Guilan’s great architectural diversity and traditional building crafts have been endangered in recent times by the march of modernity as well as natural disasters, most notably the earthquakes of 1990. Consequently there has been a movement to preserve the architecture by creating a museum of rural heritage. Located on 40 hectares, it consists of a series of villages built to conform with traditional building designs and technologies. To date 40 settlements have been built to replicate an architectural heritage ranging from the plains of the east to the foothills of the west. The project has also paid attention to the context - the economy of the region and the traditional spaces of social interaction.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
