Asef Mansion (Khaney-e Kurd) a worth visiting brick wall

The Asef Mansion (Khaney-e Kurd) lay behind the concaved brick wall on the ever noisy and busy Emam Street in the hub of  Sanandaj. It dates back to the former Safavid period and displays the fascinating events of Kurdish cultural heritage.

Khurd house is managed by the Kurdistan Province Handicrafts, Cultural Heritage and Tourism authority it has grown to be a symbol of Kurdish identity. Because of these people loved the city by heart.

The structure of the Mansion

Holding 4 squares, the mansion had a narrow corridor with brick entrance. It  carries engraved stone pillars as well as gorgeously done carved limestones and ornamented tiling. The private vapor  bath characterizes Persian-style construction with attention grabbing decoration with limestone.

A qanat, a gently sloping underground channel or tunnel constructed to lead water from the interior of a hill to a village below was built from the height of the city,  provides for the whole building. Near the corridor houses, there is a room water distribution all through the building.

The reception hall

The reception hall of Asef Mansion (Khaney-e Kurd) may be the most amazing part with pillared Iwan and Sash marked glass windows. Another highlight is the inner small vapor bath, which is one of the most beautiful things in the West part of the country. It was used only by the family of Asef’s and was developed Perhaps it was developed in an early Qajar era. Marvelous stucco, plaster made from Portland cement,  mirror mosaics, and wood ornamentation overwhelmed the visitors who gaze to the attractive beauties of Persian building with awe.

Present status of the Asef Mansion (Khaney-e Kurd)

The mansion is now being converted into a museum after doing some work of renovation in the year of 2003. Here the Kurdish culture and customs have been displayed. Their rich culture in agriculture, farming, school technologies local costumes, jewelry has been all displayed here in rural life. Everything has been designed aptly. Among the exhibits the bust figure of Kurdish is also on display.

Review #2

The 4000-square-meter mansion was set up by Asef A’ezam, nicknamed for Mirza Ali Naghi Khan, in the Safavid era. Some additions were also added during Qajar and Pahlavi eras to complete the monument. The gorgeously built mansion is housed in Sanandaj, the center of Kurdistan.

Holding 4 courtyards, the edifice with a brick entrance and narrow corridor carries engraved stone pillars as well as sumptuously done engraved limestones and decorated tiling. The private hammam characterizes Persian-style architecture with eye-catching limestone decorations. A qanat, from the city’s heights, feeds the whole building. Near the corridor houses a room to distribute waters throughout the building.

The reception hall is perhaps the most astonishing part with columned iwan and sash stained-glass windows. Another highlight is the inner small hammam, one of the most beautiful in west of the country, used only by Asef’s family. Perhaps it was developed in early Qajar era. Marvelous stucco works, mirror mosaics, and wood embellishments sweep away visitors who stare at awe to the attractive beauties of Persian building.

The national heritage site now functions as a valuable museum, after some renovation jobs in 2003, where Kurds’ culture and customs are on public display. With its natural-looking models you will learn a lot about Kurdish way of life, beliefs, and habits; sections like gallery, hammam, urban life, Maktab Khaneh, or traditional school, farming and agriculture, technologies and professions, photo and historic records, hunting, rural life, library, local cuisines, jewelry, artifacts, and local costumes and clothing have been designed appropriately to expose part of Kurds’ rich culture. Also the exhibits include celebrated Kurdish figures’ busts.

Taxi and bus shuttles are available for passengers.