Saednews: Malek Mansion of Bushehr is a historic building with unique Qajar-era architecture, which today is recognized as one of the tourist attractions of Bushehr Province.
Iran is among the countries that have many mansions and grand houses, most of which were built during the Qajar era. These beautiful mansions reflect the great wealth of their owners—usually merchants or capitalists—who, due to their travels abroad, adapted architectural styles from foreign mansions.
This time, our focus is on Malek Mansion of Bushehr; a very large two-story building with unique beauty and grandeur, featuring exquisitely delicate architecture. This beautiful mansion is located 8 kilometers from Bushehr, on Mahini Street, Malek Alley. This neighborhood is part of the old fabric of the city and represents the history and culture of the region. Although today Malek Mansion is surrounded by newly constructed buildings, in its time it was one of the main structures in Bushehr and is considered part of the city's identity.
Malek Mansion is part of the identity and history of Bushehr city.
It represents the unique art and architecture of the Qajar period.
The grandeur of this building has always attracted attention and admiration throughout history.
Malek Mansion is one of the most visited sites in Bushehr Province.
Malek Mansion was built in the late Qajar period in the Bahmani neighborhood of Bushehr County and was registered as one of Iran’s national heritage sites in 1998 (1377 in the Iranian calendar). It is now considered one of the historical and tourist attractions of Bushehr Province and is regarded as one of the most magnificent buildings of the Qajar era, making it a fascinating place for history enthusiasts.
The owner of this mansion was a wealthy merchant named Mohammad Mahdi Malek Al-Tajar, who was active in trade and connected with many domestic and foreign traders. During one of his trips to France, he was fascinated by the French palaces, which inspired him to build this extraordinary mansion.
Although during the British invasion of southern Iran, Malek Mansion was captured by the British and turned into a military base, and its owner went bankrupt with many precious artifacts sold cheaply to England, the building was later restored after being taken from military use during the late reign of Reza Shah. However, after several decades, it still requires further restoration.
Malek Mansion is a historic building complex with over a century of history. Its architecture was designed by French architects, and the materials used in construction are specific, sourced locally from Bushehr. The doors and windows are also unique and visually striking.
One of the most remarkable features is its unique cooling system: the thick walls of the mansion are double-layered with about two meters of space between them. This cavity is filled with wet palm leaves or a type of thorny plant. Air enters through special vents, passes over the moist plants, cools down, and then flows into the mansion through ground-level openings, functioning like a natural air conditioner during summer and keeping the interior cool and pleasant.
The mansion consists of several parts: the forecourt, platform, entrance porch, and the main building. Here is a brief introduction:
The forecourt is a wide open space linking the city with the complex, leading to the platform, entrance porch, and main building.
The platform is a large section connected to the main building by a row of steps.
The entrance porch includes a veranda with three pairs of columns supporting the main building. A large wooden door with metal decorations is also present here.
The main building is the most important part, with two floors and magnificent paintings on the walls.
In the lower hall, Malek Al-Tajar held meetings with influential figures, while the upper floor was used for private banquets. The interior architectural style is inspired by the "Bengal" style typical of the Persian Gulf coasts, featuring defensive sections, walls, a throne room, multiple verandas, and residential rooms. The complex also includes interconnected gardens separated by walls, each with a separate entrance to the outside.
Since the mansion is located in the old part of the city, you can easily reach it by using city taxis from any part of Bushehr.
Malek Mansion of Bushehr / A Qajar architectural treasure in southern Iran
