Additional information requested and received from the State Party Golestan Palace ICOMOS sent a letter to the State Party on 18 September (Iran) 2012 requesting additional information with regard to the identification and exact boundaries of the property, the No 1422 justification of Outstanding Universal Value, further details in relation to the comparative analysis, integrity, ownership and the existence of a management plan. Following its World Heritage Panel discussion, ICOMOS sent a second letter to the State Party on 20 December 2012 requesting Official name as proposed by the State Party additional clarification regarding a possible expansion of Golestan Palace the buffer zone based on a visual impact study, the integration of the proposed or extended buffer zone into Location the Tehran Master Plan and the adoption of a site City of Tehran, Tehran Province management plan, including risk preparedness and Islamic Republic of Iran disaster management strategies. The State Party provided additional information in response to the questions raised Brief description in both letters on 29 October 2012 and on 28 February Golestan Palace is one of the oldest complexes in Tehran, 2013, which is included under the relevant sections below. originally built during the Safavid dynasty in the historic walled city. Following extensions and additions, it received Date of ICOMOS approval of this report its most characteristic features in the 19th century, when 6 March 2013 the palace complex was selected as the royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar ruling family. At present, Golestan Palace complex consists of eight key palace structures which surround the eponymous gardens and 2 The property are mostly used as museums. The complex exemplifies architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era Description including the introduction of European motifs and styles Golestan Palace is located in the heart and historic core of into Persian arts. Tehran. It consists of eight palace complexes arranged around the Golestan Garden, a green shared centre of the Category of property complex, and surrounded by an outer wall with gates. In terms of categories of cultural property set out in Golestan Palace was not only used as the governing base Article I of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, this is a of the Qajari Kings but also functioned as a recreational group of buildings. and residential compound and a centre of artistic th production in the 19 century. Through the latter activity, it became the source and centre of Qajari arts and 1 Basic data architecture. Key to the reason for the variety and amount of artistic production during Qajar rule was the personality of the ruler Naser ed-Din Shah, a talented artist himself Included in the Tentative List and predominantly the creator of the components of 9 August 2007 Golestan Palace which remain today. The eight key palace complexes which survive are Ayvān-e Takht-e International Assistance from the World Heritage Marmar, Talar-e Almas, Chador Khaneh, Imarat-e Badgir, Fund for preparing the Nomination Shams-ol Imareh, Imarat-e Brelian, Kakh-e Asli and Kakh- None e Abyaz. A selection of these shall be described in further detail. The nominated area is 5.3 ha and the buffer zone is Date received by the World Heritage Centre 26.2 ha. 30 January 2012 Ayvān-e Takht-e Marmar is the oldest remaining structure Background in the palace complex and dates back to the Zand This is a new nomination. dynasty. As the terrace which hosted many coronation ceremonies of rulers, its decoration was revised several Consultations times and it is now dominated by a marble throne built ICOMOS has consulted several independent experts. during the Qajari reign. Despite its Zand origin, the wall decorations changed so substantially that at present the Technical Evaluation Mission ayvān provides a rich reference to Qajari artistic An ICOMOS technical evaluation mission visited the production, including pictorial wall paintings and mosaic property from 16 to 19 September 2012. tile work. The two most admired buildings in the complex are the Shams-ol Imareh and Imarat-e Badgir. Shams-ol Imareh was based on Naser ed-Din Shah’s inspirations following 97 a journey to Central Europe. It represents the proportions, building, which has since been demolished, and a part of features and motifs of outwardly oriented European the governmental and administrative complexes of Kakh-e architecture and combines these with Persian architectural Asli were built (1864-1874); (4) the fourth phase in which language and layout. It is also the highest structure of the former palace of Fat’h Ali Shah was demolished and Golestan Palace and its two towers offer good views over replaced by gardens including pools, flowers and trees the townscape of Tehran and the mountains beyond. (1874-1879); and finally (5) the last phase which produced Imarat-e Badgir was built at the order of Fat’h Ali Shah the Talar-e Brelian and the Kakh-e Abyaz, the Prime and executed by local master builders. The name of the Minister’s Palace built in 1891. building refers to the fine and high wind towers adorned with geometrical patterns, which characterize the outer In the Pahlavi Period (1925-1979) Golestan Palace and silhouette and provide cool air in the interior halls during the historic Arg complex were subject to a number of the summer months. alterations. Several earlier buildings were removed to allow for the construction of the modern complexes of the Imarat-e Brelian combines a few luxurious chambers and Ministries of Finance and Justice, which still dominate the halls. Its interior decorations remain complete, including buffer zone. Many changes were catered to facilitate mirror works and chandeliers. The ceiling which is covered official state visits, such as the removal of a portal to allow by quadrangular mirrors creates vivid reflections in the for the car entrance of an Iraqi King or construction of a halls. Kakh-e Abyaz dates to the later years of Qajar rule new guest complex for the visit of Queen Elisabeth II. and illustrates the continued reception and adaptation of Unfortunately also, some of the most characteristic Qajari architectural elements from 18th century Europe. Originally buildings, such as the Takiyeh Dowlat were demolished. built as the Prime Minister’s Palace, which included a After the Islamic Revolution, the palace was preserved in storage facility for valuable state gifts received, it also its previous condition and responsibility for it was hosted the cabinet of ministers. It is nowadays open to the transferred to the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts public as a Museum of Anthropology. and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) in 1987. In the following decade efforts to restore most of the palaces History and development were undertaken and, one by one, the palaces were Golestan Palace is built on the first fortified core of the city made accessible to the public. At present most palaces of Tehran, the so-called Arg. In the Zand dynasty in the are used as museums, while a few remain storage and late 18th century, the Arg was expanded and the first office complexes. segment of Golestan Palace, an audience chamber named Divan Khaneh, was built, today’s Imarat-e Takht-e Marmar. When the Qajar family came to power in 1779, 3 Justification for inscription, integrity and Aqa Mohammad Khan (1742-1797) chose Tehran as his authenticity capital. Golestan became the palace and administrative centre, which required extension to accommodate the Comparative analysis various state functions. The comparative analysis compares Golestan Palace with other palace complexes, initially those which are of The Qajar expansion started with a new palace structure Qajari origin and located in Iran. A second section on the east-west axis of today’s garden, the Qsar-e compares a variety of other palace complexes, including Golestan, which no longer exists. Construction works several inscribed on the World Heritage List as well as continued during the rule of Fat’h Ali Shah (1797-1834), some which may have been sources of inspiration for who not only completed all constructions started by his the integration of European motifs in Golestan Palace. predecessor but also initiated the creation of Talar-e Almas in 1801. His successor Mohammad Shah was not Among the Qajari palaces compared are Kakh-e very active in the creation of architectural legacies. The Negarestan Palace and Garden in Tehran, Kakh-e most characteristic palaces in Golestan date back to the Saheb Qaranieh Palace and Garden, Niavaran, Kakh-e subsequent reign of Naser ed-Din Shah (1848-1896). Masuodieh Palace and Garden in Dowlat neighbourhood These include the Imarat-e Badgir, already begun under of Tehran, Eshrat Abad Palace and Garden north east of Fat’h Ali Shah, the Shams-ol Imareh and the Kakh-e Asli. Tehran Hisar, Lalezar Garden and Palace north of At the same time the Arg Castle was renovated, the Divan Tehran outside the Hisar-e Tahmasbi and Shahrestanak Khaneh expanded and the Arg Square restored. Palace and Garden, Sorkhe Hisar (Qasr-e Yaqut). It should be noted that this comparison also includes Apart from the construction of these key buildings the palace structures which no longer exist, as it aims to Golestan Palace complex expanded generally with the illustrate that Golestan was the most exceptional addition of new structures in all directions of the garden. complex of Qajari arts and architecture ever created and Naser ed-Din Shah’s construction activities are often