Sina Abedi

Lecturer

Narciss Sohrabi

Visiting Research Fellow

This lecture presents key characteristics of Persian Garden in Iran, to offer an understanding of architectural and urban qualities of it; accordingly, the components of the Persian garden can be summarized as follows: Walls, The Surroundings, Water, Vegetation, Shades, Geometry and viewpoint. It also illustrates the architectural characteristics of four case studies from different contexts and eras to show how important the relation with the Persian Garden is in Iranian architecture. The four case studies addressed in this lecture are selected because of their historical and architectural importance; their exemplary nature in terms of Persian Garden settlements; their location in different parts of Iran, thus expressing a variety of architectural and cultural elements. 
It is in the gardens of ancient Persia that we have always looked for the symbolic source and the aesthetic ideal behind the great traditions of garden art across the countries of the Iranian plateau. From prehistoric times, with the art of pottery from the Iranian plateau, an image appeared, that of the division of space into four parts around the point where the two branches of a cross meet. This structure, we find it constantly in all manifestations of the Iranian spirit; this archetype of the garden-paradise is in fact the invisible thread which constitutes the memory of Iran, and which is constantly renewed and metamorphosed. It was for the first time in the reign of the Achaemenids that this primordial image was materialized in architectural forms of the gardens called Paridaeza. The palatial group of Pasargadae (6th century BC) with its garden is exemplary in this matter, and it was at this time that the foundations of the Persian garden were laid. 

As a UNESCO World Heritage property since 2011, the Persian Garden occupies a central place in the Iranian world. Although no Persian description of the Achaemenid pleasure parks has survived, the etymology of the Median pari.daēza and the old Persian pari.daida designates a wall and the territory it delimits. These structures were delimited by a wall separating the inner zone from what was beyond. It is imperative to emphasize more precisely on the configuration of these walled gardens as the fruit of the ingenious marriage of natural and artificial elements, animated by an intelligent hydraulic infrastructure developing systems and technologies to collect and use water and to exploit the properties of different types of vegetation to create proper microenvironments. The construction of these gardens required a precise knowledge of topography, mechanics, water management and engineering, botany and agriculture. It also presupposed the performance of a powerful executive authority capable of carrying out projects from the smallest scale to the largest. Choosing a place, taking water there, limiting it with an enclosure, digging irrigation canals and ponds, greening plants, raising pavilions were the issues faced by the creators of these gardens.

Lecture 1. Handout

Lecture 1. Notes

Lecture 1. Quiz with Answers

An Introduction to Persian Gardens

This lecture explains the importance of Persian Garden in the fabric of the Iranian cities; presents key characteristics of Persian Garden in different aspect of Iranian architecture, to offer an understanding of architectural and urban qualities of it; illustrates the architectural characteristics of case studies from different contexts and eras to show how important the relation with the Persian Garden is in cultures beyond Iran.

The Persian Garden reflects the interaction of man and nature, taken to a level of near perfection. These gardens illustrate the trends of garden development in a variety of cultural, political, and social aspects ever since the Achaemenids reign. This manifestation is even more prominent considering that, over the course of ages, it has been associated with significant cultural indicators such as poetry, philosophy, painting, music, calligraphy, symbolism, semeiology, sculpture, and carpet design. It also responds to the challenges of the extreme climatic and geographic conditions in the rather dry and harsh nature of this region. 

The Persian Garden, as documented over more than two millennia, has developed across the Iranian plateau while still respecting its initial pattern. Throughout its evolution, it has played a remarkable role in various cultural and social aspects of the Iranian plateau, becoming the founding element of residences, streets palaces and public buildings, as well as ensembles associated with voluntary or religious institutions such as mosques, tombs, Caravanserais and Meidans. The perfect garden, however powerful its sybolism, is a supreme luxury that few can afford within the urbanized context. The idea of the courtyard paralleled that of the open garden plan. The courtyard plan, which generates a centripetal force, is a more feasible urban form, capable of providing that basic contact with nature so essential to Iranian life. This plan domiantes the architectural activity of « place making », unifying house whith mosque, caravanserai with college, the individual parts with the whole. 

The Persian Garden is considered as the masterpiece of human ingenuity in creating an ideal environment. Additionally, since its inception more than 2500 years ago, the Persian Garden has witnessed cultural, technical, conceptual and engineering relations with cultures, nations and civilizations near or faraway. The word Paradise entered European languages from the Persian root word "Pardis" which was the name of a beautiful garden enclosed the within walls. The introduction of the Chahar Bagh design to lands of humid climate proves the flexibility and universality of this model. The Persian Garden has long been known as a prototype of geometrical gardens in the world. Islamic art and architecture is being defined in a very close relationship with Persian art and architecture. There has been a very strong Persian influence on the Islamic art and architecture. This strong and flexible quality had a very clear influence on culture and art of all invaders like Arabs and Mughul people so that little by little they became fans and supporters of performing Persian art. They even brought this respect and appreciation to this art style even out Iran's political borders, as what happened about Mughul, Timurid and even Arab dynasties in Andalusia. It is particularly the geometry and symmetry of the architecture together with the complex water management system that seem to have influenced design in all these gardens.

Lecture 2. Handout

Lecture 2. Notes

Lecture 2. Quiz with Answers

2. Madrassa
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Colledge of Sultan Shah Hussein, Isfahan, Iran (built in 18th century)

4. Mosque
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Royal Mosque of Isfahan, Iran, (built in 17th century)

6. Mausoleum
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Mausoleum
 of the poet Saeb, Isfahan, Iran (built in 18th century)

7. Meidan
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Meidan Naghsh-e-Jahan, Isfahan, Iran (built in 17th century)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Babur Garden
Babur supervising the laying out of the Garden of Fidelity-right-large, Baburnama, 16th c.

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Aerial view of Taj Mahal, India (built in 17th century)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Plan of Taj Mahal, India
Image: Taj Mahal, India

The Persian Garden: Image of Paradise
Sina
 ABEDI
Laboratory LIAT
National School of Architecture of Paris-
Malaquais
University of Paris-Est 
Narciss
 M.SOHRABI
Visiting Researcher in LADYSS 
Lecture 2. Persian Garden and the City

LECTURE 2
Persian Garden and the City
Image: 
Aerial
 
view
 of of 
Meybod
, Iran

1.1 Introduction
1.2
 
The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
Lecture 2: 
Persian Garden and the City
Image: Isfahan City, Iran
Image: Taj-Mahal, India
Image: Alhambra Gardens, Spain
Image: Folio from a Haft Awrang

5. Pavillon Garden
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Hasht-Behesht Garden
, Isfahan, Iran (built in 17th century)

1.2 THE INFLUENCE OF PERSIAN GARDEN ON THE CITY

The Persian Garden reflects the interaction of man and nature, taken to a level of near
 
perfection. These gardens illustrate the trends of garden development in a variety of cultural, political, and social aspects ever since the Achaemenids reign (550 BC–330 BC). This manifestation is even more prominent considering that, over the course of ages, it has been associated with significant cultural indicators such as poetry, philosophy, painting, music, calligraphy, symbolism, semeiology, sculpture, and carpet design. It also responds to the challenges of the extreme climatic and geographic conditions in the rather dry and harsh nature of this region. 
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Image: View of Isfahan in 19th Century

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Image: Plan of Safavid Isfahan in 17th Century

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Image: Planographia of Royal complex of Isfahan in 18th Century

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Image: Concept of courtyard

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
1. House
Image: Khosh-Nevis House, Isfahan, Iran, (built in 18th centurey)

3. Caravanserai
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Images: Caravanserai of mother of Shah Sultan Hussein, Isfahan, Iran (built in 18th century)

8. Street
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the City
Image: Reconstitution of Chahar-Bagh Avenue in 17th Century
Image: Chahar-Bagh Avenue in 19th century, Isfahan, Iran

Legacy
1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Images: From left to right and up to the bottom: The Homayoun Garden (Old Delhi, India), The Itimaud Daula (Agra, India), The Chehel-Sotouk Garden (Isfahan, Iran), The Taj Mahal Gardens (Agra, India)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Aerial view of Babur Garden, Afghanistan

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Images: Babur Garden, Afghanistan

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Plan of Babur Garden

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Images: From right to left and up to the bottom : The Hajat-Bakhsh Garden (Delhi, India), The Mahtab Garden (Delhi, India), The Ram Garden( Agra, India), The Shalimar Garden (Lahore, Pakistan), The Gardens of Sitora-i-Mohi-Hosa Palace (Boukara, Uzbakistan) 

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
CASE STUDY 1: BABUR GARDEN (AFGHANISTAN)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
CASE STUDY 2: TAJ MAHAL (INDIA)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
CASE STUDY 3: ALHAMBRA (SPAIN)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Court of the Myrthles in Gardens of the Alhambra, Granada, Spain (
built
 in 14th 
century
)

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Image: Plan of Gardens of the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

1.3 The Persian Garden beyond Iran
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The influence of Persian Garden on the urban fabric of Iranian cities
Court of the Lions in Gardens of the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

This lecture has:
Explained the importance of Persian Garden in the fabric of the Iranian cities;
Presented key characteristics of Persian Garden in different aspect of Iranian architecture, to offer an understanding of architectural and urban qualities of it;
Illustrated the architectural characteristics of case studies from different contexts and eras to show how important the relation with the Persian Garden is in cultures beyond Iran.
1.3 Case Studies 
1.4 Summary
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Persian Garden and its 
composing elements

Persian Garden and the City

The objective of this module of two lectures is to highlight, through a study on the gardens of the Iranian plateau and beyond, the existence of a relationship to gardens that is unique. These gardens are the structures to make any form of life possible. Thus, the garden becomes a model for making the city; a device capable of hosting all kinds of programs. These paradisiacal enclaves embody a unique architectural and urban configuration that, to a large extent, is an ideological, political, historical and climatic response to an environment in which life is constantly confronted with death and upholding of life is an exceptional gesture.

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The Persian Garden: Image of Paradise