Islamic beauty

Qatar is a new country full of contemporary buildings created with its staggering oil wealth. The country’s largest mosque in the capital Doha is a new build, while Katara Cultural Village, boasting lavish gold and blue mosques, is also an architectural newcomer. Doha’s Pearl, a large complex built on reclaimed land, is a recent addition as well.

But these new structures are steeped in tradition, with stylish, beautiful lines and curves. Intricate designs stay pure to Islam and do not depict human or animal forms. Instead of being sterile, these are pleasing on the eye and photographically pure and balanced.


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Architects’ artchitecture

Stalinist facade

This daunting Art Deco pile stands in the heart of London close to another – BBC Broadcasting House.

66 Portland Place is the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba). It’s an elegant yet stark building constructed in the 1930s, full of style but with the austere chill of the Soviet era. The organisation’s lion emblem is stamped in details throughout.

It seemed only fitting to present this small collection of shots entirely in monochrome.

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Gallery entrance