Description

Esfahak is Yet Exists
Esfahk Historic Village Restoration Project, Tabas, South Khorasan, Iran
(A Case study in Social & Collaborative Restoration)

Esfahk is a historical village located in 35 km east of Tabas, which severely damaged in terrible earthquake that happened in 15 September 1978. By the death of more than 80 inhabitants in the wake of falling adobe Arches and walls, gradually became abandoned. The incidence of severe aftershocks continued for a long time in addition to bitter memories of the loss of family members were reasons which intensified this process. Following the reconstruction efforts that began immediately after the earthquake, survivors settled in houses in the western part of the historic zone.

As time passed and with the construction of the new village, habitants moved to new houses constructed in a style quite different with vernacular housing patterns. After being abandoned, the erosion and destruction process of the historic parts intensified. These damages were mainly recognized in scouring of walls and roofs along with destruction of arches and domes. The unique landscape of the village, along with all the sweet memories of past life in the village that despite the passage of many years still remained, were some of the factors which established the idea of restoration and returning to the historic village. Surveying of the village delimitation of buildings and zoning of passages were the first actions have done with the help of the village administration and some of the young villagers in 2012- 2013.

Following a visit of Faramarz Parsi (one of the restoration specialists) that was happened in early 2014, reconstruction process gets fast. Over the next 2 years by his efforts more than four groups of university students have passed their restoration courses in Esfahk and cooperate in preparing of restoration plans for more than 20 historic buildings. During this period, the EK consultant engineers, designed technical plot of structural reinforcement and installation details.Today, more than 10 young adults trained by EK Engineers in each steps of restoration work such as strengthening, vault reconstruction, grout injection, adobe walls repairs and etc.

As a results, these action leads into participation of Esfahk habitants in reconstruction process and using of modern material in restoration works of rural fabrics as an eco-tourism residences. In early 2016 we finished some restoration projects on historic Mosque of village and adjacent mausoleums, two houses and the main pass of rural fabric. Now days Restoration works are still in progress in Esfahk and we hope to have more than 6 historic houses, bathroom and restaurant refurbished at the end of 2016.

Farsi

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