The southern part of the court is the freshest in summer. While descending ten paved steps one arrives in sardab, which formerly was the essential part of stay because of its very pleasant temperature, thanks to Badgir or wind's towers, effective air-conditioning system before the time.

A windcatcher (Persian: بادگیر Bâdgir) is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. Central Iran has a very large day-night temperature difference, ranging from very cold to extremely hot, and the air tends to be very dry all day long. Most buildings are constructed of very thick walls with extremely high insulation values. Furthermore, towns centered on desert oases tend to be packed very closely together with high walls and ceilings relative to Western architecture, maximizing shade at ground level. The heat of direct sunlight is minimized with small windows that do not face the sun.

The windcatcher is essentially a tall, capped tower with one face open at the top. This open side faces the prevailing wind, thus 'catching' it, and bringing it down the tower into the heart of the building to maintain air flow, thus cooling the interior of the building.Finally, in a windless environment or waterless house, a windcatcher functions as a solar chimney. It creates a pressure gradient which allows less dense hot air to travel upwards and escape out the top.

So effective has been the windcatcher in Persian architecture that it has been routinely used as a refrigerating device (yakhchal) for ages. Many traditional water reservoirs (ab anbars) are built with windcatchers that are capable of storing water at near freezing temperatures for months in summer.

The sardab has been transformed into a Zurkhaneh.

Zurkhaneh, (in Persian: زورخانه, literally "house of strength").The Iranian national sport, called Varzesh-e Pahlavani or Varzesh-e Bastani, is practiced in Zurkhane. Varzesh-e Bastani combines elements of the pre-Islamic Iranian culture with the spirituality of Sufism. It places emphasis on spiritual and moral purity, participants being expected to be truthful, and good tempered and only then strong in body.

The Zurkhaneh itself is an octagonal pit about 1m deep with a floor of clay soil in which athletes train for Pahlevan. In contrast to gymnastics practiced in the West, the exercises consist of team sports that combine tests of physical strength and flexibility, specific rituals, and respect for traditional moral and ethical rules. The game of Pahlevan changes to keep pace with the sound of a drum played by the morshed or guide, who is typically seated in an elevated position within the hall.

The Zurkhaneh is more than just a place dedicated to physical exercise. The zurkhaneh and Varzesh-e Pahlavani have their roots in pre-Islamic Iranian culture. After the Arab conquest, its practice became illegal for a time, and was seen as representing a form of cultural resistance. Over time, however, the pastime adapted to fit in with Islamic culture. In addition, certain moral qualities and values came to be associated with pahlevans such as courage, selflessness and above all faith and absolute loyalty to the Prophet and the Imams.

The Varzesh-e Bastani rituals mimic the rituals and traditions of Sufi orders, as evidenced by terminology like murshed "master" (beating the drum and reciting poetry). The ethics involved are also similar to Sufi ideals, emphasizing purity of heart. Every session begins with pious praise of Prophet and his family. In less religion-oriented Zurkhanehs, these elements are replaced by the recital of stories from Iranian mythology, such as those of the Shahnameh.The main part of a Varzesh-e Bastani session is dedicated to gymnastics notably using a pair of wooden clubs (mil) and metal shields (sang), and bow-shaped iron weights (kabadeh).

In the sardab of the house we have a complete collection of all these instruments as well as bermuda shorts, appropriate traditional outfit. The pictures on the wall represent epic scenes of the Shahnameh " the Book of the Kings" of Ferdowsi, whose certain specimens are exposed.

Calligraphies on the wall extracted from this Shahnameh contain the words : Rahgoshay and Bad !

The black and white stone parts like the samovar, the brazier, the various cuts or boxes, the sabres and the tabarzin of the dervish come from workshops of craftsmen and stone engravers of Mashhad.

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•  

BAHARKHAB

The rooms located above the sardab in front of a terrace with pillars are called Baharkhob.

A collection of vestiges of pottery of the area, with or without enamel, was classified and dated by an eminent Iranian archaeologist, Dr. Abdolhamid Rezaie as well as an approximately 2000 years old cranium of an young girl (approximately 20 years old) with all the characteristics of the Aryan race.

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•