iwan

An iwan (Persian: إيوان eyvān) is defined as a vaulted hall or space, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open.

Iwans were common in the Sassanid architecture of Persia, later finding their way into Islamic architecture. This transition reached its peak during the Seljuki era, when iwans became established as a fundamental design unit in Islamic architecture.

Typically, iwans open on to a central courtyard, and have been used in both public and residential architecture.