Architecture - Central Asia - page 445

Architecture

Central Asia's most impressive surviving artistic heritage is its architecture. Some of
the world's most audacious and beautiful Islamic buildings grace the cities of Bukhara,
Khiva and especially Samarkand (all in Uzbekistan). Few sights symbolise the region
more evocatively than the swell of a turquoise dome, a ruined desert citadel or a mina-
ret framed black against a blazing sunset.

Early Inluences
Central Asian architecture has its roots in Parthian, Kushan and Graeco-
Bactrian desert citadels or fortified palaces, whose structure was de-
fined by the demands of trade, security and water. Iranian, Greek and
Indian art blended in the 2000-year-old desert cities of places like To-
prak Qala, Nissa and Termiz. Central Asia's position at the border of
great empires and astride the transcontinental Silk Road guaranteed
a rich flow of artistic influences. Due the destructive urges of Ching-
gis (Genghis) Khan and other invading empires, only traces have sur-
vived from the pre-Islamic era or the first centuries of Arab rule.
Environmental constraints naturally defined building construction
over the centuries. The lack of local wood and stone forced Central Asian
architects to turn to brickwork as the cornerstone of their designs. Tall
portals, built to face and catch the prevailing winds, not only looked fab-
ulous but also had a cooling effect in the heat of summer. The influence
of a nomadic lifestyle is particularly relevant in Khiva, where you can
still see the brick bases built to house the wintertime yurts of the khans.
Several important technological advances spurred the development
of architectural arts, principally that of fired brick in the 10th century,
coloured tilework in the 12th century and glazed polychrome tilework
in the 14th century. Without the seemingly insignificant squinch (the
corner bracketing that enables the transition from a square to an
eight-, then 16-sided platform), the development of the monumental
dome would have stalled. It was this tiny technology that underpinned
the breathtaking domes of the Timurid era.
Timurid Architecture
Most of the monumental architecture still standing in Central Asia
dates from the time of the Timurids (14th to 15th centuries); rulers
who combined barbaric savagery with exquisite artistic sophistication.
During his campaigns of terror Timur (Tamerlane) forcibly relocated
artisans, from Beijing to Baghdad, to Central Asia, resulting in a splen-
did fusion of styles in textiles, painting, architecture and metal arts.
The Timurids' architectural trademark is the beautiful, often ribbed
and elongated, azure-blue outer dome. Other signature Timurid traits
include the tendency towards ensemble design, the use of a monu-
mental pishtak (arched entrance portal) flanked by tapering minarets,
and exuberant, multicoloured tilework, all evident in the showiest of
showpieces, the Registan in Samarkand.

For an in-depth
look at the Timu-
rid architecture
of Samarkand try
www.oxuscom.
com/timursam.
htm.

The niches in the
medressas' front
walls were once
used as shop-
keepers' stalls.