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Golestan Palace

Golestan Palace

The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the Qajar era, embodying the successful integration of earlier Persian crafts and architecture with Western influences. The walled Palace, one of the oldest groups of buildings in Teheran, became the seat of government of the Qajar family, which came into power in 1779 and made Teheran the capital of the country. Built around a garden featuring pools as well as planted areas, the Palace’s most characteristic features and rich ornaments date from the 19th century. It became a centre of Qajari arts and architecture of which it is an outstanding example and has remained a source of inspiration for Iranian artists and architects to this day. It represents a new style incorporating traditional Persian arts and crafts and elements of 18th century architecture and technology.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Palais du Golestan

Le somptueux palais du Golestan est un chef d’œuvre de l’ère kadjare qui illustre l’introduction réussie d’artisanats persans traditionnels et de formes architecturales de périodes antérieures avec des influences occidentales. Le palais ceint de murs, l’un des plus anciens ensembles de Téhéran, fut choisi comme siège du gouvernement par la famille dirigeante kadjare, arrivée au pouvoir en 1779, qui fit de Téhéran la capitale du pays. Construit autour d’un jardin composé de bassins et de zones plantées, il fut doté de ses éléments les plus caractéristiques et de ses ornements au 19e siècle. Devenu un centre des arts et de l’architecture kadjars dont il est un témoignage unique, il est demeuré jusqu’à aujourd’hui une source d’inspiration pour les artistes et les architectes iraniens. Il incarne un nouveau style  combinant les arts et l’artisanat persans traditionnels et des éléments de l’architecture et de la technologie européennes du 18e siècle.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Palacio de Golestán

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

ゴレスターン宮殿
近世イラン最高水準の建築と工芸を誇る宮殿。テヘランにあるゴレスターン宮殿は、18世紀末から20世紀初頭にかけてのカジャール朝の宮殿。18世紀の建築と技術に、伝統的なペルシャ工芸、さらに西洋的な要素を加えて巧みに集成し、当時のイランに新しい様式をもたらした。周壁に囲まれたこれらの宮殿は、テヘランで最古期の建築群であり、カジャール朝の政庁としても利用された。池と植栽を特徴とする庭園の周囲に並ぶ建物群の装飾は、19世紀の製作。贅を尽くした宮殿は、今日のイランにおける技術者や建築家の創作意欲の源泉となっている。

source: NFUAJ

Golestan paleis

Het weelderige Golestan paleis is een meesterwerk uit het Qajaren tijdperk. Het toont de succesvolle integratie van vroegere Perzische kunstnijverheid en architectuur met Westerse invloeden. Golestan is gebouwd rond een tuin met zwembaden en plantgebieden en vormt een van de oudste groepen gebouwen in Teheran. Het ommuurde paleis werd de regeringszetel van de familie Qajar, die in 1779 aan de macht kwam en Teheran tot de hoofdstad maakte. De meest karakteristieke kenmerken en ornamenten dateren uit de 19e eeuw. Het paleis werd een centrum van Qajari kunst en architectuur en is tot op de dag van vandaag een bron van inspiratie voor Iraanse kunstenaars en architecten.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Golestan Palace is located in the heart and historic core of Tehran. The palace complex is one of the oldest in Tehran, originally built during the Safavid dynasty in the historic walled city. Following extensions and additions, it received its most characteristic features in the 19th century, when the palace complex was selected as the royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar ruling family. At present, Golestan Palace complex consists of eight key palace structures mostly used as museums and the eponymous gardens, a green shared centre of the complex, surrounded by an outer wall with gates.

The complex exemplifies architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era including the introduction of European motifs and styles into Persian arts. It was not only used as the governing base of the Qajari Kings but also functioned as a recreational and residential compound and a centre of artistic production in the 19th century. Through the latter activity, it became the source and centre of Qajari arts and architecture.

Golestan Palace represents a unique and rich testimony of the architectural language and decorative art during the Qajar era represented mostly in the legacy of Naser ed-Din Shah. It reflects artistic inspirations of European origin as the earliest representations of synthesized European and Persian style, which became so characteristic of Iranian art and architecture in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As such, parts of the palace complex can be seen as the origins of the modern Iranian artistic movement.

Criterion (ii): The complex of Golestan Palace represents an important example of the merging of Persian arts and architecture with European styles and motifs and the adaptation of European building technologies, such as the use of cast iron for load bearing, in Persia. As such Golestan Palace can be considered an exceptional example of an east-west synthesis in monumental arts, architectural layout and building technology, which has become a source of inspiration for modern Iranian artists and architects.

Criterion (iii): Golestan Palace contains the most complete representation of Qajari artistic and architectural production and bears witness to the centre of power and arts at the time. Hence, it is recognized as an exceptional testimony to the Qajari Era.

Criterion (iv): Golestan Palace is a prime example of the arts and architecture in a significant period in Persia, throughout the 19th century when the society was subject to processes of modernization. The influential role of artistic and architectural values of ancient Persia as well as the contemporary impacts of the West on the arts and architecture were integrated into a new type of arts and architecture in a significant transitional period.

Integrity

The delimitation of the palace compound includes all elements which convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. Although the Qajari architectural heritage of Golestan Palace has been much richer in the past and a considerable proportion of the palace complex has been demolished and replaced under successive rulers, all elements which have survived until the present time are included within the property boundaries.

At present the property is free of any acute threats, especially those which could compromise the visual perspectives into the wider landscape from within the palace compound. To ensure that this situation is retained in the future, emphasis should be given to the protection of visual perspectives from the inside of Golestan Palace and Gardens.

Authenticity

The characteristic architectural structures of the Qajari era retain authenticity in design and layout and have preserved the exceptional interior and exterior façade decorations. All conservation activities carried out have paid due respect to authenticity of material, design and workmanship. In addition, the palace complex has partly retained its use and function, in particular those galleries and wings that were created as museums during Qajari times. Many of the residential, representative and administrative rooms have changed purpose but the palace is still used as a location for contemporary state activities. It is probably the setting of the Qajari monuments that has changed most significantly during Pahlavi times and the authenticity of which is only retained in fragmented form. While this situation is acceptable in light of the demonstrated authenticity in material and design, it is essential that all remaining references to the historic Qajari setting of the property are carefully managed and preserved.

Protection and Management requirements

Golestan Palace is classified as a national monument according to the Law for Protection of National Heritage (1930). It has further been transferred into government ownership according to the Law Concerning the Acquisition of Land, Building and Premises for Protection of Historic Properties (1969) and is accordingly protected by both legislative means and property ownership. The buffer zone is protected by legal regulations, which were approved by ICHHTO. These limit construction and infrastructure developments, the cutting of trees, create a pedestrian zone and suggest a variety of measures for the improvement of facades and structures. It is important that the height restrictions in the buffer zone and wider surroundings of the historical district of Tehran are strictly observed to protect the sightlines from inside Golestan Palace complex.

The management of the property is guided by short, medium and long-term objectives which emphasize the conservation and restoration of the palace complex. Management responsibility lies with the Golestan Palace Base, a subsection of ICHHTO exclusively responsible for the property and functioning as a site management office. While management objectives have been presented, it would be desirable to develop a full management plan for the property, in which risk preparedness and risk response procedures should be given adequate attention.
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