Abarkuh Ice House

🕰️When was it built?

The ice house dates from the Qajar period and is built of stone, mud brick, clay, timber and lime. It was added to the National Heritage List on 8 March 2003 as number 7752, and its stepped cone is its defining feature.

🏛️What was it built for?

Ice was stored inside the building and taken out through a small opening in summer. Builders of ice houses paid close attention to insulation, shade and keeping the store cold, so that ice made in the cold season would not melt quickly.

👀What you will see

• The cone rises from a round plan and, seen from outside, climbs in a series of steps.
• The building is about twelve metres high, and its underground part is nearly as deep.
• The floor inside is lower than the ground outside, so much of the ice store lies below ground level.
• The base of the wall is stone and mortar, and above it mud brick and clay make up the main body.
• The dome wall is thickest at the bottom and gets thinner towards the top.

💡Something interesting

The great height under the dome was not just for looks. Warm air rises and collects at the top while the ice stays in the pit below; that difference in height, together with the insulated walls, helped keep the ice through the summer heat.

🎒Good to know before you go