SHIRAZ, IRAN

A mosaic of intricately stained glass projects a kaleidoscope of light in the Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Shiraz, Iran. Known as the ‘pink mosque’, this stunning place of worship resides nearby other architecturally significant mosques; however, it is unique for its stained glass features, which are not typical in traditional mosques. Along with the prismatic windows, the mosque’s ceiling and arches are made up of thousands of painted tiles.

Construction of the Nasir al-Mulk mosque began in 1876, led by architect Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār. Before designing Nasir al-Mulk, Hasan-eMemār had built the now UNESCO World Heritage-listed Eram Garden, and his skill in garden design can also be seen in Nasir al-Mulk, which boasts a beautiful open courtyard with a reflective pool surrounded by flowers. This particular kind of stained glass window is called orsi, and is different to other kinds of stained glass in that it is made up of a mixture of wood and colourful glass, often designed in geometric patterns and serving as a light source inside the building.

In the Catholic religion, stained glass is often used to depict scenes and stories from the Bible. The Sagrada Família, the famously unfinished basilica in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí, features fascinating examples of stained glass. During the winter solstice, as the sun sets, Gaudí’s symphony of colour envelops the space as sunlight streams through the nave of the temple, so that the warm-coloured glass windows illuminate the inside with fiery reds and golden tones.

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Diébédo Francis Kéré has become the first African and the first black person to be awarded architecture’s highest international honour, the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize. mindfood.com/architecture-prize