June 3, 2021 Inscriptions in Damghan museum Historical stone inscriptions were transferred to the Damghan History Museum in Semnan Province, said Damghan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts 5 Department, CHTN reported . Iranica Global registration of Sistan and Baluchestan windmills underway Iranica Desk weight of the milling machinery and wheel is exerted on the axis fforts are underway to reg- and rotates the millstones. Eister the windmills of Sistan The windmills are designed in and Balchestan Province in the such a way that winds encounter UNESCO World Heritage List, no obstacle to reaching them, as a announced the southeastern prov- result of this concern, windmills ince’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism are built on high elevations. To and Handicrafts Department. make optimal use of the wind, The deputy head of the depart- all the uniform windmills of a ment, Mansoureh Molla-Elahi, village or town used to be con- said “In recent months, the pro- centrated at a single location on cess of completing the file for the the highest spot of that area. An- global registration of the wind- other reason for this strategy re- mills across the province has ac- lated to the fact that since all the celerated, explaining that in the windmills were built as a com- latest attempts, aerial photography plex plant in a single area which of these valuable monuments has sometimes stretched over an area been on the agenda, chtn.ir re- of 1km wide, it acted as a barrier ported. against the annoying storms for The official from the prov- the nearby villages and towns. ince’s Cultural Heritage, Tour- Therefore, it served two useful ism and Handicrafts Department iranwonders.com iranwonders.com functions: Grinding grain and said there are seven windmills protecting the village and town (asbads in Persian) in the region, ule, the case of the Sistan and it, whc.unesco.org wrote. against storms. adding that the windmills of Baluchestan’s windmills will be Iranian architects’ smart utiliza- The two-story windmills de- Qal’e Rostam (Rostam Castle) sent to the central headquarters by tion of a natural threat i.e. strong signed horizontally had a vertical in the historical area of Howzdar, September of this year.” and annoying winds and rendering axis and the wood, mud, and brick the twin windmills of Qal’e Ros- Windmill or asbad is one of it to an exceptional opportunity were the main construction mate- tam, the small Machi Windmill, the most significant architectural for the production of a strategic rials. and others are among the wind- structures of Iran in its desert re- product like bread is not short of a In Iran’s Khorasan Razavi Prov- mills that the three provinces of gions which converts the kinetic miracle. ince, the millennium-old Nashtefan Sistan and Balchestan, Khorasan energy of air (wind) into other As a result of the abundant and Windmills are still in use. Razavi, and South Khorasan are forms of energy. free of charge energy of wind in Located on the arid and commonly pursuing the file for Asbad is a smart technique to parts of the eastern region of Iran, windswept plains of northeast- global registration. grind grains, a technique which one can see 40 windmills built ern Iran, the small village of Molla-Elahi added that the goes back to ancient times when side by side without any worry Nashtefan is keeping ancient monuments have already been un- the people living in the eastern that energy may one day run out. traditions alive amid the winds der restoration including strength- parts of Iran in an attempt to adapt During the 120 days winds of change. The town is home to ening the damaged parts, repairing themselves to nature and trans- period, winds pass through the some of the earliest windmills in brick decorations, applying thatch, form environmental obstacles into windcatcher openings and rotate the world, and the structures are etc., and according to the sched- opportunities managed to invent TASNIM NEWS AGENCY the wheels and vanes, the heavy- still in use today. TRAVELERS’ STORY Candy-colored domes dot this village on Iran’s Hormuz Island A country that will live long in your memories By Apochi Guest My wife and I visited Iran in April 2019 on a small group tour. As we’re from the UK, the Iran visa process was a little challenging but we were helped by an Iranian travel agent. Our trip took in a classic route that covered Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd, Persepolis, Eqlid [in the southern Fars Province], and Isfahan. We also stayed at a caravanserai and with a Qashqai family. Iran has a rich and detailed history. It has amazing architecture and artwork. The food is excellent and the scenery and landscapes are breath- taking. COURTESY OF ZAV ARCHITECTS But we found the real jewel in the Crown was the Iranian people themselves. We have traveled a fair bit but never experienced such friendship and welcoming as we did in Iran. Everywhere we went people would want to chat with us. Often sharing their food or offering to cook or share tea with you. It was a humbling and beautiful experience. If we get the chance we will definitely return to Iran only this time for longer and to expe- rience more of this wonderful country. COURTESY OF ZAV ARCHITECTS Source: apochi.com Along the coast of Hormuz Island, The domes themselves are built community. Their design and in the south of Iran, is a striking from stacked sandbags filled scale make it easy for both local visual: A string of brightly colored with nearby soil, sand, and grav- craftsmen and untrained workers domes, standing in stark contrast el, while the carpets are woven to participate in the construction. against the sandy gulf. with knots inspired by the vary- These domes were also de- This colorful architecture is en- ing ecologies of the island. signed to emulate already famil- titled “Presence in Hormuz.”. The Even the colors of the domes iar structures within the region in architects combined their appreci- are inspired by the local commu- order to make the construction COURTESY OF ZAV ARCHITECTS ation for the beauty of the Persian nity. process even more understand- Gulf with their desire to empower “The island has outstanding able. This project was about the local community, resulting in colorful surreal landscapes,” the more than just looking nice; it these beautifully colored urban architects explain, and the vi- was also about engaging the developments, travelawaits.com brant reds, greens, yellows, and members of the community and wrote. blues of the domes are meant to stimulating the local economy. The designs of these domes honor that. And while the cluster “Presence in Hormuz” is home are based on the “superadobe” of colorful domes is beautiful to dining, stores, laundry accom- technique of Iranian architect from the outside, the inside is no modations, prayer centers, and Nader Khalili. The architects different. The color schemes are even houses. By considering the wanted the buildings to feel at the same, and the walls and fur- community’s needs every step of one with the earth below, so they niture reflect the same energiz- the way, the architects ended up were inspired by nearby resourc- ing aesthetic. with beautiful and useful struc- es and the local topography. While they are visually stun- tures, serving as both a reflection The island influenced nearly ning, the main goal with these of the community and a resource COURTESY OF ZAV ARCHITECTS every detail of the construction. domes was to involve the local moving forward. apochi.com .