Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Uzbekistan, or Oliy Majlis, is instantly recognizable as a massive white cube. It reaches eighty-six meters on each side and is topped by a large turquoise dome. Constructed in nineteen ninety-seven, the building reflects a blend of modern materials and traditional Eastern design. Architect Valeriy Akopdzhanyan developed the project, incorporating a series of exterior covered verandas, known as aivans, supported by thirty-six marble columns. These columns usually appear inside traditional structures, but here they frame the outside, giving the heavy stone facade a sense of lightness.