In Kashan’s old quarters, where craftsmen still hammer copper in vaulted bazaars and sunlight filters through stained glass onto timeworn courtyards, UNESCO’s recent recognition has added a new chapter to the city’s architectural legacy.

On World Cities Day 2025, Kashan was officially recognized as a creative city of architecture by UNESCO during the 43rd general conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) that positions the city among the world’s key centers of sustainable design and heritage preservation.

The central Iranian city now joins Rome, Paris, and Barcelona in the architecture category, highlighting its sustainable design principles and authentic civilizational heritage.

Home to more than 1,700 historic sites, including 330 nationally registered monuments and the UNESCO-listed Fin Garden, Kashan represents centuries of creativity in urban planning, craftsmanship, and environmental adaptation.

The UN recognition comes as a turning point in Kashan’s trajectory, underscoring the city’s role as a model of Iranian-Islamic architectural excellence.

It also underscores Iran’s growing presence in the field of cultural diplomacy and global architectural dialogue.

City shaped by history and architecture

Kashan’s history dates back over 8,000 years, with the nearby Sialk Hill revealing evidence of early human settlement and artifacts from multiple ancient civilizations.

Over the millennia, the city evolved into a vibrant hub of trade, scholarship, and cultural exchange, particularly flourishing during the Safavid era.

The city’s architecture offers a glimpse into ancient Iranian architectural knowledge, where wind catchers and domed roofs mitigate the extremes of a desert climate, and the Persian Qanat water management systems reflect a sophisticated understanding of sustainability that predates modern engineering by centuries.

Kashan's Fin Garden, where water channels pass through cypress-lined walkways, stands as a symbol of Persian architectural ingenuity.

Its pools, flowing fountains, and lush green lawns, designed during the Safavid era, reflect harmony between human habitation and the desert environment.

For generations, the garden has symbolized the city itself as it embodies a fusion of art, science, and nature that continues to define Kashan.

The city's traditional houses, such as the Tabatabai House and the Borujerdi House, demonstrate intricate plaster work, mirror decorations, stained glass, and carefully designed courtyards.

These residences, belonging to affluent Iranian merchant families, reveal a Persian engineering feat that balances architectural elegance with climatic intelligence.

Beyond private homes, Kashan’s bazaars continue to thrive as centers of craftsmanship, offering carpets, pottery, among other things that sustain Iran’s artistic traditions.

The UNESCO network that connects more than 300 cities across disciplines ranging from architecture and crafts to literature, music, and gastronomy has positioned Kashan as a center of heritage and an example for sustainable urban innovation, providing a platform for international collaboration.