ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 218

Criteria of Evaz Cistern:
Evaz cisterns are one of the most famous cisterns in the region. Generally, the original plan of the
cistern is available in two designs.

1. Circular plan and domes roof (Fig.10)
2. Rectangle plan

Figure 10: Circular plan and domes roof, July 2011
The design of water resources are the common ones in the south of Iran. The resource of the water
in these cisterns comes in the cylinder shape, which has been constructed in the middle of the
ground. Ratio of diameter in the source depended on the size of the pond. Domes were used for
circular pond designs and it were calculated on acquire mathematic calculations with the best
materials that is the reason they lasted for long time and stayed beautiful.
Construction Methodology of the Cistern:
People in the past were using traditional ways to build this vital element; there were different
ways of construction for these famous cisterns. The device, which they were using, called Pargar
(compass); this was us ed to create the dome shape. Pargar made from a board and from four
sides of that board were ropes, which were connected to four sides of the pond. Therefore, the
architecture of the pond became from moving around the pound with the ropes until it reached
the require size of the dome, and this was the way to create an accurate environment of the pond.
On the top of the pond there is a stone element called ‘Kakol’ when it appears, it means that
the work is completed. The dome was installed on the wall, which has been called ‘Ghors’ which
means strong and fit. In addition, it gave height to the cistern. The base (Ghors) helps cisterns’
height to be higher and it helps to the movement of airflow, which is affected on the water to be
fresh and cold (Kamal 1999:156).
Shape of the Dome:
To make the shape of the dome, the architecture was picking and sticking the stones row by
row and each new row were organizing the stones more forward. That was the way as it goes
higher the stones size was becoming smaller. Usually after building four rows, ceiling should get
one-meter slope to achieve the shape of the dome. In the huge sizes of cisterns, two Ghors (base)
were required to stay the dome on it (Fig.12). After building the dome, outline were covered by
mortar, to protect the mortar from the cracks resulted by water and strong heat in this area they

216

ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy