Do you want your own tea house?
26 December 2006 18:41 p.m.
New forms and ways of architectural expressiveness are used in the construction of houses of culture and public buildings widely spread in Tajikistan over the last years.
Special attention is being paid to the problem of national colour in architecture, the perfection being attained in close and creative cooperation of architects, builders, engravers, painters and skilled craftsmen. The Tajik people's traditions in architecture and decorative art are most carefully preserved in the construction of national teahouses which have been the place of leisure and rest, meetings and talks since ancient days.
The elements of decor — engraving, stucco molding, wall painting — in the architecture of such teahouses can be seen in "Farogat", "Rohat", "Dilafruz" and
"Orom" tea houses around the country which indicate to their creators' had refined taste. Especially attractive is the "Sino" teahouse in the "Zumrad" sanatorium of Isfara region of Northern part of Tajikistan.
Once there was an ancient Middle Age monument Kalai-Bolo at the "Puli Hissor" gates in Isfara. Unfortunately, it had been taken down and later the "Zumrad" sanatorium grew in its place. It is situated on the bank of the small and cool Isfara river surrounded by the "Childukhtaron" fabulous mountains and wonderful apricot gardens.
However, the pearl of this exotic beautiful eastern corner is the "Sino" teahouse. It attracts visitors not only by its aromatic tea but first of all, by its beautiful decor. The creative skill of the people's craftsmen have been embodied in the decoration of the engraved columns, the wooden ceiling and the gunch (plaster) wall-panels.
The delicate vegetation design performed in rich and glowing colours creates the image of a blooming garden lending lightness and freshness to the building. The best masters of painting expressed their own rich imagination in strict conformity with the style of the folk ornamental school.
One of the artistic canons in the art of ornament is the uniqueness of the design. Inimitable in this respect are the columns performed by the masters guided by usto (master) A. Kuldoshev. Every one of them is a real masterpiece of art.
The best trends in the Tajik architecture are based on harmony and coordination of architectural, planning, engineering, constructive and decorative methods. A building perfectly constructed and decorated, is known to exert favorable influence on one's psychological state. Art has great emotional power. It makes a person feel, inspires optimism, carries him away from gloomy thoughts, and gives him/her strength and confidence. That is why the creation of masterpieces like "Sino" is so important. While decorative design contributes to the people’s artistic education it also enlightens part of the human role-played there, which also carries with it for centuries.
THE “SINO” TEA-HOUSE
A little background: It was the summer of 1978. A group of people and Mr. Matveev Anatoliy Nikoiaevich, an executive from the USSR Ministry of Agriculture had visited the sanatorium to inspect the work of the health resort. From the first sight they were fascinated by the fantastic nature, by the clean mountain air, shadowy lanes of young branchy trees and by the bright flowerbeds. Having tasted the sweet fruit of mulberry trees, grapes, peaches, apricots Anatoliy gratefully shook hands with the gardeners who managed to grow them. Walking along the Isfara riverbank, admiring the Zarboft river waterfall and having refreshed himself, with its clean cool water, he kept saying: “You have built paradise, my friends”. The guest's admiration made people recollect the bait inscribed on the main portal of the Indian Taj-mahal — the worlds famous monument of culture.
If there is a Paradise, It is here!
The next day Anatoliy Nikoiaevich and colleagues set out to Isfara. After the sightseeing they made up their minds to have tea at the «Orom» teahouse situated on the Isfara riverbank in the very centre of the town.
Anatoliy Nikoiaevich was astonished by the nice wall painting in the teahouse and he heaped questions upon his colleagues and the head of the district agricultural management who willingly told them about the national traditions and art.
Suddenly Anatoliy Nikoiaevich, having taken a sip of tea out of a nice cup (piala) with a picture of the "Orom" teahouse on it, addressed his colleagues dreamingly:
— If only Mirzo undertook to build a teahouse like this in one of the corners in the sanatorium area it could be even more beautiful and would attract more visitors to the health resort.
Those present, liked the idea and were surprised at the thought that his idea coincided with their own long-standing intention, though they were afraid of the great responsibility and all those difficulties and the undertaking that was filled with. Anatoiy Nikoiaevich noticed a hesitation and asked with a smile:
— Does everybody agree to suggestion?
And why are you silent then?
— One of the colleagues said, I doubt if I can cope, — timidly.
— You can, — everybody exclaimed. We'll help you!
Frankly speaking, the guest’s proposal and support they have received did not motivate them. However, they went to the town Party Committee where they would meet with its first secretary Mr. U. Kurbonov and discuss their plans into official documents.
This is how they began the building of a teahouse, which was named after Abuali-ibn-Sino, the greatest scientist and thinker of the East.
The teahouse was to be a unique building as far as its architecture, artistic design and functioning were concerned it was to incarnate this idea of chief engineer Mr. A. Sattorov. They went around not only in the Republic but also to the neighboring Ferghana valley and Sai kand regions. They examined both the ancient monuments and national style buildings. Afterwards, they submitted their project to several Institutes of the Republic.
However, they were appreciated at first and then the State Building Committee the Tajik Council of Ministers suggested that the national house should be designed by the Building Department of Isfara Town Executive Committee. After the design was approved a competition was announced to choose the best carpenters, engravers, painters and well-known masters that took part in building the national teahouse.
As a result of a careful selection a well-known master Abdugafur Yunusov was chosen of all builders and carpenters, while Asfiekhoja Amonulloev and Kokhoja Safoev, the first painters in the Ferghana valley were seen as the best painters. Usto Abdukhamid Kuldoshev and his sons Abdulkhakim and Abdusobit — as the engravers, skilled hands of these masters were to create the incomparable national teahouse in one of the most picturesque nooks in the area.
To be continued…
Until next time, God bless you all;
