After 2,500 years, Persepolis’s water channels and reservoirs are still functioning and saving Persepolis from torrential rains.
Fathollah Niazi, a member of the founding board of the Association of Restorers’ guild, considered the formation of a crisis management committee for historical structures and proper strategies necessary due to the increase in natural disasters and to prevent mistakes that destroyed the historical structures in Yazd, some historical structures in Tehran and Fars, in the floods of this year. He considered the architecture of “Persepolis” as an example worth thinking about and learning about.
In an interview with ISNA, Niazi spoke about the mistakes that caused destructions of historical structures and textures in the flood of august this year and steps that should be taken to prevent the recurrence of this incident. He believes that part of the damage caused by natural disasters to the country’s historical structures, such as what we saw this time in Yazd, Fars, and Tehran provinces, is caused by wrong restorations.
For example, historical structures are not being restored as a whole, but instead being done on single structures. There is no comprehensive plan for restoration of the historical structures. In order to restore the paving stones, brick pavements and alleys, roofs, deciding on material and the form of gutters and waterways, and for creating a standard channel to carry water towards the sewage system, there should be restoration plan, and everything should be done according to that plan.
He believes that if the restoration is carried out correctly and according to a plan the structures will not be destroyed during natural disasters, such as floods. But, we see now-a-days that for every structure restorers are doing what they like.
Niazi added: “If the contractors’ excuse is that the budget provided by cultural heritage is low, and because of the low budget they damage the structure instead of restoring it, for example, they use PVC pipes, they don’t lighten the roof, the slope of the alleys is not done correctly and adequately, a drainage system is not installed to drain rainwater, or even if installed, the depth is not enough, without doubt, it should be expected that the structure will be easily destroyed during floods, earthquakes or any other mishap.
He reminded: for the primary management of historical structures and textures, it is enough to look at the past, to a design like Persepolis and its intense water channels and reservoirs that are still working after 2,500 years; a unique idea that occurred in the field f architecture of that period, and that despite the torrential rains, still works and is the savior of Persepolis.
Insisting on the necessity of drastic changes in the approach to the restoration of historical structures and textures, the member of the founding board of the Association of cultural and Artistic Artifacts Restorers, said that in European countries, when the restoration congress is held, in the end, a strategic statement and document is presented, which is a road map to eliminate critical problems during natural disasters, and its management, but this is not the case in Iran. It is recommended that instead of holding restoration conference and congress, which have not output and do not lead to any result, except for presentation of irrelevant reports and articles, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage should form a specialized crisis management committee. Of course, they acknowledge that such a committee exists, but we have not seen any exceptional output. Yazd has experienced floods in various historical periods, and without a doubt, we will face a repeat of it, just as there was a flood in Shiraz two years ago, but we have not seen any particular output. We should always be prepared for natural disasters and take steps to form that committee instantly.
He also reminded: “All historical structures should be monitored; problems and damages reported to the crisis management committee of historical structures and relics; these reports to be sent to the monitoring section, and a budget to be allocated. If we monitor minor problems from the beginning, we will not need heavy budgets; sometimes, just by replacing a simple stud, the widespread destruction of a structure can be avoided.”
Niazi added: “All these can easily be done; only monthly and daily monitoring should be done, and we should have an integrated monitor and maintenance plan for the whole historical site, not just a single structure in the historical context and their residents. Teach them how to maintain their historical facilities so that they are not damaged or less damaged during natural disasters; many historical structures and buildings have private owners. This training can be a solution in line with integrated management to protect and maintain buildings against floods and other natural events. We have good experts in the restoration field, but what speaks first in protecting and maintaining historical structures and textures is “integrated leadership.”
