Architectural, Structural and Decorative Pattern of Schools in Yazd During the Muzaffarid Period Based on the Existing Cases (14th Century AD)

Abstract

No studies have thoroughly examined the Yazd Style of Historic Architecture. This architectural style was during the Atabakan and Muzaffarid eras in the 12th to 14th centuries AD. Although the short reign of the Muzaffarid dynasty, significant events and innovations occurred, in central Iran. This dynasty’s legacy in Yazd includes a variety of buildings like seminaries, mosques, monasteries, bazaars, and numerous qanats that influenced later architecture. Public buildings from the Muzaffarid era in Yazd comprised seminaries and scientific schools. Many of these structures have been lost over time, and there is a lack of research to understand their architectural patterns. This study aims to analyze the architectural patterns of Muzaffarid schools in Yazd from “structural-physical,” “construction technology,” and “decoration” perspectives. It uses a descriptive-analytical method, referencing historical sources and field observations of the remaining Muzaffarid-era sites in Yazd. Due to the limited surviving examples, this research focuses on seven schools: Ziaieh, Kamalieh, Rukniyah, Shamsieh, Hoseinian, Khanzadeh, and Shah Abolqasem. The findings reveal that despite the brief Muzaffarid era and internal conflicts, there was sustained civil, cultural, and social activity, which protected the architectural legacy from the post-Mongol invasion. The schools’ architectural patterns show a significant influence from the period’s cultural and social context, favoring balance and symmetry, often with domes and durable decorations. Use of various applied geometry in design, especially in Shamsieh and Rukniyah seminaries, underscores the attention from Muzaffarid rulers and architects. Thus, despite the political instability, the balanced approach ensured continuous activity in about hundred schools, setting a subsequent model construction.