iwan

Iwan or eyvan (Persian: ayvān) is defined as a vaulted hall or space, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open.

Iwans were a trademark of the Sassanid architecture of Persia, later finding their way into Islamic architecture. This transition reached its peak during the Seljuki era when iwans became established as a fundamental design unit in Islamic architecture.

Typically, iwans open on to a central courtyard, and have been used in both public and residential architecture.

The entrance iwan of the Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan.	The iwan of the National Museum of Iran was designed with the architectural precedent of Ctesiphon in mind.	Iwans are also used in residential architecture. The main iwan of the Amerian House, Kashan, Iran.	The Badshahi Masjid with an iwan in the centre, Lahore, Pakistan.
The entrance iwan of the Jama Masjid, Delhi, India.	Intricate designs on the iwan of the Ulugh Beg Madrassa, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.	The entrance iwan of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

See also

• Islamic Architecture
• Mosque

The architecture of Iran and historical Persia
Elements	Bazaars • The Persian Garden (hayāt) • Windcatchers • Shabestan • Kucheh • Talar • Iwan • Howz • Panjdari • Hashti • Andaruni • Biruni (persian architecture) • Dalan e Vorudi • Qanat • Kariz • Gonbad • Ab anbar • Yakhchal • Caravanserais • Robats • Burj • Khaneqah • Tekyeh • Sahn • Imamzadeh • mosques
Notable traditional cities	Architecture of Tehran • Kashan  • Qazvin • Yazd • Isfahan • Shiraz • Qom • Herat • Derbent • Bukhara • Samarkand • Merv • Mashad • Bam • Persepolis • Ctesiphon • Susa • Shahrisabz
History and theory	Traditional Persian residential architecture • Traditional water sources of Persian antiquity • Islamic architecture • Sassanid architecture • Pre-Parsi style • Parsi style • Parthian style • Khorasani style • Razi style • Azari style • Isfahani style
Lists	List of ab anbars of Qazvin • List of historical Iranian architects • List of mosques • Args, Castles, and Ghal'ehs • List of Ziyarat-gahs

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