In traditional Persian architecture, a kucheh or koocheh ( fa, کوچه), is a narrow especially designed alley.Fallāḥʹfar, Saʻīd (). ''The Dictionary of Iranian Traditional Architectural Terms (Farhang-i vāzhahʹhā-yi miʻmārī-i sunnatī-i Īrān )''. Kamyab Publications (). Kāvushʹpardāz. 2000, 2010. Tehran. US Library of Congress LCCN Permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/2010342544 pp.182 Remnants of it are still seen in modern Iran and regional countries. Before modernization, Persia's old city fabric was composed of these narrow winding streets, often made with high walls of

adobe Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for ''mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of e ...

and

brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...

, and often roofed at intervals. This form of urban design, which was commonplace in Persia, is an optimal form of desert architecture that minimizes desert expansion and the effects of dust storms. It also maximizes daytime shading, and insulates the “fabric” from severe winter temperatures. Image:Architecture58.JPG, An example of how Kuchehs were roofed. Sometimes, such as in Isfahan, the kucheh was roofed for much of its span. This example is in Nain. File:کوچه باغ.jpg, A Kuche-Bagh (Kucheh + garden) in

Najaf abad Najafabad ( fa, نجف‌آباد, also Romanized as Najafābād) is a city and capital of Najafabad County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 293,275, in 90,158 families. It is located west of Isfahan and is increa ...

. Image:Koocheh Amerian House.jpg, The high walls of the Koocheh provided relief from dust storms and intense sunlight. This was an efficient and ancient form of urban design in Persia. Image:Kucheh yazd.jpg, A Kucheh in Yazd

References

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