2.1.1 Geometric structure
A careful review of Persian gardens reveals that
despite the small differences, gardens mostly follow
the same structure in their location of components.
Most gardens have rectangular plans and have
been divided into square or pseudo-square shapes,
possibly, for the ease of determining the distance
between garden components and the exact
placement of greeneries. Unlike western gardens,
the geometric structure of Persian gardens does not
follow the perspective principles rather were mostly
based on creating unity and integrity (ICHHTO (The
Office of Cultural Heritage of Iranian Cultural Heritage
2010). The rectangular shape might slightly change
in response to different climatic situations and in
regard to the sites’ opportunities and limitations.
The plan of Shahzadeh-Mahan Garden (in Kerman)
is an extended example of chahar-bagh pattern in
the shape of an elongated enclosed rectangle in
which the pavilion is located in the center of the
main water channels defining the north-south axis
(Fig.2.a). The structure of Fin Garden (in Kashan) is
also an extended form of chahar-bagh in a series of
squares and rectangles with a pavilion and square
basin in the center (Hobhouse 2003). The water
axes defining the chahar-bagh include a main one
which leads the user from the entrance gateway
to the central pavilion and a secondary one with a
turquoise-tiled water channel (Fig.2.b). The Chehelsotun
Garden design also stretches to a square
shape with a pavilion located at the intersection of
the primary axis defined by two large pools and a
secondary asymmetric axis with a smaller pool on
the western side (Fig.2.c).