Timcheh Bakhshi: Morpho-Cultural Evolution of a Lost Timcheh in a Persian Bazaar

Located in North Central Iran, the city of Kashan’s origins date back to 5000 BCE. The Kashan Bazar has been developed over six centuries with its main structure built under Seljuks C10th, and major extension under Safavids C16th. Timcheh Bakhshi is located near Mianchal Madreseh and Mosque in Bazaar, where two major roads in old city crossed. The idiosyncratic spatial use of the Timcheh where different functions, and activities were allocated on distinct levels, gives it another heritage and architecture characteristic which remains intact to date. The carpet trade in Qajar era led to a profound prosperity that justified upkeep and development of Timcheh Bakhshi. Despite its prominence, Timcheh Bakhshi never attracted much attention as its competitors in Bazar. Discussing the ontological origins of the principles of sustainability within the Lost Timcheh, its morpho-cultural existence is argued for epistemologically and that it is mutually intertwined with its vernacular survival strategies by means of first and second tiers of sustainability three bottom lines. Finally, it was hypothesised that this theoretical frame of reference can lead the way in shedding some lights on the ways the Lost Timcheh can take into its future if a more sustainable, healthy one is intended.