Plate 005 · Africa
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
1990
005 · Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
desireBasilica of Our Lady of Peace
A basilica larger than St. Peter's, in a village that a president made a capital.
Guro — Zaouli, climate of
Corridor 03 · Desire
Wanting did not stop when you got there.
What did you climb for — and still not have?
213 monuments in this corridor, ordered as the world is.
Rebuild a monument as desireAfrica
Côte d'Ivoire1
Egypt3
Plate 013 · Africa
Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
1359
013 · Cairo, Egypt
desireMosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
A madrasa of staggering scale, a sultan's bid to be remembered in stone.
Baligh Hamdi — Umm Kulthum, Alf Leila Wa Leila
Plate 017 · Africa
Karnak Temple
c. 2000–30 BCE
017 · Luxor, Egypt
desireKarnak Temple
The largest religious complex ever built, a forest of columns for a god of sun.
After Akhenaten, reconstructed — Hymn to the Aten
Plate 018 · Africa
Luxor Temple
c. 1400 BCE
018 · Luxor, Egypt
desireLuxor Temple
A temple in a living city, with a mosque on its court, because sacred space here never emptied.
After Akhenaten — Hymn to the Aten
Ethiopia1
Morocco3
Plate 030 · Africa
Hassan II Mosque
1993
030 · Casablanca, Morocco
desireHassan II Mosque
A minaret of 210 metres on the Atlantic, a mosque with a floor of heated marble and a roof that opens.
Moroccan al-âla — Andalusian nuba in ramal al-maya
Plate 032 · Africa
Medina of Fes
8th–14th c.
032 · Fes, Morocco
desireMedina of Fes
The largest car-free urban maze on earth, a city that is itself the monument.
Atlas Amazigh — Ahidous
Plate 033 · Africa
Bahia Palace
1900
033 · Marrakesh, Morocco
desireBahia Palace
A palace of a thousand and one details, built by a grand vizier for a favourite.
Al-âla — Nuba ramal al-maya
Senegal1
South Africa1
Plate 044 · Africa
Union Buildings
1913
044 · Pretoria, South Africa
desireUnion Buildings
A semicircle of sandstone from which a union, then a republic, then a democracy has been administered.
Township traditional — Rhythms of Resistance, toyi-toyi climate
Asia
Armenia1
Azerbaijan2
Plate 055 · Asia
Flame Towers
2012
055 · Baku, Azerbaijan
desireFlame Towers
Three flames of glass, a skyline of a city of oil and fire.
Azerbaijani — Mugam, Bayati-Shiraz
Plate 056 · Asia
Heydar Aliyev Center
2012
056 · Baku, Azerbaijan
desireHeydar Aliyev Center
A white fold of a cultural centre, because a Caspian capital wanted no corners.
Azerbaijani — Mugam, Bayati-Shiraz
Bangladesh1
Cambodia1
China6
Plate 069 · Asia
Forbidden City
1420
069 · Beijing, China
desireForbidden City
Nine thousand rooms behind a moat, so an emperor would never have to see the city.
Pipa traditional — Ambush from Ten Sides
Plate 070 · Asia
National Centre for the Performing Arts
2007
070 · Beijing, China
desireNational Centre for the Performing Arts
A titanium egg in a lake, so opera would have an otherworldly shell.
He Zhanhao & Chen Gang — Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
Plate 071 · Asia
Summer Palace
1764 / 1888
071 · Beijing, China
desireSummer Palace
A garden of longevity looted and rebuilt, because a court could not live without a lake.
Guqin — High Mountains Flowing Water
Plate 075 · Asia
Guangzhou Opera House
2010
075 · Guangzhou, China
desireGuangzhou Opera House
Two pebbles of granite and glass, washed up for music.
He Zhanhao & Chen Gang — Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
Plate 078 · Asia
Hong Kong ICC
2010
078 · Hong Kong, China
desireHong Kong ICC
The tallest building in Hong Kong, a silver blade over the harbour.
Abing — The Moon Reflected on Second Spring
Plate 088 · Asia
Shanghai World Financial Center
2008
088 · Shanghai, China
desireShanghai World Financial Center
A bottle opener in the sky, because the top wanted to be an event.
Abing — The Moon Reflected on Second Spring
India2
097 · Agra, India
desireTaj Mahal
The most beautiful building on earth is a grave.
Hindustani night raga — Raga Yaman
Plate 099 · Asia
Amber Fort
16th–17th c.
099 · Amer, India
desireAmber Fort
A hill fort of mirrors and marble, a kingdom looking down on its pink city.
Adi Shankara, sung — Bhaja Govindam