The influence of this ancient Uzbek grand square stretches far across the world’s cities, from Isfahan in Iran to Agra in India and Russia’s St Petersburg.
They’re part of the legacy of the Turco-Mongol king Timur in his ancient city of Samarkand, located in modern-day Uzbekistan. One of Timur’s monuments bears the proverb: “If you want to know about us, examine our buildings.” Centuries later, in 1888, the traveller and future viceroy of India, George Curzon, called the Registan “the noblest public square in the world”.
These buildings – the Registan and other wonders of Timurid Samarkand – were the result of the coming together of craftsmen and builders from across the empire in the late 14th century. Their influence would likewise range far, and shape the character of distant cities. The Safavid monuments of Persia and Mughal architecture in what is today Pakistan and India drew inspiration from here. In the Imam Mosque at Isfahan, the Taj Mahal at Agra, and even in the early 20th-century mosque at St Petersburg, traces of the Registan can be seen.
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In 1992, on the occasion of the 5th cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA), Registan Square was the venue of the Awards presentation ceremonies.
As with all AKAA hosting countries, commemorative stamps are issued to mark the occasion. Tthe stamp issued by the government of Uzbekistan is shown here.
In addition, an Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) project to revitalize the Timurid city was also initiated around that time.
Registan Square is a central landmark in Samarkand and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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