Muqarnas stalactite vault builder

Stack small cells layer by layer on a plan grid so each tier's niches sit on the cells below, until the honeycomb vault closes the dome.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Iran. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Persia, Caucasus and Central Asia.