his long wing separates the private areas of Shangri La including the Mughal Suite and the Moroccan Room from the Central Courtyard and other public areas of the estate. The wing is composed of two sections: a hallway and a lanai that overlooks a garden. The garden features a waterfall and koi pond, the sounds of which can be heard from the Mughal Suite when the windows are open.
A relatively small area, the wing nonetheless exhibits the diversity of cultures often encompassed by the monolithic term Islamic art. Metalwork from Iran and the Philippines is juxtaposed with suzani textiles from Central Asia, doors from Egypt and Spain, tiles from Tunisia, and furniture and paste inlay from Syria. Particularly noteworthy are a fine set of six, white marble columns made in 14th-century Spain. The columns recall the Alhambra and other buildings erected in regions of Southern Spain and Northern Africa.
The installation of objects in the Private Hall and Lanai, as in other areas of the estate, follows Doris Duke’s own aesthetic sensibilities and the way she perceived visual compatibility in objects that have little in common historically. A prominent feature of the anterior of the wing is the visually dynamic marble floor. Under Duke’s direction, the Shangri La house staff, none of whom had formal artistic training, made most of the marble floor panels, following patterns seen in historic Syrian interiors.
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Azem Palace, a historic Syrian residence on ArchNet
Suzanis, a Shangri La online exhibit
Doors in the Shangri La collection
Furniture in the Shangri La collection