What kind of monument comes to mind when you think about a well-loved person's tomb? For a Mughal emperor in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal is such a monument. Its design and construction was ordered by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died unexpectedly in 1630. Built from 1632-38 on the bank of the Yamuna River at Agra, this architectural treasure is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The Taj Mahal is the crowning achievement of Islamic architectural design. For the power of its presence, the Taj Mahal might be compared to the pyramids in Egypt. You can read more about the Taj Mahal in the art room text book "Exploring Visual Design", pg. 143.1. Refer to the Taj Mahal as an example of symmetrical design and design your own idea for a symmetrical building. Decide on a purpose for your structure, and create floor plans and a drawing of the exterior of the building. Use pencil.
What is symmetrical design?
When a design is symmetrical, it is exactly the same on both sides. If you drew a line through the center of the design, on side would be the mirror image of the other.
