Namaz-Khaneh

The design is based on two intersecting routes. One links the surroundings with the park, bisecting the corner by means of a pathway dividing a vast lawn. Approximately two-thirds along its length, a cubic volume rises as a landmark. This structure is composed of two cubes, both open to the sky, one of which is set within the other. The inner volume is rotated within the outer such that the orientation is directed toward Mecca. Two narrow, full-height slits on this axis express this orientation in their framing of a pole positioned some distance away. While further enhancing the process of meditation, it is intended to establish the role of nature as a medium to reconstitute man's spiritual integrity. A secondary route connects the carpet museum to the park, and in doing so establishes a proximity between visitors and cubic structure. The route, composed of a system of terraces, steps down from the museum to intersect with the diagonal pathway along its lenght. The terraces about the wall separating this area from the existing park. At the point of its intersection with the diagonal pathway, the wall is pierced to form a portal or gateway. This large, square opening not only spans the pathway, but also frames the cubic volume.Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture