Bazaar of Kashan, Kashan

Featured Image Source: Source: Jérémie B., Under Creative Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kashan_-Timche-ye_Amin_od-Dowleh–20140512-_JB.jpg

The Bazaar of Kashan is a large trade area in the old city centre of the city of Kashan in Iran. The Bazaar is about a kilometre in length in a vaguely North-East, South West Direction. The Bazaar has various architectural styles due to it being built up over the last 1,000 years. The Bazaar has various shops, mosques, tombs, both houses and Inns built throughout its long history, (source).

Source: Third World Architecture, Under Creative Commons

The Bazaar is one of the most important and the largest market area within the city. The Bazaar likely first started operating in the 10th century in the Seljuq dynasty, (source). During the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722) the Bazaar expanded with many craftsmen working and selling their products within the Bazaar and started to decline during the 19th century, (source&source). Today the Bazaar continues to be an important marketplace for the city and has become a touristic attraction.

The majority of the bazaar’s area is covered with some open-air squares dotted along its length. Like the Kervansàráý No square which sits about halfway along the markets length. The Bazaar is built in an eclectic style with many of the buildings having been changed, rebuilt and renovated. For example, the tomb of the Imamzadeh (an immediate descendant of an Imam) of Musa al-Kadhim the seventh Imam, which is built in various styles, (source). The courtyard and building is likely from the 19th century through its interior was renovated with cut mirror shades in the early 20th century, (source). The building is built in a classical Persian style with its domes, minarets and mosaicked interior.

By far the most impressive building within Bazaar is the Aminoddole Caravanserai built during the 19th century, (source). The most impressive part of the building is the three grand skylights in the roof. The building is made from compressed mud and bricks, (source). The roof is made up of three domes with an intricate ribbed vault structure and decorated in mosaic. The domes are open at the top to allow light to enter the building. Around the edges, there are small stalls selling carpets and other high-quality goods and in the centre of the hall is a small water fountain that helps to keep the hall cool.

Source: Teseum, Under Creative Commons, https://www.flickr.com/photos/teseum/31699394766

The Bazaar, in general, has many systems that keep it cool in the warm weather of Iran. The Bazaar is positioned so that the prevailing wind flows through the main corridor of the building, (source). There are underground aqueducts that cool the building and deliver the water to the various bathhouses and fountains. The west side of the Bazaar is the most recent part of the Bazaar.

The Bazaar is a hotspot for the city and is an important area for the residents not only today but it has been for the last 1,000 years. This history is clearly visible in the architecture of the area. It’s a wonderful place for tourists who want to get to know the city and its culture and history.

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Sources:

–Atlas Obscura. (n.d.). Bazaar of Kashan. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Hidden Architecture. (2016, December 15). Bazaar of Kashan. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Mohammad- Reza Haeri and EIr., “KASHAN v. ARCHITECTURE (1) URBAN DESIGN,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2012, XVI/1, pp. 8-12
–Rasmi, S. (2016). Functional properties of kashan’s bazaar in Identifying of KASHAN. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL STUDIES, 2(4), 1639-1649
–Wikipedia. (n.d.). Aminoddole Carvansarai. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Wikipedia. (n.d.). Bazaar of Kahan. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Wikipedia. (n.d.). Emamzadeh Ebrahim, Kashan. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Wikipedia. (n.d.). Qajar dynasty. Retrieved May 29, 2018
–Wikipedia. (n.d.). Safavid dynasty. Retrieved May 29, 2018