Persian Garden

AMITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND
PLANNING
Topic :
Persian garden
Course name and code:
Landscape architecture (ARCH410)
Submitted by:
Mahima chawla
B. Arch ,7th semester
Enrollment no.: A8304019006
Introduction (Garden)
• Garden has been defined as ‘the purest of human pleasures and the
greatest refreshment to the spirits of man’ (Bacon 1883).
• According to Hunt, gardens are “concentrated or perfected forms of
place-making’ (Hunt 2000).
• Garden is also perceived as a symbolic site, resulting from the
human’s attempts to materialize Eden on the earth (Alon-Mozes 2004).
• In the Greek text of the Bible, a garden has been expressed as a
“paradise”.
• In Hebrew “Eden” is translated to an unidentified region or country.
• In Persian literature, the word garden “pardis” derives from the word
“paridaiza” which literally means “walled garden“ and it has been
summed up as a luminous and perfumed place, populated by a number
of angelical and beautiful creatures (Babaie 1997).
Persian
garden
• Persian gardens were designed with a sacred Geometry
representing and illustrating a union Of mortal/material
world and the eternal universe.
• The geometric structure can be considered as one of the

most prominent features of Persian gardens.
• The initial structure of Persian gardens was based on a

geometrical quadripartite division with a pavilion in its
intersection.
• The general idea of this formation was based on the pre-

Islamic Iranian division of the earth into four quarters,
which may have been inspired by the geometrical motifs
of Mesopotamia and Sindh Valley civilizations
• The Persian gardens were created as a model of paradise.
• Greater part of Persia was arid, lacking water and vegetation.
• The concept of Persian garden was definitely paradise like, fertile and rich with
fruits and flowers in contrast to the draught, heat and sun outside.
• It had order and tranquility.
• It can be identified as a place where one could sit in shade and relax, enjoy the
sounds of the birds, water flow and fragrance of flowers.
During the Islamic period, the geometric quartered
pattern of Persian gardens became more reinforced
by the belief of four heavenly streams; as it was
similar to the image of the heaven in the Quran
Therefore, the general pattern of most Persian

gardens consisted of a rectangular space which is
quartered by intersecting streams and pathways.
The common irrigation system of the time has been

known as another effective factor in the formation of
geometric garden structure besides the impact of
Persian beliefs and morals.
Persian gardens architecture and
components and elements
• Through a superficial view, the structure of Persian gardens seems to be unsophisticated; however excavating the layers of meaning
concealed behind this simplicity, demonstrates a careful representation of meanings, culture and identity. The following sections will
address the common components and design elements/strategies that have been utilized in Persian gardens.
• The important Persian garden elements are sunlight, shade, water, buildings.
• These elements provide relaxation in different manners such as spiritual, leisurely (e. g. meetings with friends) etc. which is the
primary aim of Persian garden which is considered as a paradise on earth. The Persian gardens often connect internal yard gardens,
with the surrounding outward gardens.
Geometric structure
Most gardens have rectangular

Unlike western gardens, the
A careful review of Persian plans and have been divided into
geometric structure of Persian
gardens reveals that despite the square or pseudo-square shapes,
gardens does not follow the
small differences, gardens mostly possibly, for the ease of
perspective principles rather were
follow the same structure in their determining the distance between
mostly based on creating unity
location of components. garden components and the exact
and integrity
placement of greeneries.
Irrigation and fountains network
• Considering the Persian garden as an image of the paradise on earth, the water with its scarcity and limitation
have been a sacred and precious element in the ancient Persia. The presence of water in Persian gardens has a
dual application; a functional application of irrigation besides an ornamental and aesthetic purpose.
• Therefore, the pattern of chahar - bagh is usually defined with the intersected water channels or streams. The
streams usually had a sufficient slope to enable the irrigation system required for the garden
• The water coming from far distances into the water channels had a significant impact on the design of gardens;
to the extent of the claim that the structure of gardens has been shaped according to the irrigation system
• Other than water channels, the front space of the pavilion was usually dedicated to a pond or large pool to reflect
the image of the building and sky connecting the realm of the earthly to the heavenly.
The Entrance
• In line with the concept of introversion as an
Iranian/Islamic approach to design, gardens
were surrounded by non-transparent walls.
Through this inaccessible surface or
boundary, defining the point of entrance
becomes important. Usually the entrance has
a lintel , sometimes in the form of a building
or viewpoint. The entrance is usually located
close to one of the axes which connects the
entrance to the edifice.
The streets or footpath networks of Persian gardens
were always perpendicular straight lines and coincident
with the garden axes.
The intersection of these main footpaths usually defines

the placement of the pavilion and pool, which were
Straight located on the main longitudinal axis of the garden.
network These straight networks surrounded by tall trees were

able to provide a desirable perspective, defining the
path from the entrance to the pavilion.
These networks also facilitated the access to the plots of

vegetation.
• Pavilions in Persian gardens are extroverted
structures usually located at the intersection of
axes with several viewpoints to the garden.
Pavilions are the edifices where the residents or
Pavilion visitors live in and enjoy the garden. There is
usually a pathway guiding the user from the
entrance to the pavilion .The location of the
pavilion could split the garden into two to four
directions.

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AMITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND

• The geometric structure can be considered as one of the

• The initial structure of Persian gardens was based on a

• The general idea of this formation was based on the pre-

Therefore, the general pattern of most Persian

The common irrigation system of the time has been

Most gardens have rectangular

The intersection of these main footpaths usually defines

Straight located on the main longitudinal axis of the garden.

network These straight networks surrounded by tall trees were

These networks also facilitated the access to the plots of

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