Howz

For the village in Iran, see Howz, Iran.

In traditional Persian architecture, a howz (Persian: حوض) is a centrally positioned symmetrical axis pool. If in a traditional house or private courtyard, it is used for bathing, aesthetics or both.^[1][2] If in a sahn of a mosque, it is used for performing ablutions. A howz is usually around 30 centimetres (12 in) deep. It may be used as a "theatre" for people to sit on all sides of the pool while others entertain.^[3]

Howz is a feature of the Persian gardens.

Gallery

• 
  A small howz in a mosque in Tehran shaped in the traditional form of two squares, one rotated 45 degrees
• 
  Small howz in Isfahan
• 
  A howz in the historical bath house of Arg of Karim Khan
• 
  Howz in Soltan Amir Ahmad Bath House, Kashan, Iran
• 
  A howz in an historical underground teahouse (chaikhaneh) in Yazd
• 
  Howz of the Eram Garden
• 
  The howz in courtyard of Mostowfi House
• 
  A big rectangular howz in a traditional Iranian house
• 
  Howz of the Khaneh Lari, Yazd
• 
  An asymmetrical empty howz

See also

• History of water supply and sanitation
  • Ancient water conservation techniques
  • Water supply and sanitation in the Indus-Saraswati Valley Civilisation
  • Sanitation in ancient Rome
  • Traditional water sources of Persian antiquity

References

1. Mohammad R. Ghanoonparvar (2001). Translating the Garden. University of Texas Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-292-72835-6.
2. Ghanoonparvar, M.R. (2001). Translating the Garden. University of Texas Press. LCCN 2001017138. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
3. Anthony Frost; Ralph Yarrow (30 August 2007). Improvisation in Drama. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-137-07593-2.