•The tradition and style in
the garden design of
Persian gardens has
influenced the design of
gardens from Spain to
India and beyond.
•The Persian garden styles
follow the gardening styles
of Egypt.
•The local climate, high
walled structures, shady
trees, water streams and
fountains are the factors
which makes the Persian
garden a paradise on earth.
•The different styles of
Persian garden are Hayat,
Meidan, Chahar Bagh,
Park and Bagh.
WATER STREAMS
SHADY TREES
SUCH AS CYPRUS
•The Persian gardens are
planted with different
types of fruit, flower
trees, shrubs, shady
plants, etc.
• The irrigation canals are
also planted in the
gardens.
• The canals were planted
straight to provide water
to the plants which were
also planted straight
along the canals.
•The Persian garden style
spread eastwards to India
and westwards via Spain
with the spread of Islam
and by the Romans.
AMALGAMATION OF THE GARDENS
AND CANALS
Origin :
•Persian gardens originated in 4000 BCE.
• The decorated pottery of that time shows the typical cross plan of
the Persian gardens.
•This style is best seen in Cyrus the Great's garden which was built-in
around 500 BCE.
•
During the reign of Sassanids and under the influence of Zoroastrianism,
water was considered an important factor in the art of garden.
The greater emphasis was given on ponds and fountains in the garden.
During the Arab occupation, gardens were built by taking into
consideration aesthetic rules.
The best example of this is 'Chahar bagh', with four rivers and four
quadrants representing the world.
After 18th century, European Garden design began to influence Persia,
especially those of France, Russia and United Kingdom.
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RIVERS
History:
•These gardens are enclosed.
•The main purpose behind building
such gardens was to provide
relaxation in different manners such
as spiritual,
leisurely (e.g. meetings with
friends).
•“Pairi daeza” means enclosed space in
Persian language.
•This Christian mythology adopted this
term to describe
the Garden of Eden or paradise on
earth.
Garden of Eden
• The construction of garden may
have an emphasis either on
nature or on structure, however
the main thing this garden
should allow is maximization of
function.
•The Persian gardens were built
as a retreat from the harsh
landscape.
•These gardens are followed by
modern-day garden, from the
sanctuaries and hunting parks of
5th century B.C.,
19th century magical
nightingale gardens of Tehran,
etc.
• The Cyrus's garden had a
geometrical plan and stone
watercourses.
Cyrus's garden
Geometrical
plan
Water courses
•This style was widely used with the spread of
Islam, from Moorish gardens (Spain) to
Mughul gardens (India).
•In contrast with the European gardens of the
time the Persian gardens were very lavish.
These gardens consisted of herb plants around
monasteries.
• The gardens also had red and yellow
beautiful, colourful fruit plants in it.
• Bagh-e-Shahzadeh is one of the remaining few
persian garden. It has series of split level
fountains and it is full of tender beauty of
nature.
•The Persian gardens have influenced the
gardeners of Andalusia to India and other
countries also.
Bagh-e-Shahzadeh
Basic styles of Persian garden :
Hayat:
•This is the old classical Persian garden layout which
highly emphasizes on aesthetics.
•The grounds are covered with gravels flagged with stones.
•Planting is very simple. The trees are planted in a line
with a shade.
•The pools are the source of humidity in the surrounding
atmosphere.
•These gardens are mainly pool centred and structure
centred.
Meidan:
•This is a public, formal garden which emphasizes more
on biotic elements than structure.
•Here we see bedding plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, etc.
•In this garden also the elements like gravel pathways,
pools divide the lawns.
•The shade providing structures pavilions are also built.
Chahar Bagh:
•These gardens are formal and private.
•The garden structure mainly consists of four quadrants
divided by pathways and waterways.
•This garden has a balanced structure with proper
pathways and greenery or plants around the periphery of
the pool.
Park:
•These are casual parks used for public functions.
•These are full of various plants.
•Here we see pathways and seating but these gardens are limited in
terms of structural elements.
•The purpose of such gardens is relaxation and socialization.
Bagh:
•Like other casual gardens, it focuses on natural and green aspects
of nature.
•These gardens are often attached to houses consisting of trees,
lawns and ground plants.
•It gives less emphasis on waterways and pathways.
•The primary aim is familial relaxation.
Elements of Persian Gardens
•The important Persian garden elements are sunlight,
shade, water, buildings.
• These elements provide relaxation in different manners
such as spiritual, leisurely (e.g. meetings with friends)
etc. which is the primary aim of Persian garden which is
considered as a paradise on earth.
•The Persian gardens often connect internal yard gardens
with the surrounding outward gardens.
Sunlight :
The important factor to be
considered while designing the Persian
garden is sunlight and its effects in the
garden.
Architects arranged the samples and
forms from the rays of light to restrain
the sunlight.
The specific textures and shapes were
chosen by the experienced architects to
harness the light.
Shade:
The shade is also very important due to the dry
heat of Iran.
The Persian gardens includes trees, shrubs and
trellises which work as biotic shades to provide
protection from strong sunrays.
In these gardens we can see large number of big
shade trees, fruit and flower trees as well.
Walls and pavilions are also important in
blocking the harsh sunrays.
Mostly cypress trees are found .
Water:
In desert regions, there are many dry areas beside the many forests,
therefore water comes as the next important element in the Persian
garden.
The underground water canals are built on slopes to facilitate either
natural or the artificial flow of water (waterfalls).
It is assumed that this style of irrigation is thousand years old.
This style works in the best way and widely used even in modern
gardening styles.
For this purpose of moving water around the surface water systems.
Trees are planted in a ditch called a jub, to prevent water
evaporation and allow quick access of water to the tree roots.
JUB
(DITCH)
Buildings:
In many of the Persian gardens, buildings of splendour, brick works
and pavilions are seen.
Here we also get to see the different structural designs like royal
palaces, mansions, temples, etc.
Iranian architects used to build domes on square buildings very
skilfully.
These enhance the beauty of these gardens.
In Persian gardens, beautiful arches were constructed.
In front of many mansions and palaces of these gardens, the water
fountains were placed as the source of cool, peaceful atmosphere and
pleasure.
The beautiful types of glasses (e.g. stain glasses) were used for
windows and other glass works.
Characteristic features of Persian
gardens:
•The most important factor of Persian gardens is to build
shade type structures wherever necessary in the garden.
This helps to cope with hot climates and keep the
atmosphere cool.
•These gardens are closed and walled and have very little
association with the area outside these walls.
•The Persian gardens necessarily have a central water
feature or ponds as water is the soul of these gardens.
Fountains tend to be more of modern Persian garden
design. It is a best way save water and maintain with the
original design consisting of a water structure.
•The gardens have crisp colours and clean alignments.
Intricate mosaic tiles are occasionally used in these
gardens.
•The garden can be conservative, refined, formal or relaxed
and casual. The different garden designs serve different
purposes.
•Arches play an important role in Persian garden designs.
It shows typical Persian architectural theme. These arches
are made from stonework or sometimes wooden support
which can be made appear as original.
•Symmetry is very important in these designs. The
matching or mirroring elements can give enjoyment and
pleasure.
CASE STUDY
Fin Garden,Kashan
•It is also called as Bagh-e-Fin located in Kashan, Iran.
•It is a historical Persian garden. The garden might have its origin in
Safavid period.
•It was built near the village of Fin under the reign of Abbas I of Persia
(1571-1629).
•The area of garden is 2.3 hectares consisting of a main yard surrounded
with four circular towers.
•The fin garden is full of water features.
•There was a spring behind the garden on the hillside which was the main
source of water for this garden.
•In this place the water pressure was such that fountains and pools could
easily be constructed without the use of mechanical pumps.
•The garden contains many cypress trees
•The plan is a sophisticated charhar bagh with grids of canals and
paths.
•The canals are lined with blue-green tiles, a colour which contrasts
wonderfully with the desert outside the garden walls.
•At Fin, all the channels are lined, sides and bottom, with blue
faience tiles so that the very water seems bright and gay until it
flows into one of the larger pools, lined with great trees.