Document Type : Original Article
Author
PhD in Restoration of Historic Buildings and Textures, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22034/hsaj.2025.558697.1023
Abstract
A comprehensive assessment of a historical building requires a holistic approach that fully recognizes its integrity; that is, the entire developmental trajectory of the structure must be thoroughly identified. This includes materials, mortars, construction details, procedural hierarchies, execution techniques, construction tools, the placement of structural elements and their interrelations, as well as the interaction between structural components and decorative features, piers, and all other constituent parts of the building. In constructing a karbandi, once the load-bearing bases are built according to the underlying plan, the primary load-bearing tavizehs are erected, followed by the installation of the intermediate elements (lengehs) upon them. From the initial stage of layout implementation to the construction of the araqchin (dome cap), the design and execution of a karbandi require continuous review and precise control of the construction process. Understanding the methods of assembling karbandi components and the techniques of execution monitoring can provide valuable insights into strategies for maintaining and conserving these traditional structures. The objective of this article is to elucidate the execution and control procedures of karbandi construction—particularly in rectangular layouts—based on the practical knowledge of traditional master builders and an examination of actual case studies. To this end, data were first collected through library research, direct field observations and measurements, and interviews with master craftsmen and conservation specialists. The geometric systems of the case studies were then reconstructed through three-dimensional modeling. The findings indicate that although the overall principles of karbandi construction among traditional Iranian builders are largely consistent, noticeable differences exist in the details. These variations relate to the arrangement of bricks in the lengehs and tavizehs, the filling materials, the araqchin, the formwork techniques, the geometric configuration of the base plan, and other aspects. Such variables are ultimately subject to the decisions of the executing architect, who determines the detailed specifications of these features. Moreover, during construction, the horizontal and vertical alignment of formworks and karbandi components is critically enhanced through the use of control instruments, significantly contributing to accuracy and structural precision.
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