Dove's Tower-Isfahan (View Larger)

"This dove's tower dates back to the Safavid Time.

It's building may date back to the 16th century or early 17th century.

The building materials of this house of doves are sun-dried brick's

mud and mud straw. It's tower is made up of eight small cylinders

around a large central cylinder. The joints of the internal and

external cylinders increase the stability of the tower. A sudden

flight of thousands doves does not damage the stability of the tower.

The gypsum plaster and rows of the bricks, in addition to be a

decoration on the walls, was an obstacle for the penetration of snakes

into the tower. With creating a wavy and oscillating lines and shapes

on the walls the designer and architect has managed to increase the

stability of the towers walls while decreasing the thickness of the

walls. The internal communicative spaces of tower have been designed

in such a way that all the parts of the tower within easy access and

that all light and air ventilation rules have been complied. Extra

surface in proportion with the volume implies the great engineering

initiative and ability of the architect, which represents the Iranian

and ability of the architectural thought and interest in art.

Dove towers used to be built as fertilizer production plans for

agricultural purposes"