While
controversy over the construction of Jahan Nama
Tower in the vicinity of Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan
Square is still to be resolved, Gonbad Qaboos (Kâvûs)
Municipality, in northeastern Iran, has announced
plans to build a tower near the city's most famous
historical site.
Director of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office
in Gorgan and Gonbad Qaboos Jebreil Nokandeh told
IRNA that municipality has planned to build Qaboos
Tower and Restaurant in the vicinity of the
historical Qonbad Qaboos Tower.
He said that according to criteria of Iran's
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO),
the maximum height of such buildings should be
five meters and construction for business purpose
should occupy 75 percent of the land while 50
percent for the entire area can be used for
housing projects in the same area.
"This is while the municipality has decided
to build a 5.16-meter structure in an area of
1,000 square meters."
Nokandeh said that ICHTO has informed Qonbad
Qaboos Municipality of its objection and has asked
the public prosecutor to look into the case.
The public prosecutor has demanded the suspension
of construction works on the tower, he said.
The official stated that ICHTO is responsible for
safeguarding cultural heritage sites and the
municipality is expected to heed the
organization's demand.
He said that ICHTO had planned to propose Gonbad
Qaboos Tower for registration with UNESCO as a
global heritage site at its 2006 meeting.
Qonbad Qaboos Tower, which boasts of unique
architecture, is the highest baked brick tower in
the world. It is an Iranian Architectural
masterpiece dating back to the 10th century AD.
The tower was built by Shams Al-Maali Qaboos son
of Voshmgir Ziyari of Persian Ziyarid Dynasty, on
a hilltop at the center of a large park.
Voshmgir built the tower for as his tomb. It is
the most beautiful example of early
Islamic-Iranian architecture and gives a sense of
pride and glory to tourists.
Gonbad Qaboos Tower was registered as an Iranian
national cultural heritage site in 1931.
