Sarooj

Qeshm Island, Iran. Research.

This project is an effort to recreate, document and test Sarooj using traditional methods. Sarooj is a lime-based mortar with very low water penetration that has been used across Iran for centuries to construct buildings in direct contact with water, such as bridges, water reservoirs, ice houses, dams and baths.

Its smooth, shiny surface also made it useful for decoration (known as Sarooj Bori) and insulation, and until the early 1990s it was the main mortar for stone masonry in many regions of Iran, especially along the Zagros fringe.

Making Sarooj is a deliberate and intricate process, unlike the swift and simple production of Portland cement. Because cement is so convenient, the knowledge of making and applying Sarooj is fading fast, despite its durability, which far exceeds that of cement.

In this effort we have been interviewing local builders on Qeshm Island to document and recreate how Sarooj is made.