A Typological Study of on the Architecture of Kashan’s Suburban Mills Using Akharin Mill

Mills, which used to have a great role in the production of agricultures in the history of Iran, are architectural works, in which the skeletal structure is influenced by their functions and physical facilities, are now slid into obscurity because of the developments in technology. Two questions are discussed in this study: where were mills and what was their connection to this historical city and agricultural lands. What structural-functional parts do they have? In this research, which is based on historical and field research on the skeletal structure, studies these suburban mills, factors involved in pinpointing their location around the city, their connection to water sources and different agricultural regions, and then conducts structural-functional typology on their architecture. After that, Akharin mill undergoes structural-functional analysis. Watermills that are around Kashan, were on the path of water in three natural routes including: Soleymaniye spring in Finn to Kashan route, Ghahrood stream in Lathor region, and the route of Barzok to Ravand stream. Architecture of these mills were based on local technologies, and their skeletal structures are based on the unique function of mills. These mills are consisted of, entrance, platform, middle corridor, storehouse, miller’s room, stable, small porch, milestone, mill race, and water tunnel.