The Blue Iwan

This MOC is made out of physical LEGO bricks (no software). If you want to learn more about it (Technical breakdown, MOC review) check my linkt.ree for more content.

I was inspired by the Necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, along with other Persian monuments of Central Asia. The stand was inspired by a 19th-century architectural maquette by Diego Fernández Castro.

The MOC represents an Iwan, a vaulted space opening onto a courtyard that can be found in many Central Asian buildings. Its ceiling is covered with white muqarnas (niches forming a honeycomb structure) that represent infinity and the cosmos. The rest of the chamber is adorned with geometric patterns made from blue glazed terracotta. There is also a carved wooden door inside a marble arch at the back of the chamber. On the outside, the monumental arch is outlined in turquoise twisting cables.

Descending the marble steps of the Iwan, there is a square with a fountain in the middle. Channels direct the water into the sunken gardens containing orange trees. Heading to the left, there is a bazaar where merchants are selling pots, fruits and spices. The Iwan is placed on a wooden stand (it's not actually wood, it's LEGO like the rest) in a Nasrid revival style. Similar stands or cabinets were used to house architectural maquettes (small-scale replicas of buildings) of various monuments.