Kolah farangi mansion
In the southern side of the Mohtasham Garden, also known as the City Park (the oldest park of Rasht) in the Hafez street, you can find the Kolah Farangi Mansion in the Rasht city. It is a late Zand and early Qajar era structure. This hexagonal structure has a white conical roof. Built to resemble a six-level Ziggurat, this mansion has two actual stories.
History
The owner of the park, Akbar Khan Biglabeigi, was one of the rulers of Gilan. After his death, his daughter inherited this park and then, the garden was owned by his wife and cousin, Sadiq Khan Akbar Mohtasham al-Molk. So this garden was known as the Mohtasham Garden and has been registered as one of Iran's national monuments.
It has 4 floors, although looking from outside, the building seems to only have about 3 floors. Kolah Farangi Mansion was used as a summer residence for the rulers of the city of Rasht, before the conversion of Mohtasham garden into a public park. Nowadays, Kolah Farangi acts as the center for the preservation and instruction of the local arts of Gilan province.
Architecture
Kolah Farangi Mansion are made of brick and wood, and the roof is made of clay. All around the building on the first floor is a porch and on the second floor is a wooden balcony.
A network of corridors connects all rooms and Hashtis (vestibules). All spaces on the first floor open into an octagonal Howz Khaneh (pool house) which has several short stoops. An elaborate fountain provides air-conditioning and skywells in the ceiling provide lighting for the Howz Khaneh.
Decorative Persian architectural elements like Muqarnas (ornamented vaulting), Rasmi Bandi (interlocking patterns, arches and geometric shapes), Karbandi (parametric dome) and ornamental arches have been used in the Howz Khaneh.
Opening hours
This site is open for visitors 24 hours of every day. But the best time for visiting of this site is evening of spring and summer time.