Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah, Bukhara
The history of mankind didn’t know any Governor that wanted to keep the memory of his name through the ages. Abdulaziz-Khan, the descendant of the Ashtarkhanids dynasty wasn’t an exception. He chose this worthy way like its predecessors – enrichment of the spiritual & cultural heritage of his city by building the madrasah.
The place for the construction is also noteworthy – exactly opposite the madrasah, built by Ulugbek two centuries before the beginning of the fifth Emir of Bukhara reign. The project was originally conceived – it was assumed that the Abdulaziz Khan madrasah, Bukhara will become a crown among Central Asian architecture and grandeur of the Ashtarkhanids dynasty. Its greatness is demonstrated even with a high entrance portal, adorned by luxury art decor. The outer polyhedron is elaborately decorated with rich ornament and stylized stalactites. For the first time, it was used yellow color for the paint. Consisting of complex include both summer & winter mosque, also made with taste and dazzling decoration.
Not only did decorative colors distinguish the building from many others – all the design was atypical for the canonical structures of the East during this period. The usual ornaments geometry gave way to more abstract, intricate patterns. There are also mosaics, and marble, surrounding majolica tiles and frescoes from alabaster. Commonly is used gilding.
Abdulaziz-Khan’s pretentious concept was meant to be. Built-in the 17th-century madrasa struck by its beauty. It was impossible neither compare nor confuse with others. The walls were covered with tiles & painted landscapes, trees & flowers, as well as images of the mythical bird Simurg & Chinese dragons.
Now, Ulugbek & Abdulaziz-Khan madrasahs are being considered as a single ensemble. Their stylistic, ideological contrast attracts attention. A special value remains the fact that we still see the original mosaic, that hasn’t been subjected to restoration.