The stairs village of Masuleh where roofs and streets become one is situated in the middle of green mountains of Gilan, northern of Iran. Stairway with a specific architecture, the houses of village are built on each other and the roof of each house is the courtyard of his upper Neighbor. It is one of the most stunningly stairs village in the country.
The architecture of Masouleh is spectacular. The buildings have been built into the mountain and are interconnected so that the yard of the above building is the roof of the below building. Due to its unique layout entering any motor vehicles is forbidden.No vehicles are allowed.The village is so steep, they had to make the streets on top of the flat roofs of the houses below.
Yellow clay coats the exterior of most buildings in Masouleh and provides better visibility in the fog. Buildings are mostly two stories (1st floor and below floor) made of adobe, rods and bole
Architecture
Masuleh has a unique architecture. The enclosures in front of the houses and roofs are both used as sidewalks. The architecture of this place is so dense that there is no place for the construction of broad streets. The small streets and many stairs simply wouldn’t make it possible for vehicles to enter. The roof of each house is the courtyard of its building above. Buildings usually do not exceed two floors.
Houses in Masuleh are yellow or clay-colored so that they can be seen well in the fog, as the city is covered with fog for about one-third of the days of the year. The most important feature of Masuleh is the use of roofing as a route.
Residents of the city have agreed on the use of their roofs as a public route, and in fact these spaces are the social courtyard of the people who turn into urban gatherings at various ceremonies and celebrations.
Masuleh Village stands as a testament to ancient heritage and unique architecture. Perched over a thousand meters above sea level, this remarkable settlement traces its roots back to 1006 AD. Characterized by its ochre-brown buildings, Masuleh’s unconventional layout sees houses seamlessly blending into the mountain slope, with roofs often serving as an integral part of the village streets.
