and oldest qanat in the world. Upon entering it, daylight fades, and darkness takes its place. After all these years, this qanat still supplies the city’s required water without anyone explaining it. After extensive efforts in recent years, Iran succeeded in registering the Ghasabe qanat on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Water Mills

Water mills are among the artifacts typically built alongside settlements and along the paths of qanats and rivers. These types of mills were built in the past due to the rainfall and abundant water in qanats, rivers, and streams along the route of the water entering cities and villages and relied on abundant water and sufficient slope. These mills were used entirely traditionally to grind wheat and other grains for making bread and various purposes.

Bazzars

The expansion of cities and the increase in social communications, along with the development of caravan routes, the development of caravanserais, and economic exchanges, led to the formation of commercial and production spaces known as markets. These markets were mostly built along the main routes of cities.

Timchehs are counted among trading places and markets, where trading transactions take place. A Timcheh is a covered market. Today, there are still many historical caravanserais and Timchehs that have been built in an old-fashioned style and have special historical value in trade. These Timchehs were used in the past as centers for trade and the movement of goods by merchants.

Caravanserais, which date back thousands of years, during the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah, numbered 90 caravanserais, some of which still remain in their old form. In these Timchehs, the authentic Herati architectural art, which is strangely charming and beautiful, and exquisite carvings on wood and some of the base columns, have been used. However, some caravanserais and Timchehs have been altered and transformed into markets or renamed.

Windcatchers

Windcatchers are important symbols of authentic Iranian architecture that have been used and built in Iran for centuries as powerful ventilation systems. The majority of windcatchers are located in Yazd province due to its hot and dry climate. The primary function of Yazd’s windcatchers was to convert the external heat into cool and refreshing air, which would then be directed into ground-floor rooms and basements.

Yazd boasts the largest number and the first windcatchers in Iran. In ancient times, every house in Yazd had a windcatcher on its roof, hence the city’s name is associated with these structures. The main advantage and functionality of these windcatchers were their ability to transform Yazd’s scorching heat into cool and refreshing air, effectively serving as powerful ventilation systems. The function of windcatchers can be summarized in two main parts: firstly, they guide pleasant and refreshing air into the lower part, so that as soon as the air enters the windcatcher openings, it is pulled downwards due to the special conditions of the openings. Secondly, they expel warm and polluted air outside, essentially performing an exhaust function. Some windcatchers only cool the interior by moving air, while others both move air and aid in evaporation.

In some windcatchers, when they reach the basement, a chamber or vault is embedded in the wall, and wooden doors are placed in them to control the wind. That is, in winter, they close the chamber to cut off the connection between the inside and outside of the room. These chambers in rooms served the function of today’s refrigerators. An interesting point about Yazd’s windcatchers is that these structures were entirely handcrafted in ancient times, without any special or advanced tools. Nevertheless, after research on these wonders of Iranian architecture, it was revealed that these windcatchers were fully engineered, and even in the construction of all of them, factors such as courtyard area, qanat depth, windcatcher height, orientation towards or away from the sun, and geographical location were considered.

Dolatabad Mansion Windcatcher

The windcatcher of Dolatabad Mansion is the tallest brick windcatcher in the world, located in Dolatabad Garden, and is considered one of the prominent features of this garden. Its height from the ground is approximately 34 meters. Besides its architectural and historical beauty, this windcatcher acts as a natural cooler, transforming warm and polluted air into cool and fresh air, effectively cooling the interior environment of the building. This natural feature of the windcatcher significantly contributes to increasing comfort and life quality inside the mansion, playing a vital role in creating better living conditions for its residents.

Crypts

Crypts are spaces constructed below ground level in mausoleums and tombs to protect graves and interments from various weather elements, especially moisture and heat. In some mausoleums, crypts are designed to provide a place for pilgrimage or religious ceremonies. These spaces are usually built using underground structures and are adjacent to cemeteries, utilizing structures such as domes or small tunnels.

Baths

Baths played a significant role in the social and sanitary life of people in the past. These places were not only used for washing and cleansing but also served as centers for information exchange, news, and even entertainment and recreation.

Four-Season Bath of Arak

The Four-Season Bath of Arak is actually one of the prominent architectural and tile works of Iran in the Nasserid era, known for its unique and beautiful decorations. This bath, due to its beauty and unique decorations, has a special appeal and is registered as one of the cultural heritages of the country.

Vakil Bath of Shiraz

The Vakil Bath of Shiraz was built during the Zand period by Karim Khan Zand. This bath, located in the center of Shiraz city and close to other buildings of the Zand era, such as Vakil Bazaar and Vakil Mosque, is equipped with various sections, including a section called “Shah’s Rest” specifically reserved for the king’s relaxation and recreation.

Sipak

Sipak is a place accessed by a series of steps leading to a water source. To construct a sipak, excavation is done to create a staircase in the ground, which is then connected to the main canal or water supply. In this location, a basin is prepared, also known as “mikar.”

The word “sipak” consists of two parts, “si” (meaning black) and “pak” (meaning clean), indicating the multiple steps in these structures.

Some sipaks are considered public restrooms, equipped with various facilities including bathing areas, laundry rooms, and in some cases, showers. However, the primary use of water in sipaks is for purification, cleanliness, and washing, and generally, drinking water consumption is not done in them.