An Analysis of the Color Scheme of Qajar-Era Gate Tiles with an Emphasis on Their Application in Historic Landscape Restoration: A Case Study of the Tehran Gadim Gate and Darb Kooshk Qazvin

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University, P.O. Box: 34148-96818, Qazvin, Iran

10.30509/jcst.2026.167852.1290

Abstract

In Iranian architecture, color transcends mere ornamentation. This article identifies the dominant color compositions and analyzes the aesthetic preferences reflected in the tilework of two historical gates in Qazvin-Tehran-e-Qadim and Darb-e-Koushk—dating back to the Qajar era. The central question concerns the characteristics of the color spectra found in the tilework of these gates and the patterns that can be derived from them. The study used a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on both field research and literature reviews. Color data were captured through photography under relatively uniform lighting conditions; after extraction using software, the data were categorized by hexadecimal codes and the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model. Additionally, the Munsell color system was utilized to ensure greater precision. Findings indicated that at the Tehran-e-Qadim gate, turquoise accounted for approximately 40 % of the color composition and lapis lazuli blue for about 25 %, while at the Darb-e-Koushk gate, turquoise and lapis lazuli blue constituted approximately 30 and 25 %, respectively. Given the approximate nature of these estimates, the figures serve solely to describe and facilitate a relative comparison of the color compositions.

Keywords

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References

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