Ustad Ali Maryam



Ustad Ali Maryam was an Iranian architect of the 19th century. He is known for designing three edifices in particular, all in Kashan:


 * Borujerdi House (1857)
 * Tabatabai House (1840s)
 * Aminoddole Carvansarai (1863)

The word "ustad" means master in Persian. The name "Maryam" he picked up when he built a beautiful house for a woman by the name "Maryam" in Kashan.

It is written that Ustad Ali Maryam made maquette models of the buildings he would build.

The Borujerdi residence alone took 18 years to build. It was built for the bride of the Borujerdi family, who came from the affluent Tabātabāei family, for whom Ustad Ali had built a house some years earlier.

The Aminoddole Carvansarai or Timcheh-ye Amin od-Dowleh (تیمچه امین‌الدوله; built in 1863) was commissioned by Mirza Ali Khan, an influential statesman of the Qajarid court, whose title was "Amin-od-dowleh" (Trusted of the state). It is located in the Kashan Bazaar, where Persian rugs are still sold and traded. Ustad Ali also built a house and caravanserai for Amin al-Dowleh.