فصلنامه اثر
پیاپی 55 (زمستان 1390)

The available documents suggest a signifi cant difference between the fabric of the modern city of Mashhad and its past, a situation that resulted in destruction of several historical-cultural elements. The essential element in the identity of Mashhad and the focal point of its creation is the holy shrine of Imam Reza in the historic garden of Sanabad in Tus, pursued by several different historical-cultural elements that served to generate a logical context in this regard. The eventful history of Mashhad is replete with incidents which will simply be understood if studied together with places that they occurred and represent an integral part of the identity and historical memory of these places. Of the hundreds of historical heritages of Mashhad, most of which are now totally disappeared, the historic gardens are counted as infl uential elements in the cohesion and continuation of the urban identity of the city. The existence of Sanabad historic garden, which hosted the palace of local governor Hamid ibn Qahtaba and the holy shrine of Imam Reza, and Dastdjerd Garden of Tus, where Imam Reza was most probably poisoned, as well as given the historical events that took place in Khuni Garden are the reasons for this hypothesis. Khuni Garden, which based on the available evidence was constructed in the site of Dastdjerd Garden, possesses a unique cultural signifi cance given several events that happened therein and the fact that it is the only preserved historic garden in Mashhad. Events such as poisoning Imam Reza at Dastdjerd and the location of Khuni Garden at Dastdjerd community in Tus, and the fact that the canons bombarded the shrine of Imam Reza from Khuni Garden can alone provide this place with exceptional potentials. Therefore, besides the obvious urban location and its proximity to Imam Reza Shrine, this place has a great potential for religious functions that must be considered in urban planning designs.

Garden construction had long been a common practice in urban areas of Yazd similar to other parts of Iran. In particular, owing to the climatic conditions of Yazd and its oppressive heat and the totally different and favorable climate of the city of Taft lying on the Shirkuh slopes, Taft was regarded as a sort of recreation ground by Yazd residents, and gardens were put up in the city by local governors. Among these gardens, the Sadriyeh Garden assumes a particular signifi cance for research given its unique plan and engineering (both as a whole and in the details). The garden was established by Mohammad Taghi Khan of Bafgh, a local landlord, during Zand period. Besides acting as an air conditioner for the existing building, its high windcatcher is visible from long distance as its marker. Since it is among the gardens with all characteristics of standard Iranian Garden and modifi cations were made in the garden proper and its buildings, which nonetheless did not fully replaced the original structure, its study is justifi ed. The intricate irrigation system of the garden is unique in its characteristics. In the present paper efforts are made to identify the structural attributes of the architecture of Sadriyeh Garden through analyzing factors such as location of the garden in its natural context, to grasp historical developments, to review the constituents of the garden, and to study the function of the different spaces and their evolution over time.

The natural landscape in northwest Iran is formed from juxtaposition of mountains and plains, and it was against this backdrop that civilizations came into existence. This juxtaposition is particularly seen in the historical city of Maku. The city is situated in the northwest corner of the Azerbaijan region, on the slopes of Little Noah (Nuh-e Kuchak) mountain, and enjoys an obvious position from geographical and military point of view. The area lies in the borderline between Caucasia, Turkey and Iran. Some 6 km to the west of the city and ca 2 km from the south of the main road from Maku to Bazargan there lies the piedmont village of Baghchey-e Jugh. In its western and southern sides lies the enlivening Cherkin Mount and runs the so-called Kaliseh spring. In the southeastern portion of the village is seen the splendid, historic garden of “Qasr-e Baghcheyeh Jugh,” which dates from late Qajar period and was founded by Teimur Pasha, father of Mortaza Gholi Khan, known as Iqbal ol-Saltana of Maku (1313-1324 A.H.), who was a contemporary powerful local ruler and served as one of the commanders of Muzaffar al-Din Shah Qajar. The garden, with a total area of 11 ha, is located at the foot of Chirkin Mount. It includes a two storey Qajar palace 2500 sq m in area ornamented with magnifi cent paintings on the ceiling. The garden also includes a stone building as its kitchen, a bathhouse, a greenhouse and a circuit wall. Baghcheyeh Jugh lacks the elements of standard Iranian Garden and its unique systems; however, its importance can be attributed to the fact that it represents the garden construction practice of a certain historical period in a frontier region with cold and mountainous climate, and stands as an innovative monument from Qajar period in this part of Azerbaijan region. The present paper describes this historic garden.

The fabric of a city is made up of structures each meant to serve a certain function. These structures have played a major role in urban developments. Chaharbagh of Khosrowabad was one of the central urban structures of Sanadaj. From the Safavid period onward, three chaharbaghs are known from Kurdistan Province: an old chaharbagh and Chaharbagh of Khosrowabad in Sanadaj, and Caharbagh of Garus in Bijar. The old chaharbagh of Sanadaj, belonging to the Safavid era, is now transformed to a residential quarter called Chaharbagh Quarter. The second chaharbagh in Sanandaj is, as said above, Chaharbagh of Khosrowabad. It was incorporated into a large edifi ce, which has played an important role in the urban landscape in terms of architecture and garden construction. The complex lies in the western part of the city. It remained almost intact till six decades ago when it gradually started to lose its substantial parts. As said, currently it is used as a residential quarter. Creation of this complex refl ects the interest of the contemporary local rulers in monumental architecture. The complex drew attention of a number of local historians and western explorers.

Study of historical buildings with a view on reciprocal infl uences of these structures and their surrounding environment provides a suitable tool for the cultural heritage experts and, therefore, for architects and urban planning engineers in their reconstruction. Analysis of the underlying factors that along with the growth of the cities have resulted in abandonment of historic complexes and the pathology of this behavior will facilitate fi nding a proper solution. The present work explores, in a larger and regional scale, the effective environmental and social factors. Then, in a smaller scale, it sets to focus on the architecture of the complex and its executional details, damages and solutions for conserving the complex, and fi nally the potentials of the complex for revitalization. Development stimulating projects that have been implemented in the historic fabrics of the cities during the recent decades have the potential to be tested in a number of historic urban outskirts that are today regarded as slum areas. The present paper pursues such an approach, and the restoration project, with a comprehensive view, had focused on the urban future of the complex. In this context, proposed policies such as raising public awareness, prescribing the debarment of aborigine population, creating a historic urban disposition for the complex, and fi nally, in the long term, generating environmental qualities in public areas to attract the citizens and foster their involvement.Pl. 1. Aerial image of Abdolabad complex taken in 1969 (photo courtesy of the Cartographic Organization).

In order to understand and rediscover the Safa’iyeh Garden, fi rst a brief review of the historical and geographical background of the historic area of Cheshmeh Ali is offered before presenting information on the people who in some way or other contributed to its development in the light of historical sources. Then, the different periods of the garden and the monastery (Khangah)(from the beginning up to present) are identifi ed in the light of historical documents such as maps and aerial images as well as interviews with local restorers. Finally, some unique characteristics of the fabric of the garden and the major factors that played a role in its ultimate ruin are offered as a conclusion.

Samarkand was one of the historical, cultural and political centers in Transoxiana and can be described as one of the most attractive garden-cities of the region. There is abundant evidence on the pre-Mongol gardens of Samarkand. In particular, Ibn Hawqal puts that “rarely can you fi nd a house without an orchard or a garden, and every house either within the city or out of the city wall has a sort of large or small garden. Thus, from the top of the castle the city is seen covered with trees and greens.” According to historical documents, garden construction was a conventional practice, which saw considerable development in Teimurid period, in particular during Tamerlane reign, who himself put up several gardens the report of which is given in the present paper. Apart from studying the Teimurid gardens, mentions are also made to the style used in construction of these gardens.

Pahlavanpour Garden was formed as a result of a natural process and adaptation with the surrounding areas, which are covered with expanses of fruit and agriculture gardens. The garden is situated at the far end of one of the communities of Mahriz, and with a total area of over 2500 sq m is comprised of several different spaces and elements. The garden is extended along the fl owing Hasanabad Flume, and similar to the most of Iranian gardens, has an elongated plan. The middle terrace lies at the longitudinal center and the fl anking terraces have created regular areas for tree cultivation. The mud brick architectural spaces such as the palace with its embellished ceiling across which water runs, stable, watch tower, winter quarters, entrance and the private bathhouse along with a tuaf circuit wall complemented the garden. The garden was founded during Qajar period, and modifi cations were made some decades later to make it a complete garden. The old adumbral trees, small plots of vegetation, and terraces with fruit trees have created a cycle of agriculture subsistence and a recreation ground.

Study of the characteristics of Shiraz gardens suggests that these, just like the other remains from Islamic period, were infl uenced by the styles, traditions and regional climate during different periods. The present work explores the historical geography of Shiraz before discussing how its garden construction style inspired the traditions of other nations. Here, the water resources of Shiraz gardens and the totally destroyed gardens of the city that thrived during the Islamic era are identifi ed and analyzed. Then, besides mentioning the ancient and historic gardens that have for the most part disappeared but small portions of them are still preserved, the important gardens from recent century are reviewed, and the most fl ourishing gardens of Shiraz, with a particular emphasis on Eram Garden, are described in terms of architectural features and decorations.