Additional information
by Hossein Manoochehri (Author)
Naaein [Naa-een] is a historic city in central Iran. The historic cities of Iran, founded centuries ago, host many
features of the indigenous architecture of Iran. The indigenous ( or the clay) architecture of Iran is a unique
architectural genre characterized by the use of mud-bricks as well as dome-like roofs for the ceilings. Traditional
tiles and tile-works, furthermore, are used for the interior and exterior decorations of the buildings. Although
there are many historic cities in Iran, seven of them are selected in this series. They include: Kermaan City,
Kaashaan, Naaein (Naa-een), Shiraaz, Persepolis, Isfahaan City, and Yazd City. Volume III of this series
covers main indigenous, architectural features in the historic city of Naaein.
are present in this city, such as clay castles, Jam'a Mosque, wind-catching towers, baazaars, dome and arch
by mud-bricks, ground, water reservoirs, koochehes (narrow alleyways), and the qanat irrigation system. Because of a modernization process in Iran from about 1950s, however, the clay architecture in Iran, as well
as in Naaein, has been abandoned and historic buildings and structures have been demolished to be replaced
by apartment complexes and by modern buildings made up of metal skeleton and concrete blocks. The present
series seeks to collect images of the survived, architectural features in the historic cities of Iran before they are
completely wiped out in a modernization process. The revised edition of the Volume III of this series ( 2021), invites viewers to A Visual Journey To Naaein for a review of the samples of the clay ( or the indigenous ) architecture in this historic city. Noted architectural features in Naaein are displayed in this volume, including the dome-like roof, the traditional baazaar, the wind-catching towers, the clay, Naarin Castle of Naaein, a castle in the village of Mohammadieh, around 5 miles east of the city, and the clay Jam'a Mosque of Naaein (initial built date: c. A.D. 11th century) (cover page).
