Art inspiration

I'm personally just a huge fan of their soft lighting.

Jali from the Tomb of Salim Chishti

Tree based Jali from the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in Ahmedebad

Jali from the Red Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Non-Western Architectural Terracotta

[Image Description. The Latta Mosque in Nazir Khani, India. It's bricks and terracotta are a vibrant and aged orange color. The outside is detailed with calligraphy, carvings, and layers. Modern glass windows replace where once ancient windows sat. End ID.]

Terracotta is a staple of the world. Many could recognize it's use in architecture, especially in the west, such as in the Bell Edison Telephone Building of Birmingham, England, or the Natural History Museum in London.

To this day terracotta continues to be used worldwide in various projects from decor, dishware, and still, construction. But why?

Terracotta is any mix of clay and water. Due to how clay forms it can be found everywhere in the world, most people probably live near a clay deposit and have no idea. It's so malleable when wet that it makes easy sculpting and constructing material, and when mixed with water then dried/heated, it provides strong brick. It's use goes back to ancient times in cultures of all sorts.

[Image Description. African-American and Italian clay miners circa 1910. End ID.]

It also provides unique colors, even when unglazed.

Since Terracotta is so widespread, seeing its use from nation to nation reveals little artistic touches from culture to culture. From the giant terracotta house of Mexico, to the curling columns of Greece, and the sun-dried clay of African villages. There's so much to explore in clay architecture worldwide, but I wish would see more of it that wasn't based on Western cathedrals, Greek city halls, or Post-Modern brick buildings.

Terracotta Casa by Octavio Mendoza, in Villa de Leyva, Mexico

Yurts, tipis, and other traditional tents and portable dwellings

[Image Description. A red wooden frame of an Bentwood style Yurt used by the Karakalpak in Uzbekistan. It has short wooden double-doors, and the side is designed with weaving wooden slits. It has a clay platform as its foundations. End ID.]

Many indigenous groups around the world rely on a some form of lodging tent as their shelter from the elements, especially those that are nomadic, and live in large plains and steppes. In each of these kind of tents we see are unique in their own shape and features.

I'm tired of people (white people especially) pretending that nomadic lifestyles, and tents in general are some kind of torturous way to live, meanwhile trailers are okay though? No it's not everyone preference, but the utility of lodging tents is far underplayed.

Take for instance the tipi, a lodging tent used among various Native American tribes (and incorrectly stereotyped to be used by all Native Americans ever). Tipis are sturdy! And especially practical for nomadic peoples, as it's easy to pack up and then rebuild somewhere else. They fair against the rain, are cool for the summer, and stay warm enough for the winter.

Tents tend to also mean camps. While mansions, and palaces can serve for one large family to all hole up in, tents well serve a community-based culture, with families and communities gathering in encampments instead.

Anyway you're nomads should actually be nomads by the way

Sioux Style tipis that have been modernized for events and rentings