Evaluation of Physical-Functional Utility of Amin od-Dowleh Timche in Bazaar of Kashan

Among the most important ancient monuments of Kashan is the traditional imposing market or the so-called Old Bazaar which has linearly spread across Kashan historical fabric. Encompassing various historical buildings such as inns, Timchehs, mosques, schools, baths, reservoirs, shrines, etc., this Bazaar is one of the most prosperous and magnificent markets in Iran. Amin od-Dowleh Timcheh as one of the main components of this market is among the most beautiful Timchehs. It owes its unique beauty to the artistic creativity and skills of Kashan past architects and artists who made this structure be a unique heritage for the Islamic art and architecture. This study aims to describe, introduce, and evaluate the physical-functional utility of Amin od-Dowleh Timcheh. This descriptive-analytic study used data obtained from fields, libraries, and interviews with experts and key informants of related organizations. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed in order to explore the strategies which help enhance the utility of this structure. Findings demonstrated that physical changes in this Timcheh would help improve the utility of this fabulous structure. Such changes would include the removal of unnecessary elements and places like teahouses, and paying serious attention to the beauty and quality of Timcheh facilities.