Heritage of Southwest Asia

Heritage of Southwest Asia

Arbala Qanāt-Driven Mill, Meymeh, Isfahan Province, Iran: A Reassessment of its Architecture and Hydraulic System

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Shahabinejad 1
Bardia Yousefi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
2 Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22034/hsaj.2025.550581.1009
Abstract
Water-powered mills in Iran have long played a key role in producing flour and sustaining the livelihoods of traditional communities. One such historic structure is the Arbala mill in the city of Meymeh (Isfahan Province), which was fed by the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mazdābād Qanāt and is regarded as one of the major hydraulic structures of the city. Despite its significance, no comprehensive historical, technical, or architectural documentation has previously been undertaken for this mill. The building has suffered extensive damage, with several parts destroyed or lost, and it is currently abandoned. This study aims to reconstruct the architectural and technical features of the mill before its deterioration and to identify the indigenous knowledge embedded in its construction and operation. To this end, a descriptive–analytical approach was adopted, drawing on multiple sources including library research, interviews with knowledgeable locals and experts, field surveys, and oral history. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine informed residents of Meymeh. In addition to presenting historical information and spatial analysis, particularly in relation to other historic hydraulic structures in Meymeh, the study reconstructs technical drawings of the mill based on its pre-destruction condition and identifies its key functional components. These findings provide a basis for future conservation and restoration planning. Furthermore, considering the tourism potential of the Mazdābād World Heritage Qanāt and other nearby hydraulic structures, as well as the broader historical and cultural assets of Meymeh, the study proposes strategies for the functional revitalization of the mill within a tourism-oriented framework.
 
 
 

Graphical Abstract

Arbala Qanāt-Driven Mill, Meymeh, Isfahan Province, Iran: A Reassessment of its Architecture and Hydraulic System

Highlights

 

  • This study presents the first architectural and technical documentation of the Arbala qanāt mill in Meymeh.

  • The mill holds exceptional importance due to its reliance on the UNESCO-listed Mazdābād Qanāt, one of the oldest continuous-flow qanāts in central Iran.

  • Data were obtained through field observations, measured drawings, and interviews with nine knowledgeable local residents.

  • The research reconstructs the lost architectural layout, sections, water-flow system, and functional components of the mill.

  • Findings show that Arbala Mill, due to its elevated location and water-priority position, was historically the most reliable and long-operating mill in Meymeh.

  • Human disturbance, abandonment, and illegal excavations are identified as the primary threats to the structure.

  • The continuous water flow of the qanāt provides real potential for functional revival, including traditional operation, heritage tourism, and micro-hydropower generation.

  • The study proposes developing an integrated Meymeh Water-Heritage Tourism Network, centered around the Arbala Mill and linked to the qanāt, icehouse, payāb, and other historic water structures.

 

Keywords
Arbala Qanāt Mill؛ Meymeh؛ Mazdābād World Heritage Qanāt؛ Cultural tourism؛ Historic hydraulic structures

Subjects

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Heritage of Southwest Asia
Volume 1, Issue 2
December 2024 Article ID:3