Lotfi House

Lotfi House is one of the historic buildings of Damghan in Semnan Province, dating back to the reign of the Qajar king Mozaffar ad-Din Shah. It was built on a plot of about 10,000 square metres and today houses the Damghan City History Museum. The complex includes several sections, among them an outer courtyard, an inner courtyard, a back courtyard, the servants' quarters and a stable. Its layout offers a picture of the way of life and the architecture of traditional Iranian houses in the Qajar period. Lotfi House stands in the centre of Damghan on 12 Farvardin Street, and thanks to its authentic architecture and eye-catching decoration it is regarded as one of the city's most prominent historic buildings.

The entrance of the house is decorated with brickwork, blind arches and a pointed arch, and platforms for resting once stood beside it. After the entrance vestibule (hashti), the different parts of the house branch off from one another, and the courtyard, with its central pool, surrounding rooms and large iwans, forms the inward-looking structure of the building. The main iwan has four plaster columns with stucco-decorated capitals, and a large five-door room extends from it. The inner courtyard (andaruni) includes a vestibule and a separate entrance corridor, two-storey rooms and a kitchen, and beside it are the servants' living quarters and the stable. The stucco work on the capitals, the brickwork, the blind arches and the wooden windows are among the most important decorative elements of the house. The Damghan City History Museum holds a collection of blacksmithing tools, farming implements, documents and deeds, local costumes, household items and old manuscripts, introducing visitors to aspects of the life and culture of the people of the region. The building was converted into a museum in 1392 (2013) and in 1401 (2022) was inscribed on the Iran National Heritage List under registration number 33744.

To reach Lotfi House, you can head to the centre of Damghan by city routes and reach this historic building on 12 Farvardin Street. Taking a city taxi is also possible, and if you travel by bus you can get off near Imam Square and walk the rest of the way. Because the house is located in the urban fabric, a visit can be combined with seeing other historic buildings in central Damghan, such as the Tarikhaneh Mosque. Spring and summer are good times to travel to Damghan and visit this attraction, and it is best to visit the museum during office hours. During your visit, helping to preserve the historic atmosphere of the building, refraining from touching or damaging the decorations and respecting the restrictions on entering the various sections will help protect this cultural heritage.