Deyhouk, a dream of rebuilding the past
In the east of Iran, between the Lut desert in the south and Mashad in the north, lies the abandoned town of Deyhouk. After an earthquake in 1978, everyone left the town except for one person.
Khaplu Palace, Royal Residence of Baltistan
Built in 1840, Khaplu Palace is the finest surviving example of a royal residence in Baltistan, a provincial autonomous region in Pakistan’s north east. The palace was constructed with the help of Kashmiri and Balti craftsmen and combines the local architectural style with influences from neighbouring regions including Tibet, Kashmir, Ladak and Central Asia.
The Ruins of Konye Urgench in Turkmenistan
In eastern Turkmenistan, not far from the Uzbekistan border, lies the ruins Konye-Urgench. The city dates all the way back to the 4/5th century but today only a few buildings constructed between the 11th and16th centuries remain.
Meet the young Pakistanis conserving Mughal heritage in Lahore (part 2)
Architects, art historians, engineers, fine artists, chemists, conservators, and ceramists make up the constellation of skilled young people working for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture on one of the largest restoration projects in Pakistan. I spoke with some of the team working on this project to understand why this restoration work is so important to them and to Pakistan.
Meet the young Pakistanis conserving Mughal heritage in Lahore (part 1)
Architects, art historians, engineers, fine artists, chemists, conservators, and ceramists make up the constellation of skilled young people working for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture on one of the largest restoration projects in Pakistan. I spoke with some of the team working on this project to understand why this restoration work is so important to them and to Pakistan.
The doorways of Stone Town, Zanzibar
Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital, is arguably most famous for its iconic wooden doorways. Often they are the only thing left standing when the buildings they belong to collapse, which an alarming number have.