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Rezaeipour M, Farzad Behtash M, Sabaghi H, Anisi A. (2026). Kalatehs in Birjand: A Redefinition of Settlement Form Based on Historic Garden. Athar. 47(2), 135-164. doi:10.66224/Athar.2211.4210.3
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-2211-en.html

The issue of the linkage between historic gardens and the contexts in which they are situated cannot be overlooked; nevertheless, it has received little attention both in studies of such historic gardens and in the field of their conservation. In Birjand, historic gardens were often set within rural contexts or in settlements smaller than villages. In fact, some historic gardens in this region had a close relationship with the surrounding residential areas, which are referred to as Kalatehs. Kalatehs, which served as the main seats of governance and residence of Birjand’s rulers, namely the Alam family, display in many respects unique patterns that signify them from other settlements with historic gardens in the same region. This article seeks to examine tangible aspects—including the setting and physical fabric—of this type of settlement, as well as certain intangible aspects such as their function and economic and social conditions. It also addresses the role of the ruler in the emergence or development of these settlements, along with the relationship between Kalatehs and the historic gardens within them. The research is fundamental in purpose and analytical–historical in nature. The research method is a combination of several qualitative approaches, including library studies—especially historical sources—field surveys and the preparation of maps of existing conditions, interpretation of aerial photographs, and analysis of historical narratives of long-term residents of these settlements. The results indicate that Kalatehs were settlements smaller than villages which, through the construction of historic gardens and the residence of the rulers of Birjand, underwent transformation and evolved into a unique redefinition of settlement based on the historic garden.
Keywords: Kalateh, Historic Garden, Birjand, Settlement.

Introduction
In Birjand, there is a large number of historic gardens; several of Birjand’s historic gardens— all of which, except for two cases that are now surrounded by the city of Birjand—had a rural setting or were associated with settlements smaller than villages, and were formed at a very close distance from the surrounding rural settlements; in fact, some settlements in this area were almost directly connected to the historic gardens. This is while many historic gardens in other regions of Iran, such as Fin Garden in Kashan, Dowlatabad Garden in Yazd, or Golshan Garden in Tabas, were connected to their corresponding settlements—whether urban or rural—by elements such as streets or squares. Through more detailed investigations, it became clear that the residents of Birjand’s historic gardens, who were generally the rulers of this region, namely the Alam and Khozaimeh-Alam families, had a very close relationship with the inhabitants of the settlements surrounding the historic gardens; to the extent that even some local residents used the gardens’ bathhouses on certain days of the week, which generally had a door opening outward. Another noteworthy point is the establishment of the rulers in historic gardens located outside the city of Birjand; except for a short period during which some members of the family tended toward residing in the city, they had chosen the historic gardens as their place of residence and governance, and made use of these gardens for permanent or temporary establishment.
In almost all cases, they are connected to a historic garden. All historic gardens of this type in Birjand were also the places of residence and governance of the rulers of Birjand, namely members of the Alam family. This spatial proximity raises the question of what the reason for this closeness was. On the other hand, the spatial organization of these settlements, together with the historic gardens, itself created unique examples of living living methods. Although the valuable residential fabric of these settlements has remained to some extent intact, today they have only a limited number of inhabitants; even this minimal level of habitation in these living cores faces various risks, so such settlements seriously threatened with destruction. This is while information of these living complexes, together with the associated historic gardens, is extremely limited. This issue relates to two highly important matters: first and foremost, written historical information about these settlements is very scarce. On the other hand, their significance as settlements connected to the rulers’ historical gardens—which themselves possess historical value—has often been neglected. Given the necessity of protecting these settlements, understanding them, their relationship with the rulers’ historic gardens, and comprehending how they differ from villages that also possessed historical gardens is of great importance.

Discussion
The historic gardens belonging to the rulers of Birjand were vast gardens designed according to the formal pattern of Persian gardens, and they themselves formed one of the pivotal zones within the Kalatehs. The two other zones consisted of a compact residential core near the historical garden and an agricultural zone of farmlands, which were interconnected through an organic network of roads. It should also be noted that the rulers of Birjand consistently constructed their residential gardens on gently sloping terrain. Therefore, as mentioned, their historical gardens were expansive and possessed a formal structure.  
The two Kalatehs of Beidokhti and Qonsol, which have been noted in this research as exceptional cases, did not attract the attention of the rulers due to their mountainous setting and were therefore assigned to the Russian and British consulates. The gardens of these two consulates—Beidokhi and Manzarieh—had a more natural geometry and were shaped by the slope of the land. Accordingly, in this article these two Kalatehs are considered as a subset of the Kalatehs, and their differences are examined in their proper place.  
It should be noted that Kalatehs were never formed as complete villages. The primary purpose of settling inhabitants in such settlements was, first and foremost, to provide services to the historical gardens. Consequently, their residents were highly dependent on the ruler. The ruler’s life, too, depended on the presence of the peasantry and gained meaning through interaction with them. In fact, rulers derived power from the presence of the peasants and thereby found the opportunity to play a more prominent role in state political affairs.  
At the next level, the inhabitants of these Kalatehs cultivated certain crops in accordance with the ruler’s wishes and opinions and were responsible for maintaining the historical garden that served as his residence. Therefore, fruit gardens were not present as a separate zone within the kalateh, and the main garden was the historical garden itself—that is, the ruler’s place of residence. These settlements in Birjand were formed from the mid-Qajar period onward.
According to what has been explained, *Kalatehs* were settlements in Birjand region where the ruler was present; this presence was manifested through the construction of extensive gardens and residing in them. Therefore, these types of settlements emerged or developed around historical gardens. However, it is necessary to note here that in rural settlements in the Birjand area, gardens were also built by the Alim family, but the way these individuals resided and interacted with the inhabitants of pre-existing villages was completely different. Additionally, some other historical gardens were constructed in mountainous settlements, whose owners were not the rulers of Birjand; rather, these gardens belonged to local lords and small landowners of the Birjand region, who did not reside there permanently.

Conclusion
The Kalātehs are the residential capacities resulting from the accumulation of wealth within the territorial bounds of Birjand. As the establishment of a historical garden, the maintenance of a qanat, and the construction of other necessary elements in a settlement inevitably required financial resources. The provision of these financial resources was the responsibility of the ruler who resided in the historic garden. These settlements, which were formed and developed in the Birjand region from the mid-Qajar to the early Pahlavi period, are in fact a redefinition of the formation or development of a settlement based on historic gardens.
The points mentioned indicate that the Kalatehs were, in fact, a redefinition of the role of the historical garden in the emergence or development of small residential cores in Birjand, which never specifically appeared as a fully formed village. In this respect, these settlements essentially represent a type of living centered around the historic gardens, organized under the governance of the ruling family of Birjand at the time, namely the Alam family. Considering the complex and intertwined relationships of all areas, components, and elements within a Kalateh, it can be emphasized that, in this particular case, the historical garden and the residential cores cannot be separated from one another. This is because Kalatehs were historical and composite entities that were formed around historic gardens and developed over time.