Iran ranks seventh in the world in terms of possessing historical monuments, museums, and other cultural attractions and is recognized by UNESCO. Architecture in Iran has a history from 5000BCE to the present. Persian buildings vary from peasant huts to tea houses, and garden pavilions to "some of the most majestic structures the world has ever seen. Despite the invasions and cultural shocks, it has achieved individuality distinct from that of other Muslim countries. Iranian architecture can be seen in mosques, madrasas, shrines, palaces and bazaars to name a few. Typically these are some of the elements that are common among most of the monuments constructed upon Persian architecture:
(i) The usage of iwans (porticos) (ii) Extensive use of arches (iii) Gardens, fountains, and pools (iv) Domes (v) Symmetry (vi) Minarets (towers) (vii) Muqarnas( form of ornamented vaulting) and (viii) Calligraphy
Coming to the intricate details of Iranian, architecture, the main motif of Iranian architecture has been its cosmic symbolism by which man is brought into communication and participation with the powers of heaven. In this architecture, there are no trivial buildings; even garden pavilions have nobility and dignity. Patterns and structures also use symbolic geometry using pure forms such as circles and squares. These polychrome tiles of blue, gold, turquoise, and white cover the interiors of mosques and palaces, in the forms of complicated floral and geometric patterns as well as the Arabic calligraphy quoting verses from the Quran. Mirror work is another decorative element of Iranian structures during Islamic period.
Here’s a list of some of the finest works of Iranian architecture:
SHIRAZ-Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque,
Persepolis; TEHRAN- Golestan Palace;
KASHAN- Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, Bazaar;
ISFAHAN- Jameh Mosque, Shah Mosque,
Which one of these places have you visited?
Did you also know the influence of Iranian architecture in many countries like Turkey, North India, Azerbaijan, Syria to name a few?