Shah Cheragh, Iran
Shah Cheragh is a mosque and funerary monument in the city of Shiraz, Iran. Despite appearing to be an ordinary mosque from the outside, it is famous for its spectacular interior, with millions of small mirror and glass pieces covering the walls and ceiling of the temple.
'Shah Cheragh' means ‘King of the Light’, and the site was chosen because of the legend of a traveller who in 900 A.D. investigated a shining light that illuminated a gravesite. Inside the grave was a body in shining armour, believed to be an important figure in the Muslim community. As a result, the site and structure have become a important place of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims.
The interior of the enormous dome is inlaid with hundreds of thousands of finely-crafted tiles, while the interior walls are covered with pieces of dazzling and pale glass intermixed with tiles coloured green, yellow, red and blue.
Large windows made up of stained glass mosaics reach down to the ground and allow light to flood into the temple. The mirrored glass reflects this light in all directions, and has been described as an ‘exploded mirror ball’.
Over the centuries, the mosque has incurred damage from both people and as a result of natural disasters, but it has been consistently renovated and repaired. Today, it is visited by millions of tourists and pilgrims each year.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..