he main residence is designed around a courtyard, an architectural strategy that provides for separation of public and private spaces. Public spaces, such as the Foyer, Living Room, grounds, and Turkish Rooms, directly adjoin the Central Courtyard. In contrast, the Mughal Suite, the Service Wing and Kitchen, and other private spaces are located along wings that connect to the Courtyard.
The courtyard plan is found in many regions of the Islamic world. Similar to Shangri La, the separation of public and private spaces is an important function of courtyards in the Islamic world. A courtyard can separate areas that guests may inhabit from those intended for the family along and, in addition, male spaces from female spaces. Courtyards also offer natural beauty through the introduction of sunlight, plants, and water features into the interior of the house.
At Shangri La, the Central Courtyard showcases ceramics from Iran. Large storage jars made as early as the 8th century stand adjacent to numerous tile panels made in different regions of Iran. Among the Iranian tile panels found in the Courtyard are molded tiles from the 13th century, underglaze-painted tiles from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and mosaic tiles made in the 20th century.
The focal point of the courtyard is a massive mosaic tile panel that Duke commissioned in Isfahan, Iran in 1938 especially for this prominent location. The design is based on two 17th-century tile panels that flank the portal of the Royal Mosque in Isfahan.
Listen to a recitation of the Quranic inscription on the massive mosaic tile panel and an English translation.
Examples of courtyards in the Islamic World from ArchNetAjikbash House (Syria)Al-Suhaymi House (Egypt) Al-Sulaiman Palace (Saudi Arabia)Aljafería Palace (Spain) Bagh-e Babur (Afghanistan)
Iranian tiles in the Shangri La Collection
Introduction to Isfahan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art