In traditional

Persian architecture Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (Persian: معمارى ایرانی, ''Memāri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC w ...

, a howz ( fa, حوض) is a centrally positioned symmetrical axis

pool Pool may refer to: Water pool * Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming * Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings * Tide pool, a rocky pool ...

. If in a traditional house or private courtyard, it is used for bathing, aesthetics or both. If in a

sahn A ''sahn'' ( ar, صَحْن, '), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture, especially the formal courtyard of a mosque. Most traditional mosques have a large central ''sahn'', which is surrounded by a ''Riwaq (arcade), riwaq'' or arcade (architect ...

of a mosque, it is used for performing ablutions. A howz is usually around deep. It may be used as a "theatre" for people to sit on all sides of the pool while others entertain. Howz is a feature of the

Persian gardens The tradition and style of garden design represented by Persian gardens or Iranian gardens ( fa, باغ ایرانی), an example of the paradise garden, has influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India and beyond. The gardens of the A ...

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Image:Howz.jpg, A small howz in a

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

shaped in the traditional form of two squares, one rotated 45 degrees File:Small-isfahan.jpg, Small howz in

Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...

File:حوض حمام.jpg, A howz in the historical

bath house Public baths originated when most people in population centers did not have access to private bathing facilities. Though termed "public", they have often been restricted according to gender, religious affiliation, personal membership, and other cr ...

Arg of Karim Khan The Arg of Karim Khan ( fa, ارگ کریم خان, ''Arg-e Karim Khān'') or Karim Khan Citadel, is a citadel located in downtown Shiraz, Iran. It was built as part of a complex during the Zand dynasty. It is named after Karim Khan, and served a ...

File:Soltan amir bath house3.jpg, Howz in Soltan Amir Ahmad Bath House,

Kashan Kashan ( fa, ; Qashan; Cassan; also romanized as Kāshān) is a city in the northern part of Isfahan province, Iran. At the 2017 census, its population was 396,987 in 90,828 families. Some etymologists argue that the city name comes from ...

, Iran File:Chaikhaneh (4268013549).jpg, A howz in an historical underground

teahouse A teahouse (mainly Asia) or tearoom (also tea room) is an establishment which primarily serves tea and other light refreshments. A tea room may be a room set aside in a hotel especially for serving afternoon tea, or may be an establishment whic ...

(''chaikhaneh'') in

Yazd Yazd ( fa, یزد ), formerly also known as Yezd, is the capital of Yazd Province, Iran. The city is located southeast of Isfahan. At the 2016 census, the population was 1,138,533. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is recognized as a Worl ...

File:Shiraz Botanical Garden.jpg, Howz of the

Eram Garden Eram Garden ( fa, باغ ارم, ''Bāgh-e Eram'') is a historic Persian garden in Shiraz, Iran. The garden, and the building within it, are located at the northern shore of the Khoshk River in the Fars province. History It is unclear when cons ...

File:صحن خانه مستوفی2.JPG, The howz in courtyard of Mostowfi House File:خانه آقازاده ابرکوه (6).JPG, A big rectangular howz in a traditional Iranian house File:Hayat-howz Khuneh Lari Yazd.jpg, Howz of the Khaneh Lari,

File:حوض باغ پارک مرزیان ، گاپله ، شهرستان ازنا.jpg, An asymmetrical empty howz

References

Mosque architecture Architecture in Iran Arabic architecture Fountains Islamic gardens Islamic architectural elements Persian gardens Persian words and phrases Iranian inventions Passive cooling Passive ventilation {{Iran-stub

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References