hangri La is approached by a winding, sloping driveway that ends at a courtyard with a large, old banyan tree. The main residence, as seen from the Entry Courtyard, is deceptively humble with its simple plaster walls and ceramic tile roof. It reveals little about the size or layout of the house. Were it not for the smiling stone camels that flank the doorway, one might not even know that this was the entrance to the house.
The architecture of Shangri La is not derived from any particular region of the Islamic world, but it nevertheless illustrates certain concepts and designs that can be found in Islamic architecture. Ostentatious displays of wealth, for example, are discouraged in Islam and as a result many Muslim homes present stark exteriors to passersby. The simple façade of the main residence of Shangri La similarly belies the affluence, character, and lifestyle of the owner within. The Central Courtyard and the Playhouse also exhibit principles of Islamic architecture.
The simple facade is characteristic of Shangri La’s overall unobtrusive design. There is no imposing entryway of the type one might expect to see at the home of one of America’s wealthiest individuals. The façade offers no hint as to what visitors will experience inside Duke’s residence. It stands in stark contrast to the patterns, colors and textures of the Islamic art collection housed within.
Shangri La was Duke’s refuge, and the tall vegetation along the driveway acts as a kind of screen to shield her privacy. Echoing Duke’s aspirations in creating Shangri La is an inscription from the Quran on the front door - “Enter therein in Peace, Secure.”
Listen to a recitation of the Quranic inscription on the front door and an English translation.
Watch videos on the Victoria and Albert Museum website about:Islamic architecture
Learn more about Doris Duke:About Doris DukeDoris Duke the Collector
Compare the facade of Shangri La with the facade of Rough Point, Doris Duke’s Newport, RI mansion:Rough Point