CHN NEWS

Tehran, 1 October 2005 (CHN) – CRAT, a French adobe architecture research institute, will build an adobe building to encourage this style of architecture in Bam. The adobes used in the building are examples of adamant clays produced in the laboratory in Bam Citadel.

The protection of adobe structures is a new field and that has faced experts of cultural heritage with some problems in dealing with this kind of architecture.

“Centre de recherche sur l'antiquité tardive” (CRAT, the research center for late antiquities), an institute of Université Stendhal Grenoble, is currently engaged in building an adobe structure to promote this style of architecture in the earthquake stricken city of Bam. Concrete is also used as a material for construction of the building,” says Eskandar Mokhtari, head of Bam Citadel salvation project.

“This project,” he added, “is an example of adobe structure with concrete horizontal and vertical foundation, but the main body of the building is made of adobe.”

CRAT is one of the institutes that became active in rehabilitation of the Citadel after the earthquake hit the area in 2003, bringing down the Citadel and living tens of thousands dead and homeless.

According to Mokhtari, “besides engaging in the construction of the building, Iranian experts will be educated for restoration of adobe structures. Three experts from Bam Salvation Project will also participate in the construction”.

The 2 thousand-year Bam Citadel is one of the biggest adobe complexes in the world, 60 percent of which was ruined by the earthquake of 2003. In the last year’s UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conference in China, Bam city and its historical, cultural landscape was registered on the World Cultural Heritage List. The Citadel Salvation Project is underway with financial and expertise aid from international organizations and bodies.