Isfahan: History and Archaeology of a Garden City.

At the center of a circle of mountains, Isfahan rises from the arid Iranian plateau. An oasis from which glittering domes, the high turrets of minarets, and the murmur of a caravan city emerge. Since the 17th century, all travelers have kept an unforgettable memory of this marvelous city, combining the trappings of an imperial capital with the most unexpected amenities of a commercial crossroads. A total work of art, this preserved jewel of Shah Abbas I (1588-1629) unites urban planning, architecture, and ornament. Around a main axis—the Chahār Bāgh—are a myriad of convivial palaces and pavilions in shimmering hues, while squares, canals, and gardens create warm atmospheres structured by water and vegetation.
Architect Philippe Revault shows us all the visible facets of this garden city (urban forms, habitat, relationship to the climate, to water) to understand how the very idea of this city was formed. An idea that Seyyed Mohsen Habibi and Negar Habibi, in their important contribution, connect with the philosophical and theological renaissance of Twelver Shiism and the "School of Isfahan."
Jean-Claude Golvin, architect and archaeologist, who directs the “L'Esprit des lieux” collection, gives here an original reconstruction of Isfahan, to be discovered.