Mashhad is the capital of Razavi Khorasan province with numerous remarkable architectural monuments. Some of these destinations are traditional houses with native architecture. Ardakani House of Mashhad is one of the beautiful historical buildings of this city, which was recognized on the national heritage list of Iran in 2005.
Ardakani House was removed from the national heritage list in 2012 due to unknown reasons. This house is located near the Imam Reza holy shrine, also known as the Doolabian House.
History of Ardakani House of Mashhad
This historical house has been in residential use since its construction. Its original owner was one of the famous merchants of Mashhad named Hossein Ardakani. After the house’s owner’s death in 1935, his inheritors sold the house to one of their relatives named Doolabian. Nevertheless, this house is still known as Ardakani House.
Architectural Features of Ardakani House of Mashhad
The entrance of this house is located on the north side inside a dead-end alley named Saffar Shahroudi Alley. This alley is also known as Sarebanha Alley.
After passing through the main entrance, we enter a small area. There is a kitchen on the right side of this area and two rooms on the left side. One of these rooms served as the residence of the cook and the other was for the children of the family. After passing through this area, we see the Ardakani House courtyard with a fountain at the center.
The main elements of traditional houses in Iran can be seen in the Ardakani House of Mashhad. These elements include a central courtyard, summer dwelling, winter dwelling, Tanourkhaneh (room with a traditional oven), water reservoir, and a fountain room.
A few stairs at the end of the courtyard lead to the two-story Ardakani house. There are rooms on the first floor. To the right side of the first floor, there is a room with a tanour (ground oven for baking bread) on its west wall. This room was used to store firewood.
In addition, there is another room in the middle of the first floor, which is the storage room. In the past, this storage was used to preserve food. The fountain room is also located near the storage room.
There used to be a water reservoir in the east wing of the fountain room, which used to supply water to the fountain. This reservoir is now destroyed.
After browsing the different areas on the first floor, you can access the second floor of the building by the stairs. Upon entering the second floor, you will see a room with three doors, which were specifically designed for welcoming special guests. There is another room to the left of this room.
In addition, on the second floor of the building, there is a large iwan (balcony) with four wooden columns, which are placed on the eastern and southern sides of the balcony. There is a staircase on this floor that leads us to the rooftop. This staircase reaches this floor from the first floor.
Seasonal Dwellings in Ardakani House
The summer and winter dwellings of the Ardakani House of Mashhad are located on the south and north sides. Each of these two areas was built in different periods.
The winter dwelling is located on the north side and dates back to the late Qajar period. The rooms of the winter section are narrow so that the sunlight can reach the whole room. Also, the kitchen in this section is located beneath the dwelling to help warm the house in winter.
In addition, the walls of the winter section are thick and prevent heat loss. Custom fireplaces are built into the wall of the section. In addition, there is a mosaic inscription in the winter dwelling with engraved verses of the Qur’an.
The summer dwelling of the Ardakani House of Mashhad was built during the early Pahlavi period in 1933. This part of the house has a balcony on the first floor and a roofed area on the ground floor that blocks sunlight. A windcatcher has been placed in the summer dwelling, which accounts for the room’s air conditioning. Also, the implementation of fountains inside this section plays an essential role in cooling the air.
Visit This Traditional House
Ardakani House of Mashhad has unique features in different aspects. Because of its unique beauty, this house is a popular tourist attraction.
If you travel to Mashhad on an Iran tour package or by yourself, do not miss visiting this house. Destination Iran invites you to read more about Mashhad Tourist Attractions to visit more attractions on your trip to Mashhad. Learn more about them before traveling to this city.
Where is the Ardakani House of Mashhad?
This house is located in the central part of Mashhad and on Vahdat Blvd. To reach it, you can go from Vahdat St. 21 to Salari Moghadam St. and then Safar Shahroudi St.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ardakani House of Mashhad
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How old is the Ardakani house in Mashhad?
The construction of this house dates back to the Qajar period about a century ago.
What is the most significant feature of Mashhad’s Ardakani House?
The main feature of this house is the implementation of the main architectural elements of traditional Iranian houses. Elements such as the central courtyard, the summer dwelling, the winter dwelling, the Shahneshin (an elegant room for guests), Tanourkhaneh (the oven room), the water reservoir, and the fountain room.
What is the difference between the summer and winter dwellings of Ardakani House?
The walls of the winter building are thicker, which prevents heat loss. Also, special fireplaces are installed on the walls.
In the summer dwelling, the first floor of the house has an iwan that covers the ground floor and blocks direct sunlight. Also, a windcatcher is constructed for the summer part to help circulate the air in the room. There are fountains in this area section that cools this part of the house.
