Bridges
of Iran
Introduction
After conducting an analysis of Iranian Bridges, it is apparent that these structures offer valuable services in both social mobility and creating spaces for Iranians to enjoy. While these structures offer beneficial connections from region to region, they are constructed with great detail and their intricacy is breathtaking. The following sources work to explain the influence that Iranian bridges have in the functioning of Iranian society, shared elements of structural identity and construction techniques, and the sheer beauty of bridges constructed throughout Iran.
Frode Bjorshol- Allahverdi Khan Bridge (April 13, 2012)
This photograph depicts Iranians taking advantage of the social spaces created by one of Iran's most prominent bridges, the Allahverdi Khan Bridge.
Dimensions: 640 x 425
https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/photo-day-under-bridge-isfahan
Dimensions: 640 x 425
Ali Khatami Firuz Abadi. “Ranking of Isfahan’s historical sites, from the viewpoint of Eastern European tourists, with usage of Adriadne Method.” Muṭāli̒āt-i Mudīriyyat-i Gardishgarī, vol. 6, no. 16, Allameh Tabataba’i University Press, Jan. 2012, pp. 143–62, doi:10.22054/TMS.2012.5094.
Western influence has had an undeniably widespread and visible influence on art across the world, but yet art historians mark Iranian art and architecture as remarkably unique and atypical, due to its devout ties to its historical antiquity. This article works to explain that Isfahan, Iran is a prominent historical attraction to Western tourists filled with various historical sites. In this article, the author ranks the various tourist attractions of Isfahan using the opinions of Eastern European tourists. Results indicated that the Allahverdi Khan bridge was the one of the most frequently selected attractions.
Akbari, Reza. “Accelerated Construction of Short Span Railroad Bridges in Iran.” Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, vol. 24, no. 1, American Society of Civil Engineers, Feb. 2019, p. 5018004–, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000396.
This article draws a comparison and distinctions between the three conventional methods used for accelerated bridge construction of railroad bridges in Iran. The three conventional construction methods include single-piece deck installation by heavy cranes, multisegment deck installation by cranes, and single-piece deck installation by the “roll-in” or sliding method. After analyzing the cases of the constructions of four bridges within Iran, results indicated that the use of the “roll-in” or “slide” method, as opposed to either variation of the installation by crane, can reduce the installation costs and both the duration and intensity of work significantly. This information contained in this article may be useful to someone interested judging the benefits of varying construction methods.
Faghih, Nasrine, and Amin Sadeghy. “Persian Gardens and Landscapes.” Architectural Design, vol. 82, no. 3, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, May 2012, pp. 38–51, doi:10.1002/ad.1403.
Bridges in Iran create social spaces for Iranians to enjoy everyday life and interact with one another. Among these spaces are gardens, yet the influence of gardens extends far past elements of leisure. This article works to explains how the gardens of ancient Persia are a testament to Iran's highly developed resourcefulness. Iran was able to not only source and direct water , but irrigate the land in a hostile environment. While the arid climate of Iran creates difficulties in balancing resources, the historical outline of Persian gardens by Nasrine Faghih and Amin Sadeghy showcase how gardens can offer valuable social influence.
Ghadimi, Nezammahalleh. “Construction of a Causeway Bridge across the Lake Urmia and its Influence on Drying Trend of the Lake." International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences., vol. XL-1-W5, Copernicus Publications, Dec. 2015, pp. 211–13, doi:10.5194/isprsarchives-XL-1-W5-211-2015.
This article focuses on the Lake Umia Bridge, Iran’s largest bridge. The article explains that the construction of the bridge on the Lake Urmia accelerated and dramatically effected the drying trend of the largest hyper-saline lake of the world. The article worked to investigate the differences of precipitation and river discharge before and after initiation of the construction of the bridge in 2000. and focused on the watershed of the lake. The study’s results indicated that for the most part, the precipitation differences in the two periods, before and after the bridge’s construction, are significant. This article argues that since there were little changes in precipitation and river discharge in the area across both periods, the drying may be caused mainly by hydrodynamic changes in the lake due to construction of the causeway.
Kleiss, Wolfram, and Dietrich Huff. “Bridges.” Encyclopedia Iranica, 15 Dec. 1989, www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bridges.
This article largely focuses on bridges from both the Pre-Islamic Era and during the Islamic Period. The author explains that there is little documentation of bridges during the Pre-Islamic Era limited his ability to define valid stylistic and technological features. As a result, the author confesses that it is nearly impossible to differentiate between Sassanian and Islamic Bridges. These structures were often built using cuts of stone blocks. Islamic bridges often feature rounded or pointed arches, giving light to the European influences on Islamic architecture.
Khosrow Bozorgi- Allahverdi Khan Bridge (1999)
This photographs stresses the ability of bridges to connect people to resources and social spaces. The Allahverdi Khan Bridge connected parts of the city where Muslims lived, to the Armenian quarters of Isfahan known as Julfa.
Dimensions: 3000 x 2016
https://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/50889
"Life Line 3: Water". 1976. Isfahan, Special Issue. (Cantacuzino, Sherban and Kenneth Browner, eds.). Architectural Review vol. 159, no.951, 289-291.
This article first articulates the importance and respect of water in Iranian towns, especially due to Iran’s arid climate. Traditionally, Islam holds water as a sacred element. This article described how water use practices have been influenced by a decline in religion. The article then transitions to comment on the Allahverdi Khan Bridge and how it works to connect people to resources. The Allahverdi Khan bridge was built under Abbas I soon after 1600, in order too link the city with the royal gardens of Hejar Jerib. The author states that the office of the Ministry of Culture has prepared a restoration project, but this plan is unpopular. Coordinating Commitees in Iran have worked to preserve the original construction and have also campaigned against the construction of the large Kourush Hotel, which takes away from the Bridge’s original beauty.
M.R. MehdiNezhad, E. AmirKolaee, H. Nikbakht, H.G. PateRoudi (2014). "Structural Identification of Bridges(Case Study: Mazandaran, Iran)" (PDF). ojceu.ir. Journal of Civil Engineering and Urbanism, Volume 4, Issue3.
This article stresses the influence of bridges and its argument extends much further than the previous article. The author argues that across history, bridges were not just merely mechanisms to connect two regions and its people, but are examples of and direct indications of “ability, ingenuity, creativity and the skill of human.” This article explores the connection between cities and commercial centers in Iranian architectural history, finding that the construction of the bridges in Iran are heavily influenced by river beds, ground strength and amount of water across it. The author notes several similarities across Iranian bridges in their structural identification. Specifically of bridges in Mazandaran, the author notes similar slopes, piers of stone, contours of brick and mortar of gypsum and lime. While these bridges are unique in their design, they exhibit many similar characteristics at face value.
Bridge Along Road to Hamadan- Marie-Thérèse Ullens de Schooten (1951 Ullens Collection)
This picture captures the along a road to Hamadan, one of Iran's oldest cities. While this bridge was constructed long before many of Iran's standing bridges, it still features many similar design elements of Iran's bridges today.
Dimensions: 1500 x 992
https://archnet.org/media_contents/143707
Soltani, Ali, and Samaneh Mozayeni. “Factors Affecting the Citizen's Trends to Use the Pedestrian Bridges in Iran.” Management Research and Practice, vol. 5, no. 4, Academy of Economic Studies - Research Center in Public Administration and Public Services, 2013, pp. 5–18.
Soltani’s and Mozayeni’s article, “Factors Affecting the Citizens’ Trends to Use the Pedestrian Bridges in Iran” measures the value of Iranian bridges in Iranian society and evaluates several factors that determine the frequency of bridge usage by pedestrians in the cities of both Tehran and Shiraz. Results from a survey of 200 Iranians indicated that that the most influential factor for pedestrians when deciding whether to make use of the bridges was the location of the crosswalk. Other influential factors that contributed to increased use of pedestrian bridges included the high speed of vehicles, age, and the accompaniment of a child. Insignificant relationships were noted with the variables of bridge security and socio-economic conditions.
Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh- Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge (2016)
This photographs highlights the beautiful, bright lights of the Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge during the night time.
Dimensions: 936 x 936
Yasaei, Sahar. "Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge."
This article centers on the Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, one of Iran’s most beautiful bridges when lit up at night. Despite its bright lights and modern appeal, the bridge still maintains a natural aesthetic due to the beauty of the surrounding forest. The bridge was constructed using concrete and steel links Abo Atash Park and Teleghani Park in Tehran. The bridge’s functions extend to create the area of Abbas Abad Lands, which covers 500 hectares of both cultural and leisure facilities, as well as dedicated green spaces, a refreshing change of pace from Tehran’s urban environment. Prior the bridge’s completion in 2014, pedestrians were not able to cross between the two parks, which were separated by a highway. The Tabiat, which means ‘nature’ Bridge, offers much more than a facilitator of transportation, but rather creates a designated social space for Iranians, offering amazing views of the parks, the city, and the surrounding mountains.
Leila Araghian from Diba Tensile Architecture- Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge (April 6, 2015)
This photograph captures the natural aesthetic and recreational functionality of the Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge.
https://photosiran.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/tabiat-nature-pedestrian-bridge-in-tehran-iran-by-leila-araghian-from-diba-tensile-architecture/tehran-iran-tabiat-pedestrian-bridge-12/