A windcatcher, Badgir or (بادگیر) in Persian, is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. Windcatchers come in various designs, such as the uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional. It is believed that the windcatcher functions based on the difference of height between base and tip. The difference creates a slight pressure gradient ...

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A khaneqah (also written Khanqa,Khaneqa) is traditionally a building designed specifically for gatherings of the Sufi brotherhood. Most Khaneqahs originated in the 11th or 12th centuries as Sufism spread through Central Asia. They were usually built in the vicinity of the tomb of a Sufi Sheikh or elder, as is the case with Sheikh Ghazali in Tus, or the mausoleum of Hakim Termezi (Termedhi). At the center of the building was usually a domed hall for the meeting of the brotherhood, surr ...

Including:

• Khaneqah - see also

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An architect is a person involved in the planning, designing and oversight of a building's construction. The most basic definition of an architect is a professional who is qualified to design and provide advice - functional, aesthetic and technical - on built objects in our public and private landscapes. More generally, an architect is the designer of a scheme or plan. "Architect" is derived from Latin: architectus, and from Greek: arkhitekton (master builder), arkhi ( ...

Including:

• Architect - Canada
• Architect - UK
• Architect - USA
• Architect - Hong Kong
• Architect - Notable architects
• Architect - Notable schools of Architecture

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This article is about the roadside inns. The band Santana also has an album entitled Caravanserai. A caravanserai (also spelt caravansarai, caravansary) or khan (the usual term in Arab countries) was a roadside inn where caravans could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade rou ...

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In reviving, the glories of the Achaemenian past, the Sassanians were no mere imitators. The art of this period reveals an astonishing virility. In certain respects it anticipates features later developed during the Islamic period. The conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great had inaugurated the spread of Hellenistic art into Western Asia; but if the East accepted the outward form of this art, it never really assimilated its spirit. Already in the Parthian period Hellenistic art was being interpreted freely by the peoples of the Near East a ...

See also:

Sassanid architecture, Sassanid architecture - The origin, Sassanid architecture - Uniqueness, Sassanid architecture - Sassanid influence, Sassanid architecture - Foreign influence

Read more here: » Sassanid architecture: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid architecture - The origin

The style may be traced to ancient times centuries before the common era. For example, the outline of Cyrus I's garden, which adjoined a palace, is still viewable today - it was built around 500 BCE. During the reign of the Sassanids (third to seventh century CE), and under the influence of Zoroastrianism, the presence of water in art grew to importance - this manifested itself as fountains and ponds in gardens. During the occupations by the Arabs the aesthetic aspect of the garden increased in importance, overtaking the utility of the garde ...

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Persian Gardens, Persian Gardens - History, Persian Gardens - Elements of the Persian garden, Persian Gardens - Descriptions, Persian Gardens - Styles, Persian Gardens - Hayat, Persian Gardens - Meidan, Persian Gardens - Chahar Bagh, Persian Gardens - Park, Persian Gardens - Bagh, Persian Gardens - Bibliography

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In the United States, people wishing to become licensed architects (interns) are required to pass a series of multiple exams (depending on specific criteria set forth by the State in which the testing is conducted), referred to as the Architectural Registration Examination (the ARE). In addition, interns must have multiple years of documented practical work experience (quantity depends on type of educational experience and type of educational degree earned) working under a licensed Architect before they may become eligible to take the ARE. A ...

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Architect, Architect - Canada, Architect - UK, Architect - USA, Architect - Hong Kong, Architect - Notable architects, Architect - Notable schools of Architecture

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Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration. Nearly every surface of the entire complex has been decorated. The exterior decorations of the Taj are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture of any period. Once again, decoration motifs are repeated throughout the complex. As the surface area changes -- a large pishtaq has more area than a smaller -- the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements come in basically three categories: Calligraphy Abstract geometric elements Vegatati ...

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Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal - Origin and inspiration, Taj Mahal - Influences on Taj Mahal design, Taj Mahal - Design elements, Taj Mahal - Features of the complex, Taj Mahal - The garden, Taj Mahal - Outlying buildings, Taj Mahal - The tomb, Taj Mahal - Decoration, Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration, Taj Mahal - Interior decoration, Taj Mahal - Construction, Taj Mahal - History, Taj Mahal - Legends and theories

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Soon after its completion, Shah Jahan was deposed and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb. Legend has it that he spent the remainder of his days gazing from through window at the Taj. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurengzeb buried him in the Taj Mahal, next to his wife, the only disruption of the otherwise perfect symmetry in the architecture. By the late 19th century, parts of the Taj Mahal had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the Mutiny, the Taj faced defacement by British soldiers, sepoys and government officials who chiselled out precious st ...

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Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal - Origin and inspiration, Taj Mahal - Influences on Taj Mahal design, Taj Mahal - Design elements, Taj Mahal - Features of the complex, Taj Mahal - The garden, Taj Mahal - Outlying buildings, Taj Mahal - The tomb, Taj Mahal - Decoration, Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration, Taj Mahal - Interior decoration, Taj Mahal - Construction, Taj Mahal - History, Taj Mahal - Legends and theories

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Origins of the name The name comes from Persian, the language of the Mughal court, Taj means crown and Mahal means palace. Most sources suggest that Taj Mahal is a shorter variant of Mumtaz Mahal, the nickname of Arjumand Banu Begum, meaning First Lady of the Palace. As early as 1670, the French traveler Francois Be ...

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Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal - Origin and inspiration, Taj Mahal - Influences on Taj Mahal design, Taj Mahal - Design elements, Taj Mahal - Features of the complex, Taj Mahal - The garden, Taj Mahal - Outlying buildings, Taj Mahal - The tomb, Taj Mahal - Decoration, Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration, Taj Mahal - Interior decoration, Taj Mahal - Construction, Taj Mahal - History, Taj Mahal - Legends and theories

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Architectural history studies the evolution and history of architecture across the world through a consideration of various influences- artistic, cultural, political, economic and technological. In general, the question is one of relating meaning (intangible functions, purposes, symbols) with the built environment (material tables, windows, roofs, paths) through the necessities of life (food, work, communion etc.) within the historical context. Architectural history, like any other form of historical knowledge, is subject to the limit ...

Including:

• Architectural history - Prehistoric architecture
• Architectural history - Historic architecture Dated Events
• Architectural history - Ancient architecture
• Architectural history - Western Architecture — Classical to Eclecticism
• Architectural history - Classical architecture
• Architectural history - Medieval architecture
• Architectural history - Italian Renaissance architecture
• Architectural history - Baroque architecture
• Architectural history - The Age of Enlightenment
• Architectural history - Consequences of Enlightenment
• Architectural history - Modern architecture and beyond
• Architectural history - Writing Tabula Rasa
• Architectural history - Postmodern architecture
• Architectural history - Critical Regionalism
• Architectural history - Regional architecture

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The six primary styles of the Persian garden may be seen in the following table, which puts them in the context of their function and style. Gardens are not limited to a particular style, but often integrate different styles, or have areas with different functions and styles. Persian Gardens - Hayat. Main article: Hayat Publicly, it is a classical Persian layout with heavy emphasis on aesthetics over function. Man-made structure in the Garden is particularly important - with arch ...

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Persian Gardens, Persian Gardens - History, Persian Gardens - Elements of the Persian garden, Persian Gardens - Descriptions, Persian Gardens - Styles, Persian Gardens - Hayat, Persian Gardens - Meidan, Persian Gardens - Chahar Bagh, Persian Gardens - Park, Persian Gardens - Bagh, Persian Gardens - Bibliography

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Sassanian art revived forms and traditions native to Persia; and in the Islamic period these reached the shores of the Mediterranean. The influence of sassanid architecture reached far beyond their borders, it had a distinctive influnce on Byzantine architecture and Islamic architecture. Islamic architecture in fact borrowed heavily from Persian architecture. Baghdad, for example, was based on Persian precedents such as Firouzabad in Persia. In fact, it is now known that the two designers who were hired by al-Mansur to plan the city's design were Naubakht, a former Persian Z ...

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Sassanid architecture, Sassanid architecture - The origin, Sassanid architecture - Uniqueness, Sassanid architecture - Sassanid influence, Sassanid architecture - Foreign influence

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The conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great had inaugurated the spread of Hellenistic art into Western Asia; but if the East accepted the outward form of this art, it never really assimilated its spirit. Already in the Parthian period Hellenistic art was being interpreted freely by the peoples of the Near East and throughout the Sassanian period there was a continuing process of reaction against it, However Sassanid architecture borrowed a definit ...

See also:

Sassanid architecture, Sassanid architecture - The origin, Sassanid architecture - Uniqueness, Sassanid architecture - Sassanid influence, Sassanid architecture - Foreign influence

Read more here: » Sassanid architecture: Encyclopedia II - Sassanid architecture - Foreign influence

Sun light and its effects were an important factor of structural design in Persian gardens, textures and shapes were specifically chosen by architects to harness the light. Due to the latitudinal position of Iran, shade is also incredibly important in the garden, without which it could not be a feasibly useable area - trees and trelisses largely feature as biotic shade; pavilions and walls are also structurally prominent in blocking the sun. Also related to the heat is the importance of water in the gardens. A form of underground tunn ...

See also:

Persian Gardens, Persian Gardens - History, Persian Gardens - Elements of the Persian garden, Persian Gardens - Descriptions, Persian Gardens - Styles, Persian Gardens - Hayat, Persian Gardens - Meidan, Persian Gardens - Chahar Bagh, Persian Gardens - Park, Persian Gardens - Bagh, Persian Gardens - Bibliography

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Base The focus of the Taj is the white marble tomb. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin: a building with arched entrances, topped by a large dome. In India, and most especially at the Taj, this simple idea reached its zenith. The tomb stands on a square plinth. The base structure is a large, multi-chambered structure. The main chamber houses the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz (the actua ...

See also:

Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal - Origin and inspiration, Taj Mahal - Influences on Taj Mahal design, Taj Mahal - Design elements, Taj Mahal - Features of the complex, Taj Mahal - The garden, Taj Mahal - Outlying buildings, Taj Mahal - The tomb, Taj Mahal - Decoration, Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration, Taj Mahal - Interior decoration, Taj Mahal - Construction, Taj Mahal - History, Taj Mahal - Legends and theories

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In Hong Kong to be an architect, one must be a graduate of a university specified by the HKIA plus a two year internship, then take the architect registration examination. Architects from U.K. and U.S.A. with 10 years experience aren't required to take the examination, but are required to attend an interview just as a formality. Architects in Hong Kong are not authorised to submit building plans but use it as a 'title' only, unlike in most of the western world which carries a statutory obligation. To be able to submit building plans, ...

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Architect, Architect - Canada, Architect - UK, Architect - USA, Architect - Hong Kong, Architect - Notable architects, Architect - Notable schools of Architecture

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Architects in the UK qualify through courses and exams recognized by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB). Typically the sequence of education leading to full qualification and registration takes seven years and is: Three-year degree course RIBA Part 1 exam One year’s professional experience Further two-year course RIBA Part 2 exam Another year’s professional experience< ...

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Architect, Architect - Canada, Architect - UK, Architect - USA, Architect - Hong Kong, Architect - Notable architects, Architect - Notable schools of Architecture

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In Canada, architects are required to belong to provincial architectural associations that require them to complete an accredited degree in architecture, finish a multi-year internship process, pass a series of exams, and pay an annual fee to acquire and maintain a license to practice. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada [2] aims to be "the voice of Architecture and its practice in Canada." Architects who are members of this organization are permitted to use the suffix MRAIC after their names. All members of the RAIC hold accredited degrees in architecture, but not all Canadian ...

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Architect, Architect - Canada, Architect - UK, Architect - USA, Architect - Hong Kong, Architect - Notable architects, Architect - Notable schools of Architecture

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Construction began with setting foundations for the tomb. An area of roughly three acres was excavated and filled with dirt to reduce seepage from the river. The entire site was levelled to a fixed height about 50 m above the riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were then dug down to the point that water was encountered. These wells were later filled with stone and rubble, forming the basis for the footings of the tomb. An additional well was built to same depth nearby to provide a visual meth ...

See also:

Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal - Origin and inspiration, Taj Mahal - Influences on Taj Mahal design, Taj Mahal - Design elements, Taj Mahal - Features of the complex, Taj Mahal - The garden, Taj Mahal - Outlying buildings, Taj Mahal - The tomb, Taj Mahal - Decoration, Taj Mahal - Exterior decoration, Taj Mahal - Interior decoration, Taj Mahal - Construction, Taj Mahal - History, Taj Mahal - Legends and theories

Read more here: » Taj Mahal: Encyclopedia II - Taj Mahal - Construction