Kashan is a relatively well-preserved city where you see desert traditional architecture intact. There are a number of historical houses open to visitors, mainly along Alavi street, including :
Tabatabaei House
The Tabātabāei House is a historic house museum in Kashan, Iran. It was built around 1880, during the reign of the Qajar dynasty, for the affluent Tabātabāei family. It is one of the prominent historic houses of Kashan. The Tabātabāei House was designed by Ustad Ali Maryam, who later designed the nearby Borujerdi House, and it has been restored. It covers nearly 5,000 square meters and includes 40 rooms, four courtyards, four basements, three windcatchers, and gardens.[citation needed] It consists of the
biruni (“exterior”, the public area) and
andaruni (“interior”, the private quarters) features of Iran’s traditional residential architecture, and is decorated with stone reliefs, stucco, and stained glass.
Borujerdi House
The Borujerdi House is a historic house museum in Kashan, Iran. It was built in 1857 by architect Ustad Ali Maryam for the bride of Borujerdi, a wealthy merchant. The bride came from the affluent Tabātabāei family, for whom the architect had built the nearby Tabātabāei House several years earlier. The Borujerdi House consists of the
biruni (“exterior”, the public area) and
andaruni (“interior”, the private quarters) features of Iran’s traditional residential architecture, including a courtyard with a fountain pool and a two-story iwan (balcony). The main hall is topped by a
khishkhan, that is a type of central dome. Three 40-meter-tall windcatchers, two above the main hall and one over the entrance area, are also erected on the house. The house is decorated with stucco, glasswork, and mirror work, and features frescoes by prominent painter Kamal-ol-Molk.
Abbasian House
The Abbāsi House is a large historic house museum in Kashan, Iran. It was built during the late 18th century and belonged to a wealthy glass merchant. It is partly converted into a teahouse, a traditional restaurant, and a small shop. The Abbāsi House consists of several courtyards and multistorey buildings and is decorated with plaster reliefs, mirror-work, and stained glass. One of the chambers has a ceiling designed with mirror pieces so as to give the impression of a starry sky under the nocturnal glitter of candlelight. Secret passageways were also built into the house.
Ameri House
The Āmeri House is a large historic house in Kashan, Iran. It was originally built as a family residence during the reign of the Zand dynasty for Agha Āmeri, the governor of Kashan, and is now restored and transformed into a traditional-style hotel.
Like the other historic houses that are located nearby, the Āmeri House was damaged through earthquakes in the 18th century and was then rebuilt in the 19th century. he Āmeri House is a huge property of 9,000 square metres (97,000 sq ft). It contains dozens of rooms, two bathhouses, and seven courtyards with gardens and fountains. The main structure is made of brick. Mud and straw are used in the insulation. The inner spaces are decorated with gypsum and mirror works.
