Tabatabaei House in Kashan: History and Architecture
Courtyards, colored glass and a windcatcher cellar
Enter Tabatabaei House in Kashan through a series of passageways that lead to a sunken courtyard. From the pool, the tall south porch frames the main reception hall. The smaller courts and cellar show how a merchant household used shade and air movement in Kashan’s dry climate.
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History and Owners
The house belonged to the Tabatabaei family, who made their living in the carpet trade. Iran’s tourism portal identifies Ali Maryam Kashani as the architect and also associates him with the nearby Borujerdi House.
Kashan’s heritage office dates the building to 1298 AH (1880–81), based on inscriptions in the reception hall. The house stands in the Sultan Amir Ahmad neighborhood.
Architecture and Design
Begin in the main courtyard. Compare the shallow arcades on the east and west sides with the taller south front. Fine colored plasterwork runs over the walls and ceiling of the columned porch.
Iran’s tourism portal counts four courtyards in the complex. The local heritage office describes two connected houses, one organized around the large reception court and the other around a smaller private court.
The north side of the main court has a broad raised terrace, or mahtabi. The heritage office’s architectural description explains that it connects at the rear to a hall in the adjoining house. Two entrance vestibules flank this terrace, with one leading towards the other courtyard. This part of the plan links the two residential units.
Under the raised terrace on the north side is a large cellar with a central space and rooms around it. The house also uses windcatchers to move air into lower rooms. In the smaller house, look for the panj-dari, a room with five openings onto its courtyard.
The main reception hall, or shah neshin, sits behind the south porch. Look for colored glazing and patterned plaster across the ceiling. Two smaller courts beside the hall bring daylight into it from the sides, and each has an octagonal pool.
Access and Levels
Use the map above to locate the street entrance. The main courtyard sits below it, and the cellar is on a lower level. If steps are a concern, ask staff which parts of the route you can reach before you enter.
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Final Word
Set aside time to compare Tabatabaei House with Borujerdi House nearby. At Tabatabaei, start at the courtyard pool and follow the sightline through the south porch to the reception hall.
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