Revitalization Approach in Shar-Bafi (Traditional Textile) Weaving Workshops in Kashan City, Iran
摘要
This research tries to revive the cultural and artistic value of Shar-bafi, an ancient way of weaving textiles in Kashan, Iran, by reactivating its old workshops and repurposing their use. The goal is to save both the craft and the special buildings from becoming relics. These workshops dotted the historic neighborhoods of Kashan and were once a major part of the city’s life, but today, many are frail or vacant due to major industrial shifts. This study explores their current condition and how they ended up there in the first place by converting the Qebrai (Taqi-Khan) workshop into a workshop gallery. This one was chosen for its historical significance, a rare underground water channel (qanat) inside, and because it has crumbled from lack of attention over the decades. The study blends history and careful analysis, paired with real-life visits to the sites. It examines materials such as adobe bricks and curved ceilings and tests how handlooms and weaving function. This illustrates the cultural, artistic, and technical significance of these sites and assists in planning how to reuse them while preserving their history and meeting contemporary needs. The results reveal a painful reality: Many workshops have shuttered as large factories, lacking funds, and a dearth of new ideas have gradually drained much of Shar-bafi. Apart from saving a dying craft, fixing these workshops is an important step in preserving Kashan’s industrial history. By repairing Qebrai, this research is a practical and feasible plan to preserve the story of Iran’s traditional workshops and to keep this story alive in a modern manner.