Open Museum of Ardabil Grand Mosque

Built in Ardabil next to the remains of the oldest mosque in the region which was reportedly built over a pre-Islamic great altar, the design for this museum in the open comes from the shape of the old battlements, all the while taking care to not outshine the mosque. Using uniquely local materials to ensure that it harmonised with the existing site, it was necessary to build a retaining wall in order to protect the mosque against soil slides. This gallery has stabilised the elevated great mosque without destroying the existing archaeology, all the while respecting the international rules of historical site conservation. The project has reactivated and rehabilitated what was formerly an abandoned urban area.Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture