Nashtifan Windmills in their Environmental Context, Khurasan, Iran

Abstract

Focusing on Nashtifan windmills in Razavi Khurasan Province, Iran, the present paper examines these structures in their physical and natural context. This research is directed in two ways: the small-scale that focuses on the windmills as individual manufacturing units and surveys their structural and functional characteristics, and the large-scale that looks at the formation of the windmills in connection with local and regional geographical factors. While laying emphasis on Nashtifan windmills, this paper underlines the significance of the study of the lesser-known windmills distributed across the province, many of which are on the verge of destruction. The examination of several sets of windmills in comparison with one another paves the way for a more detailed exploration of the construction and operation of Nashtifan windmills at the heart of this research.