Local and Vernacular Architecture

Dehdashti Edifice

The Editor·Photos: Sara Behzadi·Bushehr Special Issue

Aerial satellite view of old Bushehr with the Dehdashti Edifice location circled in red — Aerial view of old Bushehr — the Dehdashti Edifice circled in red, within the Kuti neighborhood

The Dehdashti Edifice is located in the Kuti neighborhood, within the old fabric of Bushehr. It was built at the request of Gholamhossein Dehdashti, an oil merchant who managed an extensive trade network with Britain, India, and Germany.

Unlike most old Bushehr edifices, which are two stories and rarely three, the Dehdashti Edifice was built in four stories — including one basement — and is of particular architectural importance.

Like other Bushehr edifices, the foundations and load-bearing walls, both interior and exterior, are made of coral stone, which is highly resistant to pressure and moisture and also provides good thermal and acoustic insulation. Coral stone was quarried from deposits near Bushehr, making it simple and inexpensive to transport. Gypsum mortar was used in the foundations and masonry, performing well in the hot and humid climate.

Interior gallery with stained glass windows and wooden canopy overhead — Gallery with stained glass lunettes and a wooden canopy above

Exterior alley view showing four stories with stained glass and wooden windows — The four-story facade from the alley — stained glass above every window

The doors and windows are made of teak and chandel wood, and the ceilings are constructed with sandal beams, reed matting, and wood paneling — lending a particular elegance and beauty to the interior. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, wood is also thermally well-suited: it transfers heat slowly and releases the heat it absorbs during the day with the night breeze.

Plaster frames with carved designs encase the doors and windows. The edifice has beautiful orosi (sash windows) with lattice work whose colored light softens the interior.

Three pointed-arch orosi windows with stained glass diamond patterns and historical photographs above — Pointed-arch orosi windows with diamond-patterned stained glass

Large orosi panel with intricate lattice work, stained glass diamonds, and plaster molding — A full orosi panel — lattice work, colored glass, and carved plaster molding

One of the distinctive features of this building is the painted ceiling of the reception room — an oil painting in the European style, which in turn demonstrates European influence on the art and architecture of Bushehr.

Reception room with an ornate painted ceiling in European style, glass display cases of the museum, and plasterwork walls — The reception room — a European-style painted ceiling above the museum displays and plasterwork walls

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The architecture of the city — based on narrow, winding alleys with tall buildings on either side — strengthens the flow of wind and breeze. The architecture of the building, with its numerous openings onto the alley, causes the average temperature and humidity level inside to be considerably lower than the outdoor environment.

On the exterior, like other old-fabric edifices, light colors have been used — absorbing less heat under the intense sun. Inside, a network of windows facing one another and facing the central courtyard create air circulation.

Upper floor gallery with three wooden doors, colorful stained glass lunettes above, and wooden louvered railing — The upper gallery — wooden doors with stained glass lunettes, and louvered railings for ventilation

The semi-open spaces surrounding the rooms, along with the tarme (gallery) and horizontal and vertical canopies, provide broader areas of shade.

Corner of the courtyard showing multiple stories, stairs, galleries and wooden balconies — A corner of the courtyard — stairs, galleries, and canopies across multiple stories

Architectural cross-section A-A of the Dehdashti Edifice showing four stories — Section A-A

Architectural cross-section B-B of the Dehdashti Edifice — Section B-B

Floor plan of the basement level — Basement plan

Floor plan of the ground level — Ground floor plan

Floor plan of the first floor — First floor plan

Floor plan of the second floor — Second floor plan

1. Many commercial documents have been found in this house, some with stamps dating back 200 years.

Memar Magazine

Iranian Bimonthly on Architecture and Urban Design · Issue 135 · October–November 2022

Iran Dehdashti Building Profile Memar 135 Vernacular Architecture Local Architecture Historic Texture Bushehr Restoration Persian Gulf

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