10 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Ceilings In Mosques Will Leave You Breathless

Mar 23, 2015

For centuries, mosques around the world have been revered for their intricate design and incredible details. Yet, unlike a place such as the Sistine Chapel, where millions of tourists visit every year, many of the most beautiful mosques remain unknown by people outside of Islam. And yet they display some of the most breathtaking architecture anywhere. Today we share some of the more incredible ones out there.

Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

Known as the “pink mosque”, this spectacular place was built in 1888 and can be found in Shiraz, Iran.

Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Qom, Iran

Also located in Iran, the Fatima Masumeh shrine attracts thousands of Shi’a Muslims each year. They visit to pay respects to Fatima Masumeh, who is a saint in their eyes. This is one of the most important shrines for Shi’a.

Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Named after an Islamic revolution in Iran, the Shah Mosque is also called the “Emam Mosque” or “Jame’ Abbasi Mosque” and is located in Isfahan, Iran. It dates back to 1629.

Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil, Iraq

One of the most recent additions on the list is the Jalil Khayat, which was completed in 2007. It was a charity project started by Jalil Khayat, and his sons finished work on it after he passed in 2005.

Vakil Mosque, Shiraz

Another beautiful example located in Shiraz, Iran, the Vakil Mosque dates back to 1773 and was designed by a prominent architect named Karim Khan.

Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

With some of the most intricate patterns and calming blue colors, the Sheikh Lotf Mosque is a sight to behold. Paul Steinhardt, a physicist from Princeton University, remarked on evidence suggesting a mathematical pattern called “quasicrystal” behind these geometric patterns.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates is home to this special mosque, another recent addition to the Muslim world that opened in 2007. It was completed by Yusef Abdelki.

Al Soltan Qalawoon Mosque, Cairo, Egypt

Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan

A unique design that brings together Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture, the Wazir Khan Mosque opened in 1642.

Grand Mosque of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Photo credits: imgur.com, Ramin Rahmani Nejad, Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji, Ali Kordzadeh, Mohammad Domiri, Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji, Karam, Salman Arif, Fatima Masoumeh, Ali Kordzadeh, Habib Q, Abdelrahman Assem, Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji, wikimedia.org, my2200, my2200

A See-Through Church That Suspends Disbelief

Mar 23, 2015

Spaces of prayer and worship have traditionally been designed create suspension of disbelief in order to give the users a grander sense of a higher being. This church, designed by Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh, does just that by appearing to be completely see-through.

Layers of rusted steel ribs are stacked upon each other with spacers that create gaps between each piece. The result is a structure that is more translucent than it is opaque, allowing light, air and views to flow into one exterior wall and out the other.

The ephemeral church blends majestically into the surrounding Belgian hillside, especially when backlit by the rising or setting sun. It won’t protect you from rain, wind, floods or snow, but it will provide a serene setting to appreciate the things greater than yourself.

She Bought A Boeing 727 Shell For $2000, And Made It Her Dream Home

Mar 23, 2015

Most folks have a style of home they like, be it craftsman, contemporary, log, or whatever. Few of them have Boeing 727, 707, in their list of dream homes. Joanne isn’t most people. She took a piece of land, a $2000 used 727 jumbo jet shell, plus a bit of creativity and created a really incredible place to call home.

At 52 years young she built an integrated house in the woods that’s as cool as anything we’ve seen.

She calls it “Little Trump”, named after – you guessed it, Donald Trump. And that’s not taking much away from his name when you look up close. The entire inside is covered in teak paneling, giving it a sort of hip island vibe meets Shangri-La sort of feeling.

Unlike some other jets we’ve seen converted into homes, which look more like makeshift laboratories than homes, this one actually feels inviting. You wouldn’t mind sleeping here…hell, maybe you’d enjoy it. Forever.

She even outfitted a jacuzzi tub in one end.

The view of the ocean isn’t half bad either!

Large Home Built Using Two Shipping Containers

Mar 20, 2015

You wouldn’t know it from taking a walk around this contemporary home designed by Danish architecture firm Lendager Arkitekter, but it’s primary structure is comprised of two upcycled shipping containers. While many container projects are largely built-out in a factory controlled environment then shipped to their sites as completed products, this house simply used them as blocks with which to configure a much more generous floor plan.

Here are the containers as they were configured on the site, ready to be built-out with insulation, siding and finishes. This type of hybrid construction lends itself to much more flexibility when it comes to designing spaces.

Inexpensive, readily available materials were shipped inside the containers that were used to set up the structure, such as the oriented strand board (OSB) seen here on the floors and walls.

By spanning the space between two containers, an open floor plan is created in a way that cannot be achieved by using a stand alone container, which by itself has very limited dimensional flexibility.

Old Meets New In This Stunning Ancient Stone Home Remodel

Mar 20, 2015

Some of the most emotionally visceral architectural achievements are a result of a properly handled adaptive re-use. Blending the old with the new is a delicate exercise in restraint and creativity. So when one comes around that achieves such a sought-after level of success, we feel the obligation to share it with you.

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Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architects renovated this ancient stone building, which has long-since resided in a historic and picturesque Swiss village. The rustic, monolithic shell provided an apt base of inspiration for the architect to draw upon when designing the interiors and carving openings into its facades. Although there is much that is new, contemporary and modern to be found inside, you are never far removed from the history that exists in what remains of the stone ruins.

This project shows us the importance of our history, and to take the time to appreciate where we’ve come from as we move to where we are going.

photo credit: Hannes Henz

This ‘Stealth’ Getaway Isn’t Your Grampa’s Log Cabin

Mar 20, 2015

Through the use of aerodynamic lines and application of native materials, the Stealth Cabin by Superkül inc flies under the radar of imposing visual impact in an attempt to recede into the natural environment it inhabits.

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The sleek 4-season cabin is a contemporary take on the storied log cabin vernacular, and is meant to champion the generous wealth of resources the forest provides for shelter, warmth and protection. While not as small or as modest in stature as many other secluded vacation spots, the Stealth Cabin never feels overwhelming in its form and makes a point to embrace the aspects of the site that make it unique.

The 1500 square foot structure takes every opportunity to expose itself to the spectacular forest scenery. Large windows and massive sliding doors let the trees pour into the conditioned spaces creating a symbiotic indoor/outdoor experience.

Organic Inspired Nautilus Seashell Home Is Something To Behold

Mar 19, 2015

Ever wonder what would happen if Arial of The Little Mermaid became an architect? Neither have I, but I imagine she might design a house that looks something like that. In reality, this wasn’t designed by a mermaid but rather by Javier Senosiain from Arquitectura Organica, a Mexican firm that specializes in unique creations like the one you see below.

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While it looks quite extraordinary from the outside, when you step inside the home you instantly notice the barrage of bright colors spilling through the custom stained glass window. It’s simply gorgeous. The whimsical layout was designed to bridge the gap between architecture and nature, hence the shell shape. Inside the home you’ll find lots of curved edges and plants sprouting between organically shaped seating areas. Every room in this home brings some magical aura with it. Overall, it represents one of the most unique homes we’ve ever seen. What do you think?

63.02° House Takes A Turn On Japanese Modernism

Mar 19, 2015

This stark, utilitarian home in Nakana, Tokyo gets its geometric namesake from the angle it takes to the adjacent street: 63.02°. All windows and doors, including the main entry, are concentrated outward from the angled facade that is prominently exposed as if sliced clean like a hot samurai sword through miso.

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The abundance of exposed concrete – both interior and exterior – is common in contemporary Japanese architecture and gives the structure a juxtaposing visual heaviness that is offset by the delicately revealed curtain wall. Interiors are minimal and subdued, drawing further attention to the primary focal point that is the angled facade. The home was designed by Schemata Architecture Office.

Rare Sighting: A PreFab Home That Looks Natural In The Wild

Mar 19, 2015

It’s often difficult for a pre-fabricated home or building to have a cohesive relationship with its building site. Even if great care is taken to orient the factory-built structure to best highlight the important views, topography, etc., they can have a tendency to feel tacked on rather than integrated with their surroundings.

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This particular project by German industrial designers Patrick Frey and Bjorn Gotte manages to come off the shelf and into the wild with a soft and subtle nuance not often seen in pre-fab.

The Summerhaus Piu PreFab Vacation Home boasts a clean, warm material palette that quickly associates it with its surrounding environment. There is some flexibility in the design and manufacturing process that allows materials to be applied smartly based on native and available materials. This gives the home a closer connection to its final resting place regardless of where that might be. Large openings bring in light, and the home is pointed out towards the best, most scenic views.

This Postman Collected Pebbles During The Day. At Night He Built Something Incredible.

Mar 18, 2015

In 1879 a postman by the name of Ferdinand Cheval stepped on a small pebble, and after picking it up and examining it, he got an idea. He would spend the next 30+ years collecting pebbles of various shapes and sizes on his 18-mile-long route. After work he would mix together lime and concrete to build the Palais Idéal.

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“I said to myself: since Nature is willing to do the sculpture, I will do the masonry and the architecture”

Located in Hauterives, the palace is a popular tourist destination and also serves as inspiration for artists. An example of “naïve art architecture”, . He spent 22 years building the outer walls, using stones he gathered in his pockets. Eventually he carried a basket and finally a wheelbarrow to collect the necessary stones to complete the project.

Ferdinand is an inspiration not just to artists, but anyone who rides a wave of inspiration to the finish. His efforts prove that with time, passion, and effort, you can achieve almost anything.

Photographs by EMMANUEL GEORGES and CLAUDE TRAVELS