Kabiri House

Kabiri House is one of the historic buildings of Khoy in West Azerbaijan Province. It stands in the central part of the old quarter of the city, on the north side of Amir Alley, off Ayatollah Taleghani Street. The house is named after its former owner, Haj Mir Esmail Kabiri, and was registered on Iran's National Heritage List on 5 Ordibehesht 1356 under registration number 1613. Sources give differing accounts of when the building was constructed, attributing it to the late Zand period and the early Qajar period; even so, a significant part of its decoration dates to the late Qajar period. Kabiri House sits within Khoy's historic quarter and today operates as a private museum, linking historical architecture with the display of cultural artifacts.

The house has two floors and a courtyard with two buildings, one on the northern side and one on the southern side. The main building is made of materials such as rubble stone, brick and adobe (mud brick). The exterior is finished with a straw-clay (kahgel) plaster, while the interiors are adorned with plasterwork and architectural decoration. The first floor has relatively simpler decoration, and its main hall features stucco reliefs. The second floor is more striking: it is decorated with colorful floral paintings, stucco work, and a beautiful seven-panel orosi (sash window) with stained glass and geometric latticework. In places, the walls have shelves and niches with simple muqarnas work, and the fireplace is decorated with floral paintings. The objects from various historical periods in the private museum of Kabiri House, together with the architecture and decoration of the building, add to the cultural and historical value of the complex, and the traditional teahouse-restaurant in the courtyard offers visitors a place to relax and have refreshments.

To reach Kabiri House, head to the old quarter of Khoy and Ayatollah Taleghani Street, then follow Amir Alley to Akhavan Dead End. The building is at No. 3 on the north side of the alley and has two entrances. Because the attraction lies in the urban fabric, a visit can easily be included in a historical tour of Khoy, alongside other historic buildings in the city center. Given Khoy's climate, spring and early autumn are the more suitable times for city walks and visits to historic buildings. During your visit, avoid touching or damaging the stucco work, paintings, the orosi window and other historic elements, and follow the museum's rules to help protect the building and its surroundings.