Besides the weather, the architecture of traditional houses of Iran is based on their social function. If a house’s primary purpose is to be a living place for a family, in Iran, the house has also always been a place to receive guests. Having guests in the Persian culture is central, and the more luxurious the house is, the more sophisticated must be the way guests are welcomed. Traditional houses are built with two separate parts, one called “birouni”, dedicated to the guests, and the other one called “andarouni”, that was used by the family and the servants. It allows these latter, and in particular women who may not have wanted to be seen, to navigate the house without having to cross the areas where the guests are staying.
Houses built for their environment
Iran being a four-season country with, in some areas, hot summers and, in some others, freezing winters, one of the main features of all traditional houses is the fact that they are built according to the weather. This is visible from the materials used to create the walls, but also from the presence of one or several wind towers, “badgir“, the world’s oldest cooling system.Furthermore, traditional houses are oriented north-south to use the different parts of the house depending on the temperatures: in winter, the south part exposed to the sun was used, while in summer, people would occupy the north part of the house that has less sun exposure, and is thus cooler. Rooms of the house also display colored windows, a typical element of Persian culture. Not only would it add artistic value to the house, but the colors also protect the rooms from the light and prevents some insects from coming in.
The specificities of the traditional architecture
From outside the street, passersby can hardly guess the beauties that are on the other side of the wall. Indeed, traditional houses usually have a simple frontage. Rich traditional houses have a more sophisticated doorway, though, with engraving, calligraphy, a semi-dome, as well as two platforms on both sides to lead to the door. This area was used to talk with the house’s owner when the guests didn’t want to enter the house.
The importance of guests
Besides the weather, the architecture of traditional houses of Iran is based on their social function. If a house’s primary purpose is to be a living place for a family, in Iran, the house has also always been a place to receive guests. Having guests in the Persian culture is central, and the more luxurious the house is, the more sophisticated must be the way guests are welcomed.Traditional houses are built with two separate parts, one called “birouni”, dedicated to the guests, and the other one called “andarouni”, that was used by the family and the servants. It allows these latter, and in particular women who may not have wanted to be seen, to navigate the house without having to cross the areas where the guests are staying.
Light & Color
The more complicated and artificial a house becomes, the better the importance of light magnifies. The windows play a prominent role in penetrating daylight into buildings. They were to build unique spaces in the house.The odds are that colors were not the only thing used for decoration; there were also other elements being used for coloring the environment. The decoration was not just for the artistic viewpoints but was also used as insulation.All these crucial factors were taken into consideration to make traditional houses as a specific place for gaining soul development and physical calm.
Iranians used to sit on the floor. That is why you can see beautiful carpets in traditional houses. In winters, they gathered together around a Korsi (a low table with a heater underneath). During summer they sat on carpets and they even slept on the carpet. But after a while, the sofa and beds were added to the designs; yet carpet was never removed from the people’s culture. Besides, the sofa and bed had a low height to minimize the difference with the ground.They typically used rich and bold colors like red, carmine, green, turquoise, and brown in the objects. The clothes that were used were more natural colors with natural patterns. You can see so many patterns of flowers and paisley on both clothes and decorations.Additionally, symmetry and equilibrium in the whole place is a remarkable attribute of the whole place. As a result, the houses foster a sense of purity, integrity, and calmness among hosts and guests. One of the very prominent features was paying attention to the structure both in detail and also the whole picture.
Are you tired of staying at the same old luxurious hotels during your travels?
Why not switch things up and stay at an old traditional house in Iran instead?
These awe-inspiring structures not only showcase the ingenuity of Persian architecture but also offer a glimpse into the daily lives of locals. From the eco-friendly designs that kept the houses warm in the winter and cool in the summer to the intricate plasterwork, mirrorwork, and paintings that symbolize Persian concepts, these houses truly reflect the country's culture.But traditional houses in Iran are more than just buildings; they are a piece of history that tells the story of a bygone era. And the best part? You can experience it all by staying in one of the traditional houses. In our Iranian traditional house tour, we'll take you through ancient Persian houses' stunning elements and features and introduce you to well-known traditional houses that are a must-visit on your trip to Iran.
If you are planning to travel to Iran, an interesting part of your tour is accommodation and visiting traditional Iranian houses, here is the best place. We will allocate the best for you. The architecture of traditional Iranian houses has always inspired the new generation of Iranian architects. Private and public sections of the house, the entrance, platform, corridor, porch, and large and clean courtyards were inseparable components. In this trip itinerary and tour package, we introduce you all the most important city excursions and your accommodation in Iranian traditional houses. Our tour (Iranian Traditional Houses ) include 12 days and our tour would be new experience for those who will visit Iran for the first time. You will visit Tehran, Kashan , Yazd, Isfahan Shiraz and Qeshm Island. These cities that we allocated for you have a fantastic boutique hotels or Iranian traditional houses in Iran. In this tour you will visit the cities , sites , people and your accommodation would be in these traditional boutique houses.
