Ismoili Center

The Ismoili Center of Dushanbe is one of several like it around the world. The spiritual leader of the Ismoilis is the Agha Khan, who lives in Switzerland and went to Harvard. He has a development network that does lots of good work around the globe in health, microfinance and other sectors.

The new Center is far and away the most beautiful and architecturally interesting building in Dushanbe, and I was wishing as we walked through and around it that others would attempt to imitate it instead of the much more popular Soviet architecture. To some degree, many are limited by materials available--rebar and concrete only go so far. The bricks for this building were made specifically for it in Samarkand, 3 million of them, and then shipped here. Not everyone has that kind of money, but some of the new big construction projects are just boxy.

The Ismoili Center isn't fully open yet, but they are giving tours. There is an amazing prayer hall inside, which you can see at http://www.theismaili.org/cms/891/Gallery-Architecture-of-the-Ismaili-Centre-Dushanbe

Designs on the Ismoili Center. The blue bricks are actually script, but it's far too difficult for me to read it in this form.

Diana and one of her English students, Uktam, in the inner courtyard of the Center. Uktam is a really nice guy.
The Death Star--I mean, Hyatt Regency Dushanbe. It is nice inside. It sits just opposite to the Ismoili Center (unfortunately).

Read more about the Ismaili community here:

http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104448