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Tabatabaei House - Kashan

Tabatabaei House is a traditional Iranian house or khane located beside the mausoleum of Sultan Amir Ahmad in Kashan. The city itself is known for having many historical houses but Tabatabaei House is one of the best in the city. 
Ustad Ali Maryam designed this house who was also responsible for the construction of the Borujerdis House. This house was built around 1840 for Seyyed Jafar Tabatabaei. Tabatabaei family had very successful carpet business in Kashan and they spent their fortune to build this beautiful house. 
This house is close to 5000 square meters thus making it one of the largest in Kashan. Tabatabaei House has 40 rooms,4 courtyards,3 Badgirs and basements. The Winter rooms are right beside the ticket office, these rooms have low ceiling in order to heat them easily. There is a central courtyard of the Tabatabaei House with the twin pools in the middle.

Entrance of the Tabatabaei House
Entrance of the Tabatabaei House
Main door of the Tabatabaei House bearing a plaque with it's name
Main door of the Tabatabaei House bearing a plaque with it's name
This section of this historical house was being used as the ticket office
From the ticket office, stairs lead to upper areas of the house but access was closed for the visitors
A model of Tabatabaei House - Kashan
Winter rooms start right beside the ticket office
A central courtayard of the Tabatabaei House with the twin pools in the middle
Adorned walls of the Tabatabaei House
Ceiling of the portico in front of the central pool
Ceiling of the portico in front of the central pool
Beautiful interior of the Tabatabaei House which incluse the work of stained glass windows
Interior of the Tabatabaei House
Interior of the Tabatabaei House
A decorated ceiling in one of the rooms
A decorated ceiling in one of the rooms
Open area beside the wintry rooms
Details of the art work on the walls of the Tabatabaei House
Details of the art work on the walls of the Tabatabaei House
Tabatabaei House has 40 rooms in total
Tabatabaei House has 40 rooms in total

 

Summer rooms of the Tabatabaei House have high ceilings to allow more light and air into the building. Basement was used for the storage of the food because temperature was lower here as compared to the other parts of the house. Stairs lead to the first floor of the house where stables are located. May be a ramp was used to bring the animals here.

These rooms have high roofs to allow more light into the house
This part of the house has open roof and rooms are built around it
This part of the house has open roof and rooms are built around it
Summer rooms of the Tabatabaei House
Summer rooms of the Tabatabaei House
Stables are built on the first floor of the house
This door was locked probably this is from where horses were brought in
This door was locked probably this is from where horses were brought in
Interior of the stables
Interior of the stables
Stables of Tabatabaei House
Stables of Tabatabaei House
A sideview of the courtyard - this house has four courtyards in total
A sideview of the courtyard - this house has four courtyards in total
Basement of the house
Basement of the house
Walls beisde the stairs leading into the basement - graffiti is visible on the mud walls
A wall beside the stairs leading into the basement - graffiti is visible on the mud walls
Basement (storage area) of the Tabatabaei House
Basement (storage area) of the Tabatabaei House
Toilet were very basics in those days, probably water was brought here in mashkeezas (jugs)
Toilet were very basics in those days, probably water was brought here in mashkeezas (jugs)
A wooden support for one of the mud walls in the courtyard
A wooden support for one of the mud walls in the courtyard
A pleasant looking green space inside the Tabatabaei House
A pleasant looking green space inside the Tabatabaei House
This room was used for the prayers, locally it is known as Namaz Khane
This room was used for the prayers, locally it is known as Namaz Khane

 

Repair work was being carried out when I visited this house. Mud (clay) was a preferred material because it doesn’t heat up that quickly in the summer heat. This house has been renovated in the past but due to it’s large size repairs are carried out from time to time.

One of the two pools of the house
One of the two pools of the house
Facade of the Tabatabaei House
Facade of the Tabatabaei House
Repair work was being carried out with mud
Repair work was being carried out with mud
Workers are carrying out renovation work in one of the courtyards of the house
Workers are carrying out renovation work in one of the courtyards of the house
Recently restored parts of the house
Recently restored parts of the house
These stairs lead to the badgir (wind catcher)
These stairs lead to the badgir (wind catcher)
Badgirs catch air and then circulate it through the house
Badgirs catch air and then circulate it through the house
Two badgirs are seen beside the main facade
Two badgirs are seen beside the main facade
This is the central garden of the house
This is the central garden of the house
It was the winter season so there was very little activity in the garden
It was the winter season so there was very little activity in the garden