Aghazadeh Historical House

The Aghazadeh House is one of the most distinctive historic houses in Iran and one of the most valuable works of Qajar-era architecture. It stands in the city of Abarkuh, Yazd Province, in the historic Darvazeh neighborhood, at Abargh Square. The house was built on the orders of Haj Seyyed Hossein Abarghuei, a well-known wealthy man of Abarkuh. With about 820 square meters of built area on a plot of roughly 1,500 square meters, it is an outstanding example of the ingenious architecture of desert regions. It was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 24 Bahman 1375 (Solar Hijri) under registration number 1838. Today, thanks to its unique windcatcher, it has become one of the symbols of traditional Iranian architecture, and its image even appears on the back of the 20,000-rial banknote. The use of local materials such as adobe, brick, wood and gypsum plaster, together with a design suited to the hot, dry climate, is among the most important features of this historic building.

On entering the house and passing through the entrance corridor, visitors find themselves in a pleasant central courtyard with a rectangular stone pool. Rooms are built along three sides of the courtyard to provide the best comfort for the residents in every season of the year. The southern room, with its "shekam-dorideh" (bulging-plan) layout and five doors, is the most important space in the house, and the building's famous windcatcher rises above this very hall. The two-story windcatcher of the Aghazadeh House is 18 meters high, covers 18 square meters and has 19 vents for regulating airflow. It is considered one of the engineering masterpieces of Iranian architecture and keeps providing natural ventilation even on days with little wind. Beside it, an octagonal kolah-farangi (belvedere) with muqarnas decoration and stained-glass windows channels natural light into the interior. The three-door and five-door rooms, the khishkhan (a cool summer room), the hand-dug basement, the orosi (sash) windows and the traditional ornamentation all add greatly to the architectural value of this house. Today, besides being a historic site to visit, the complex offers facilities such as a café, a restaurant, a traditional guesthouse, a parking lot and other tourist services, and it lies close to Abarkuh's other historic houses and the city's ancient cypress tree.

Getting to the Aghazadeh House is very easy. The building is located in the historic quarter of Abarkuh, in the Darvazeh neighborhood at Abargh Square. After arriving in the city, visitors can easily reach the complex by following the signs for the historic district. The best times to visit the Aghazadeh House are autumn, winter and early spring, when Abarkuh's desert climate is milder and visiting is more comfortable. Early morning or close to sunset is also the best time to photograph the magnificent windcatcher and the building's beautiful architecture. While visiting, keeping quiet, not touching the decorations, taking care of the historic parts and following cultural heritage conservation rules all play an important role in preserving this valuable monument for future generations.