Types of houses in Iran have been undergoing numerous changes, just like other aspects of Iranians’ lives. In rural and tribal life, dwellings were like tents (Siaah Chador), Kapar, or Kaahgel (literally, mud and straw), all of which were well-suited to the topography and climate of the area in which people were living. Traditionally, in cities, buildings were enormous (more than 200 square meters in size) with huge courtyards or gardens in front of them. Furthermore, the kitchen and private bedrooms were also far bigger than what is customary in Europe, and there has always been a vast hall available for events and gatherings. In this article, you will learn more about the types of Iranian homes, the way they furnish their houses, and much more about Persian traditional homes architecture.
What Do Houses in Iran Look Like?
Iranians traditionally enjoy living in spacious homes and feel uncomfortable in tiny ones. Nowadays, it’s still common to live in huge houses, except for city dwellers who have to live in tiny flats due to the high cost of land. The children spent most of their days playing in the courtyards or outdoors with other neighborhood children in the past. However, even today, most apartments feature at the very least one tiny shared yard, which may even include a small garden with trees and flowers. In Tehran, the majority of the flats have four or five Storeys, and you can find towers almost anywhere you look. The majority of the apartments feature at least one parking spot for each unit (this is a requirement for the new houses in Iran). However, in villages and rural areas, houses in Iran are mostly still traditional and appropriate to the geographical adaptations; for example, in the villages of the north of Iran, the use of wood as a skeleton and construction is ubiquitous in Gilan or Mazandaran’s architecture, accounting for 90 percent of all structures. Historically, wood has been the primary building material in indigenous and traditional designs in this region due to the availability of wood in the area.
Iranian House Interior
When you visit an Iranian home, you will almost certainly be required to remove your shoes before entering since the people of Iran often maintain the inside of their homes highly clean and decorated with carpets, and they consider shoes unclean. Even in newer homes with stone or ceramic floors, individuals don’t often enter the house wearing their shoes (but maybe with slippers). Most middle-class typical families’ homes are full of various furnishings to live a reasonably comfortable life. Even young couples typically have everything they need, such as televisions, huge refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, beds, sofas, dining tables, gorgeous drapes, carpets, dishes, traditional handicrafts, and so on. Because of societal conventions, young couples are just beginning their new life together, the boy should have the home, and the female should bring all of their stuff with her. Although it’s not harmful to anybody to live on assistance, the negative aspects of this situation make marriage and establishing a new life on one’s own much more difficult.
Facilities of Houses in Iran
All Iranian homes have access to amenities such as electricity, drinking water, natural gas, sewage, and telephone service. The use of gas for cooking and heating in the home is commonplace in Iran. The inside of the houses is often significantly brighter than you can find in Europe. At night, people use large white and yellow lamps for lightning; Iranians love to brighten their homes at night. Like this, the people use gas to warm their houses; usually, the homes are so warm in winter that Iranians stay in their underwear at home. At the same time, the air conditioning system is sometimes put on all day and night in the summer due to the hot weather that prevails throughout the summer months.
Traditional Iranian House
The gorgeous traditional houses in Iran are one of the first things visitors notice when they arrive in the country, and they are even one of the main reasons people choose to visit Iran. The innovative and environmentally friendly design, which ensured that the home remained warm during the frigid winters and comfortable during the hot summer days, is remarkable. Without even mentioning the attention-getting patterns, plasterwork, mirror works, and paintings that represent rich Persian viewpoints. Another notable element of these buildings that draws so many people is the abundance of brightly colored flowers.
In general, they’re more than simply a place to live. The richness of Persian culture, lifestyle, attitudes, principles, and religion are all reflected in their honest depiction. Visits to traditional houses in Iran are highly essential for you to obtain a deeper insight into people’s lives and cultures and a better idea of how a typical Iranian family used to live. You may wonder why traditional dwellings’ characteristics and components differ from place to region! An area’s climate, culture, and governing principles influence the aspects of many features and elements in traditional houses in Iran. While visiting Yazd, you’ll see this where homes have two sections: private living spaces for the family and an additional area for visitors of the Islamic tradition that requires women to wear a Hijab. Isfahan and Shiraz are renowned for their handicrafts, so you can expect to witness a variety of unique patterns and decorations in these two cities.
Ancient Persian Houses
The vast amount of space available in traditional houses in Iran was one of the most notable features. Andarouni and Birouni were the two main components of most homes. Andarouni was a private space for members of the family. Consequently, they could maintain their privacy, and the Hijab was no longer necessary for females. Guests might enter Birouni but not Andarouni to protect the host’s privacy. In traditional homes, lighting was crucial. When it comes to allowing daylight to get into houses, windows play an essential role. There is a good chance that colors were not the only item utilized for decorating; there were likely other components employed to provide color to the surrounding environment as well. The ornamentation was not just for aesthetic purposes but also served as an insulation layer. These critical considerations were important in designing traditional dwellings as a particular setting for spiritual growth and bodily peace.
Persian House Design
Let’s learn more about traditional houses in Iran. One of the most spectacular and unusual aspects of traditional houses in Iran is that, except for palaces and mansions, most homes have a plain façade, with the inside design depending on how wealthy the family was. They would choose a simple exterior to ensure that the impoverished neighbors did not see themselves as different from their rich neighbors. That is a beautiful example of Persian culture, in which people had a strong feeling of compassion and concern for one another. Throughout Iran’s ancient towns, including Yazd, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kashan, and Tehran, you may see traditional homes with various characteristics; some are common to all Iran, while others are unique to that location. Some of these features include:
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Sardar (سردر)
The doorway is the first thing a visitor sees when they walk into traditional houses in Iran. The doorway has platforms, a door with engravings, and a semi-dome on top of it. In cold weather, they’re often beneficial in a manner that prevents precipitation. They served as a protective barrier from the sun to top it all off. On top of the door were several Quranic phrases and well-known Persian poetry, all written in beautiful Persian calligraphy.
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Saku (سکو)
Saku is a sort of platform that sits on each side of the house’s front door. It was important for the visitors who didn’t want to enter but wished to speak with the host for a short period.
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Hayat or Yard (حیاط)
A pond with flowers and trees in harmony with one another is a common feature of most yards in traditional houses in Iran. These characteristics give it the feel of a tiny garden, where children may play for hours while the rest of the family enjoys snacks, breakfast, or tasty Persian beverages. The gentle wind, the sound of running water, and the singing of the birds combine to create a pleasurable and unforgettable spectacle that’s hard to forget. The pond served as a washing spot for Iranians, who used it to wash their fruits, hands, and faces.