1. 4th International Congress of the Society of South Asian Archaeology Zahedan, Iran 15-17April 2012
Archaeological Sciences Research Centre (ASRC) University of Sistan and Baluchestan (USB)
175
Architecture and Environment:
Yakhchal Architecture an Iranian Traditional Architecture
Taghi Tavousi
Associate Professor, Department of Climatology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
Email:t_tavousi@yahoo.com
Davood Navabi Asl
Master Student in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Science and Research Branch
Islamic Azad University, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
Email:Davood.navabi@gmail.com
Yakhchal, which is a big hole, was used to kept ices for long. In the Persian dictionary of
Dehkhoda it means a pit and hallow indoor that was the filled whit ice during the winter.
This system, which was used until mid-1960’s, was a unique architecture in ancient Iran.
Yakhchal architecture is comprised two parts. The first section, which is an open area and
includes high walls with enough shadow and water canal, is called a workshop for ice
production. The second part, which consists of storage pits and ice’s shop, is of most
important section.
This article aims to examine human-environment interaction during the Islamic period in
Iran. The most important characteristic of this kind of architecture, which was mostly built
around the Lut Desert and Dasht-e-Kavir, was its common usage by different people; on the
other hand, it was a public building.
Keywords: Desert Architecture, Public Building, Ice, Environment, Iranian Architecture