Khosro Abad Mansion

The Khosro Abad Mansion (عمارت خسرو آباد) is a Zand and Qajar era mansion and museum, located in Sanandaj, Kordistan province. It was awarded the UNESCO seal of authenticity and was added to the Iran National Heritage List in January of 1977, administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran (reference number 1491). It consists of the columned mansion and the surrounding garden. The garden consists of a variety of trees and is irrigated via moats. 

The Khosro Abad mansion was built in 1808 CE by the order of Amanollah Khan Ardalan, the then ruler of Ardalan initially as a memorial to his father and a hub for political, military, and ceremonial activities, though it was more prominently used for rituals and celebrations rather than daily governance. Amanollah Khan was the son of Khosro Khan, after whom the mansion is named. Spanning an area of 6,000 square meters, the mansion comprises distinct sections, including the regal palace with its columned entrance, a bathhouse, a guard room, and servants’ quarters. The eastern section, consisting of the mansion, was built during the Zand era. During the Qajar era, the mansion served as a government seat and a venue for celebrations. Notably, the wedding ceremony between Fath Ali Shah's daughter and Amanollah Khan's son was held in the courtyard of this mansion. The complex was sold in 1899 and since then additions were constructed in the north east and north west sections of it incorporating Qajar and even Pahlavi era architectural styles.

At its core, the mansion's layout revolves around a central courtyard, a hallmark of Persian architecture that facilitates spatial organization and climate control, with rooms arranged symmetrically around it. The layout divides into internal and external areas separated by an expansive garden, historically divided into four quadrants and encircled by four streets and moats for defense and aesthetics. The main entrance faces an outside rectangular marble pool and is made of four walnut tree trunks.

Iwans and reception halls connect indoor and outdoor spaces, enhancing the flow for both private and public use. Key features include a two-story external building with an octagonal vestibule entrance flanked by sentry chambers, ornate plaster and mosaic decorations. The second story can be accessed by a pair of staircases opposite from each other that seem to indicate that this section was later added to the ground floor. It has a balcony that extends the width of the building.

Once past the vestibule, a cross-shaped pool divides the courtyard into four cobblestoned sections, while flanked by interior halls adorned with floral motifs, geometric patterns, and vibrant tilework connected to the city's ancient qanat water system. The western section boasts a pillared porch overlooking the garden, while the eastern part includes servants' quarters and additional functional spaces, all emphasizing symmetry and opulence typical of royal residences.

The quadrant closest to the main mansion and to its right (as the mansion is approached) was for the use of Ardalan and consists of an octagonal pool. Its entrance is supported by 6 columns and can be accessed by a converging 17-step staircase covered by a balcony. Seven levels of the steps are semicircles and gradually upon ascent the size of the steps decreases.

The mansion has 3 storeys with the second floor being of the most importance. This floor has a small pool and fountain in addition to 3 rooms on its north, west and south sides with each having access to a balcony. The northern and southern rooms also have latticed windows. A wooden staircase leads to the third floor which has one room and two hallways along with a latticed window. Its roof is made of wooden beams which alternate between thick and thin.

On the eastern side of the complex is a bathhouse with a small yard before it separating it from the kitchen. The bath has an L-shaped vestibule in addition to locker rooms and a hot water pool. The kitchen has an octagonal yard and still contains its chimneys and ovens. On the western side is a 2 storey building with its lower level being underground and the upper level consisting of interconnecting rooms. A stable was situated in the south eastern corner which could be accessed via the eastern wall. It seems to have been a later addition as its presence disrupts the otherwise square floorplan.

The mansion’s adornment showcases intricate plasterwork and brickwork, embodying the essence of Iranian architecture. Noteworthy is the amalgamation of materials used in different areas of the mansion, such as the castle, kitchen, bath, stable, and the eastern, western, and southern walls, each adding to the rich tapestry of its historical significance.

Restoration operations of the building began in 1953–54, although most of the repairing and restoring was done in 1959–60. Subsequent renovations took place in 1994 and 2000.