Throughout the history of architecture in Iran, what has gained the attention of many researchers and experts is the full and intelligent compatibility of buildings and living spaces with their environment and location. Architects, using valuable knowledge and experience obtained from previous generations, have suggested specific architectures for humans living in any of Iranian climates and geographical locations in order to provide the highest possible level of comfort and the best access to a suitable living environment.
This can be categorized as part of the specific aspects of Iranian architecture. This architecture includes a general aspect that unites entire Iran together like a vast blanket. This general aspect is the comprehensive thinking which defines Iranian people in its geographical location. The beauty and art of Iranian architecture is the fact that this general aspect has been mixed with specific aspects of each location, achieving the best possible results.
The country of Iran, due to its vast land, includes various different environments and climates which affect and are affected by the geographical aspects of each region. Large fields of sand in the deserts, fertile river planes, thick and rainy forests, snowy mountains, and vast beaches are among the sights found in Iran.
Iran has sea borders in its south and north regions. In the south, this vast sea border (the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman) is connected to major international waters. At its west, there are the fertile flatlands of Khuzestan while the arid lands of Sistan are located in its east. This region is generally hot, with low rainfall but high humidity. This area is the absolute opposite of the northern sea borders of Iran.
The Caspian Sea is located at the northern border of Iran, which is the world’s largest body of inland water, thus named as “sea”. At the southern boundary of this northern land and with a variable distance from the Caspian Sea, exists the tall and compact Alborz Mountain range, stretching from west to east, trapping the humidity between the sea and the mountains and creating a green strip of the land. This strip starting from the base of the mountain range has a temperate and humid climate due to significant rainfall. There are numerous forests, raging rivers, and fertile planes in this strip which are comparable to the temperate climates of European countries. This green and fertile land continues along the Caspian Sea and presents a different face of Iranian geography.
Alborz Mountain Range, due to its height and the effects of humidity from the Caspian Sea as well as low-pressure currents from the west, has a cold, semi-humid and mountainous climate and sees large snowfalls during rainy seasons. This has resulted in numerous seasonal and permanent rivers and streams in the valleys among these mountains. The lands south and north of this mountain range are affected by this watershed, creating a boundary between temperate and humid lands in the north and hot and semi-arid climate in the south.
There are two main mountain ranges in Iranian geography. One is the Alborz Mountain range mentioned previously, while the other is the Zagros Mountains which covers a larger area of Iran. This mountain range stretches in an oblique line from northwest to the south of Iran and its height decreases gradually as one moves south. This mountain range, like Alborz Mountains, creates a sold and semi-humid climate for the western part of the country and has been the ancient place of residence for many Iranian ethnicities (such as Kurd, Azeri, Bakhtiari, and Lor ethnicities).
Zagros mountains has the largest climate effect on a vast area of Iran. First, this mountain range somewhat hinders the passage of western low-pressure currents into the Iranian central flatlands, resulting in a more arid climate. On the other hand, this barrier against penetration of humid currents into central Iranian flatlands creates the source for main drainage basins in Iran.
In the Northwest, one of these drainage basins is Lake Urmia which is the largest lake in Iran and is surrounded by vast expanses of fertile and agricultural lands. These drainage basins lead to small or large lakes and lagoons (such as Choghakhor Lagoon and Gandoman Pond), around which numerous dwellings have been built during history. This mountain range creates the most unique natural sceneries along itself and has an extremely diverse ecology.
This mountain range is extremely important as the source of water for Iranian flatland and has affected the climate of its surrounding areas. For example, one of the provinces of Iran called Chaharmahal-o-Bakhtiari Province makes up only one percent of the total area of Iran but provides ten percent of all water resources in the country. This province is the source for two of the major Iranian rivers including Karun River and Zayandehroud. Karun River originates from Bakhtiari mountains and ends in the Persian Gulf in southern Iran and creates the fertile and vast lands of Khuzestan along its path in the southwestern part of Iran which has been the cradle of one of the most ancient human civilizations.
The growth and development of ancient civilizations were directly affected by their geographical and climate conditions and Khuzestan valley has provided several conditions due to its capacity. One of the most important of these capacities is food security as a result of agricultural activities and livestock cultivation in this valley. Another important capacity is the Karun River itself which creates a communication highway for connecting areas along its path. Being close to the Persian Gulf and access to free waters is one of the other reasons for this development.
The second river originating from Bakhtiari mountains is Zayandeh Roud. This river flows along a path from west to east and finally ends in Isfahan flatlands at the Gavkhouni basin. This river has played an important role in the formation and development of dwellings in central Iran. During its path and due to the mountainous and flatlands surrounding it, Zayandeh Rud has created a fertile valley that connects various cities and villages along its path like a string.
This river had played an essential role in the formation of the historical city of Isfahan; a city that has been the capital of Iran during several dynasties and is an important residential area in Iran. This city shows us how past Iranian architecture has created a deep and inseparable bound between climate, nature, and water.
Tall Alborz Mountains to the north and vast Zagros Mountains to the west have created the northern and western boundaries of flat and low-altitude areas of Iranian flatlands. This vast area often has an arid, or semi-arid climate. The cities and villages formed in this area are deeply dependent on the presence of water and are therefore located at mountain foothills, near rivers, and any location with the possibility of Qanat construction.
In general, in central Iranian flatlands and as a result of low rain and snowfall, the residents have made use of previse planning principles for correct utilization of resources from ancient times. As a result, they managed to not only supply the necessary water for agriculture and cities but have also created vast green gardens. These gardens, in Iranian theology, are used as an allegory for paradise.
Iranian central flatland, due to low altitude compared to sea level as well as arid and low-humidity climate, contains vast desert lands which shape the face of central and eastern Iran. The boundary between these deserts is low-altitude mountain ranges and wilderness with mostly desert vegetation which color this area of Iran along with vast desert planes.
