Volume 2, Issue 1 (2012)
Naqshejahan 2012, 2(1): 43-54 |
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Mahdavinejad M, Bemanian M, Mashayekhi M. Asbads; the Oldest Windmills of the World. Naqshejahan 2012; 2 (1) :43-54
URL: http://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-11217-en.html
URL: http://bsnt.modares.ac.ir/article-2-11217-en.html
1- Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3- M.A, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3- M.A, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (9644 Views)
Asbads are a type of windmill with vertical axis which are considered as the oldest windmills in the world. These mills have been constructed in pre-Islamic eras in Sistan and southern part of Khorasan. From a long time ago, Sistan has been considered as the Iran’s store of wheat. Climate and appropriate soil along with the water of big Hirmand River have provided an appropriate situation for agricultural farms and particularly for wheat. As said, Sistan had been known as a wheat store of Iran. 120-day wind of Sistan is a natural feature of Sistan region. In this region, in the second half of warm season, when wheat is being harvested, vigorous winds start to blow. All of these characteristics provide the situation for constructing the Asbads which are considered as a great innovative production. In this regard there are different evidences which show that the oldest windmills are built at the east of Iran and in Sistan area. Main building of Asbad includes a two-storey building in which upper storey is usually open-ended. Moreover half of the building which is subjected to the wind is constructed completely open and the other half is completely enclosed. The part which is behind the wind side is also entirely open. Asbads have had an important role in past people’s livelihood and also is a sample of combination of traditional architecture with the needs of ecology which is considered as eco-friendly energy. Regarding to the Asbads’ unique characteristic, functional and esthetics features, recognizing them is of special importance. The concern in this research is to know how many groups traditional windmills or Asbads in Sistan are divided to, where they spread in Iran and what are the different types of them? More of the Asbads of Iran have been located in east and south-east of Iran where valuable winds blow during the whole year. Different types of 120-day winds blow in north of Sistan and south of Khorasan in second half of warm season. Asbads with traditional and domestic style provide opportunity for residents to utilize renewable energies. Different types of Asbads have spread all over “big Sistan” which are constructed differently according to the circumstances and ability of residents. Due to this fact, some of them have simple and rural forms and the others are more complicated. However, their functions are the same but their sizes and their efficiencies are different. Studies show that we can break Asbads down into the three groups such as simple Asbads, cylinder Asbads and corridor ones.
Received: 2012/01/14 | Accepted: 2012/02/15 | Published: 2012/09/21
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