01/06/10 - The Uzbek terrace – ayvon – helps to live

Дата публикации: Jan 19, 2012 1:12:1 PM

People in ancient times used to build dwellings by taking into account their needs and climatic peculiarities of the land. Uzbek architecture traditions have been formed during centuries and every home had its indispensable terrace - ayvon.

Warm and mild climate of our sunny land enable people to spend their time in shady yards for nine months a year. Ayvon – the open terrace in front of the house, supported by columns or poles, was the favorite place of relaxation for all members of an Uzbek family. National architects tried to approximate maximally their living rooms to the environment, so the ayvon became the link and optimal solution of this task. It livened up the enclosed space with nature or brought the enclosed space to the open yard. Sitting in the terrace in the morning one could fill with cheerfulness from the first sunbeams, announcing the new day. A warm breeze blew on the ayvon gently in the evening and brought a smell of showered land and aroma of flowers with it. An Uzbek home is a living organism that forms, grows and develops according to the needs of a family and climatic conditions of a certain area. That is why terraces differed in their design, location, and consequently their name. For example, ayvons served for the air ventilation in the yard and rooms in Khiva, so this region had its particular architectural tradition. Local architects built two terraces facing each other. The first ulu-ayvon occupied the front part of the house; it was considerably elevated over it and had one central column. This terrace was built in the direction of the wind blow and it directed the air stream to the yard. The second – ters-ayvon located on the opposite side and it was smaller. This project made it possible to liven up Kniva yards with breeze. The rich carved pattern on the ulu-ayvon column decorated the house and pleased the eyes of masters and guests.

High, open terraces paved with bricks, supported by many columns and built along summer housing are typical for Bukhoro houses. However, only aristocracy could afford such grandeur. Middle class people used nim-ayvons in their dwelling. They gracefully erected them above the roofing of the first floor, nim-ayvons were not very high but wide not to darken the yard. The gallery terrace stretched along one of the house’s sides was the favorite place for recreation of all members of the family. It often served as the bedroom for the whole family in hot summer nights. The multicolumn terrace in Farg’ona called pesh-ayvon usually occupied the yard side of the house and located in front of rooms along the facade. Samarqand architects built the single-column ayvon, which was located angularly or to the room’s flank. Shiypons – terraces in the open part of the second floor are often met in residential areas in Qarshi. They assigned an important part to such ayvons because they connected the upper level rooms with the yard space, and approached the second floor to the natural landscape. Independently standing ayvons opened from three or four sides were very popular in Uzbekistan. Carved poles supported the shed, the terrace’s floor was covered with carpets, a low table khon-tahta stood in the middle of it with pillows scattered all around the table. Abundance of air and light, fragrance of flowers and warbles of birds in fruit trees favored for the rest and unity with nature.

The Uzbek ayvon is of a great popularity in the present time as well. People can enjoy the fresh air, murmur of water in a channel or appeasing rustle of leaves in the terraces of city parks, restaurants, hotels and residences. In spite of the modern diversity, the ancient architecture continues living because invaluable people’s wisdom and experience cumulate throughout the centuries.